Published on : 11 May 2026
You have hours. Not days. Hours.
Tomorrow — Tuesday May 12, 2026 — Belgium’s three largest trade unions will lead a nationwide day of action against federal government reforms. Every Charleroi passenger, every Brussels Airport departure, and every connecting passenger routing through Belgium needs to act tonight. By tomorrow morning, the options you have right now will be gone.
All flights to and from Brussels South Charleroi Airport will be cancelled on 12 May 2026 because of a nationwide union demonstration against Belgian federal government policy. The airport said it cannot guarantee safe operations due to staff shortages linked to the strike action organised by the unions ABVV/FGTB, ACV/CSC, and ACLVB/CGSLB. Affected passengers will be contacted by their airlines regarding rebooking or refunds.
Brussels Airlines is cutting its services by around 60 per cent on the day. The airline said it is prioritising flights carrying the highest number of direct passengers, and that those whose flights are cancelled will be offered the choice to rebook or request a refund. “Further cancellations cannot be ruled out,” it added.
About 35,000 passengers on 180 Ryanair, Wizz Air and TUI fly Belgium services are expected to be affected at Charleroi alone. Add Brussels Airport’s 50%+ cancellation rate, and the passenger count at risk tomorrow approaches 95,000 people — across two airports, serving the UK, US, Australia, the Gulf, and every European market.
Next week will mark the ninth time since early 2025 that air traffic has been disrupted by a union strike targeting government policy. Belgium has become the country where strikes don’t surprise anyone anymore. The passengers who get stranded are always the ones who thought it wouldn’t actually happen.
It is happening.
Published: May 11, 2026 — Sunday evening (Strike: TOMORROW Tuesday May 12) Charleroi Airport (CRL): 🔴 100% CANCELLED — ALL flights — zero operations Brussels Airport (BRU): 🔴 50%+ of departures cancelled — Brussels Airlines 60% cut Charleroi passengers at risk: ~35,000 — 180 Ryanair + Wizz Air + TUI fly services Total passengers at risk (both airports): ~95,000 Strike unions: ABVV/FGTB · ACV/CSC · ACLVB/CGSLB — all three major Belgian confederations Strike type: National day of action against federal socio-economic reforms (pensions, wages) Strike duration: 24 hours — May 12 — midnight to midnight CRL fully closed from: NOW — safety staffing already insufficient Public transport to airports: 🔴 Disrupted — Brussels trams/buses/metro all affected Train to Midi/Zaventem (BRU rail): ✅ Check SNCB/NMBS for status United Airlines waiver: ✅ LIVE — rebook May 11–15 no fee — united.com → My Trips Lufthansa waiver: ✅ LIVE — May 12 BRU — lufthansa.com → My Bookings easyJet waiver: ✅ Expected — check easyjet.com → Manage Bookings Air Canada waiver: ✅ Expected — check aircanada.com → Manage Bookings Brussels Airlines waiver: ✅ — rebook or refund — check brusselsairlines.com Ryanair at CRL: ❌ ALL cancelled — rebook at ryanair.com → My Trips Wizz Air at CRL: ❌ ALL cancelled — rebook at wizzair.com → My Bookings Qatar Airways Brussels: ❌ SUSPENDED until June 16 (separate issue — already cancelled) Emirates BRU: ⚠️ ~13 weekly flights — likely at least 1 cancelled tomorrow Alternative airports: Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) 2hrs by train · Paris CDG 1hr 22min by Thalys · London St Pancras via Eurostar Antwerp (ANR) / Ostend-Bruges (OST): ✅ No major cancellations expected EU261 cash compensation: ❌ NO — nationwide union strike = extraordinary circumstances EU261 refund right: ✅ YES — unconditional for all cancellations EU261 duty of care: ✅ YES — meals, hotel, communication — regardless of cause
On April 29, TravelTourister published the first warning about Brussels May 12 — when Charleroi’s status was still described as “monitor closely” based on previous strike precedents. That article was written 13 days before the event.
