Approximately 140 flights landing and departing Brussels Airport are cancelled on Friday, October 9, 2026, due to a national strike involving staff of the ground handling company Alyzia. Airlines affected include Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, Air Arabia, and United Airlines, with routes to and from London, Manchester, Paris, Budapest, Madrid, and Chicago impacted.
Specific Flight Cancellations and Airlines Unaffected
Brussels Airlines has cancelled its flights to Heathrow at 4:55pm; to Manchester at 10am and 9:30pm; from Manchester at 8:30am and 1:30pm; and from Heathrow at 8pm. British Airways flights to and from Brussels Airport, including those to and from Edinburgh, continue to operate normally. Flights operated
by Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air are not affected, as these airlines use a different ground handler than Alyzia. Alyzia provides baggage handling, ramp operations, de-icing, aircraft cleaning, and cargo transport services for about 20 airlines at Brussels Airport.
Official Statements on the Strike’s Impact
Brussels Airport warned on its website that approximately half of the flights handled by Alyzia will continue as scheduled, but a significant number will be cancelled. The airport expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by the union action. Brussels Airlines emphasized that its own employees are not participating in the strike and noted: “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.” It also stated that cancellations caused by strikes are classified as extraordinary circumstances, implying passengers are not entitled to compensation.
Passenger Options and Further Strike Context
Passengers affected by the cancellations are to be rebooked or refunded without charge and provided with food, drink, and accommodation if necessary. Airlines working with Alyzia will contact travellers directly with flight status updates and options. National protests affecting public services in Belgium are expected on the following Monday, October 11, but these strikes will not impact air traffic. However, public transport
disruptions may cause delays for passengers traveling to and from Brussels Airport.
