October 7, 2026 — Brussels Airlines is cancelling about 40% of its flights on Friday, October 9, because part of the workforce at its Brussels ground handler, Alyzia, is expected to join a national trade-union demonstration. Around 30,000 passengers were booked to fly with the airline that day.
What happened
Belgian union ABVV-FGTB is holding a national demonstration in Brussels on Friday, October 9, and a share of Alyzia’s baggage and ramp staff plan to take part. Only about half of the flights Alyzia handles at Brussels Airport are expected to operate. The airport expects about 140 cancellations in total.
Brussels Airlines, part of the Lufthansa Group, is the handler’s biggest customer and has cut roughly four in ten of its Friday flights in advance. The airline says it is not a party to the dispute and regrets that this is the third time this year its schedule has been seriously disrupted by union action. Affected customers are being contacted with rebooking or refund options.
| Detail | What is known |
|---|---|
| Date | Friday, October 9, 2026 |
| Brussels Airlines flights cancelled | About 40% |
| Brussels Airlines passengers booked that day | About 30,000 |
| Total cancellations expected at Brussels Airport | About 140 |
| Other Alyzia customers | About 20 airlines, including Air China, Air Senegal, Air Arabia Maroc and AJet |
| Not expected to be affected | Flights handled by Aviapartner, including British Airways, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air Transat, Ryanair and TUI |
A separate public-sector and rail strike on Monday, October 12, is not expected to affect air traffic, although Belgian rail services are hit from 22:00 on Sunday, October 11. The FGTB union also holds a mandate for a general strike in the week of November 23; no date has been set (TBA).
What it means for non-revs
- Avoid standby on Brussels Airlines on Friday, October 9. With four in ten flights gone, displaced revenue passengers will fill the flights that do operate.
- Expect the squeeze to last into the weekend. Rebooked passengers will spill onto Saturday and Sunday departures, so loads are likely to stay heavy through October 10–11.
- Check who handles your flight. Carriers handled by Aviapartner are expected to run normally, which may make them a better ZED option out of Brussels that day.
- Getting to the airport on Monday, October 12, may be harder. Flights are expected to run, but trains will not be reliable from Sunday night.
- Watch the week of November 23. A general strike is possible; dates are TBA.
Sources
- Aviation24.be — Brussels Airlines cancels around 40% of flights on Friday due to Alyzia disruption
- Business Travel News Europe — Two strikes set to disrupt Belgium’s flights and trains
- Aerocorner — Brussels Airport Expects About 140 Cancellations on Friday as Ground Handlers Join a National Protest
- airliners.de — Am Flughafen Brüssel fallen wegen Streiks am Freitag Flüge aus
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