Key points
- Brussels South Charleroi (CRL) cancelled all scheduled flights on May 12, 2026 during a national strike.
- About 35,000 Charleroi passengers were affected across Ryanair, Wizz Air and TUI fly Belgium.
- Brussels Airport (BRU) ran at roughly 50% capacity and Brussels Airlines cut about 60% of flights.
- Airlines are contacting affected passengers with rebooking and refund options.
A coordinated national strike brought air travel in Belgium to a near standstill on May 12, 2026, with one major airport grounding every scheduled flight.
What happened at Charleroi
Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) cancelled all scheduled flights on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. The airport attributed the decision to a “critical lack of staff in essential areas like security screening, firefighting, and air-side operations” during the strike, which was organised by three trade unions: ACV-CSC, ABVV-FGTB, and ACLVB-CGSLB.
Roughly 35,000 passengers travelling from Charleroi were affected, across carriers including Ryanair, Wizz Air, and TUI fly Belgium.
Wider disruption
The strike reached well beyond Charleroi:
| Service | Impact on May 12 |
|---|---|
| Brussels Airport (BRU) | Operating at roughly 50% capacity |
| Brussels Airlines | Around 60% of flights cancelled |
| Public transport (STIB, De Lijn, TEC) | Significant delays warned |
| SNCB trains | Running, but with severe overcrowding expected |
Brussels police also warned of traffic congestion around organised demonstrations.
Brussels Airlines, which was not part of the dispute, expressed frustration: “Brussels Airlines is not involved in the industrial dispute…Yet the consequences always fall on our passengers, our colleagues and our company.”
Guidance for travellers
Airlines have been contacting affected passengers directly with rebooking and refund options. Anyone flying to or from a Belgian airport around this period was urged to check flight status before heading to the airport. Entry requirements for Belgium were unaffected by the strike — see the Belgium visa hub for what applies to your trip.
