On Friday, October 9, 2026, approximately 140 flights landing and departing from Brussels Airport are cancelled due to a national strike involving staff of the ground handling company Alyzia. The strike disrupts services for several airlines and affects flights operated by Alyzia.
Affected Airlines and Routes
Brussels Airlines faces multiple cancellations on UK routes. Flights scheduled to Heathrow at 4:55 pm and to Manchester at 10:00 am and 9:30 pm are cancelled. Returning flights from Manchester at 8:30 am and 1:30 pm, and the Heathrow arrival at 8:00 pm are also cancelled. Other affected routes include Brussels Airlines flights to and from Paris, Budapest,
Madrid, and Chicago. ITA Airways, Air Arabia, and United Airlines flights handled by Alyzia are also impacted.
Unaffected Airlines and Flights
British Airways flights operating to and from Brussels Airport on October 9, 2026, are unaffected by the strike and will operate as scheduled, including flights to and from Edinburgh. Budget carriers Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air also continue normal operations, as their ground handling at Brussels Airport is provided by a different company than Alyzia.
Passenger Impact and Airline Response
Passengers on flights handled by Alyzia face cancellations or partial service on October 9. Airlines affected are contacting passengers with rebooking and refund options. While flights cancelled due
to this strike fall under “extraordinary circumstances,” meaning passengers are not entitled to compensation, airlines are obligated to provide rebooking or refunds free of charge. Additionally, affected passengers may receive food, drink, and accommodation if required.
Brussels Airlines confirmed its staff are not participating in the strike, and described this as the third major disruption this year to its schedule caused by external industrial action. The airline stated, “We regret that this is already the third time this year that our flight schedule has been seriously disrupted by industrial action taken by external parties.” The strike also results in a
considerable financial impact and disrupts travel plans for many passengers.
Brussels Airport issued a statement indicating that about half of the flights handled by Alyzia are expected to operate normally on October 9, while some cancellations are unavoidable due to the national protest.
Alyzia provides baggage handling, ramp operations, aircraft de-icing, cleaning, and cargo transport services for roughly 20 airlines at Brussels Airport. Its staff’s strike therefore directly affects numerous airlines including Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, Air Arabia, and United Airlines.
Separately, a strike scheduled for Monday, October 12, 2026, will disrupt public services across Belgium but will not affect
air traffic. However, public transport disruptions may delay passenger access to Brussels Airport on that day.