Today is 12 hours before the event. And the situation is significantly worse than April 29’s article anticipated:
What changed:
Charleroi Airport has officially confirmed a blanket cancellation rather than last-minute, case-by-case decisions. The airport stated it lacks the minimum staffing levels required to guarantee flight safety — and has therefore grounded every flight pre-emptively. This is a stronger outcome than the April 29 article’s “previous strikes caused complete shutdown” caveat — it is now confirmed, official, and irreversible.
Brussels Airlines is cutting 60% of its BRU schedule — not 50% as the April 29 article indicated was the benchmark. “Further cancellations cannot be ruled out,” Brussels Airlines added — meaning the 60% figure could worsen before tomorrow morning.
United Airlines and Lufthansa have both issued specific waivers that were not yet published on April 29. These waivers give affected passengers concrete, immediate rebooking options — with specific date windows and fee waivers confirmed.
And critically: public transport to and from the airports will also be affected, so even flights that do operate may be difficult to reach. Passengers planning to take trams, buses or metros to Brussels Airport or Charleroi must plan for ground transport disruption on top of flight cancellations.
Belgium’s second-busiest passenger hub confirmed on 5 May that every flight scheduled for Tuesday 12 May will be grounded because of a national day of industrial action. Airport management said it lacks the minimum staffing levels required to guarantee flight safety and has therefore opted for a blanket cancellation rather than last-minute, case-by-case decisions.
“Due to this day of action and the lack of staff to ensure flight safety, Charleroi Airport will be unable to operate the scheduled flights,” the airport’s press release states. The airport “regrets the impact and apologises for the inconvenience.”
Charleroi is Ryanair’s Belgian hub. It is where Ryanair connects Brussels to London Stansted, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, and dozens of other UK and European destinations at budget fares that no other carrier matches. All Ryanair Charleroi services are cancelled. Wizz Air and TUI fly Belgium also operate significant Charleroi capacity — all cancelled.
The specific UK routes cancelled at CRL: Every Ryanair Charleroi–UK route is cancelled tomorrow. This includes:
If you have a Ryanair CRL booking: Do not go to the airport. Go directly to ryanair.com → My Trips and select “Change Flight” or “Request Refund.” Ryanair has been issuing fee-free date-change waivers for Belgium national strike events since the pattern began in 2025. Expect to move your flight to May 11 (today — likely sold out) or May 13 (Wednesday — earliest realistic alternative).
More than 50% of departures from Brussels Airport will be cancelled. Brussels Airlines is cutting its schedule by around 60%.
Brussels Airport is Belgium’s primary international hub — handling long-haul services to the US, Canada, Middle East, Asia and Africa that don’t operate from Charleroi. It is also where British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Turkish Airlines, American Airlines, and United Airlines all operate.
Whilst no passenger flights departed from Brussels Airport during earlier national strike days, the airport appears to expect a smaller impact on 12 May than on those previous occasions — working with all partners to ensure as many flights as possible can still go ahead.
The “smaller impact” framing from the airport means BRU is attempting to operate approximately 50% of its normal schedule — not a full shutdown. But a 50% cut at a major international hub on a Tuesday still affects tens of thousands of passengers.
What is likely to operate at BRU: Long-haul intercontinental services — flights to New York (EWR/JFK), Washington Dulles, Toronto, Montreal, Dubai, Nairobi, Kinshasa — carry the highest passenger loads and lowest practical alternatives. Airlines prioritise these for the limited available slots.
What is likely to be cancelled at BRU: Short-haul European feeder routes. Brussels Airlines’ network of European connections — Amsterdam, Paris, London, Frankfurt, Zurich, Vienna, Madrid, Lisbon — will absorb the bulk of the 60% cut. These are the routes with the most practical alternatives (Eurostar, Thalys, road transport).
Brussels Airlines’ specific statement: “Brussels Airlines is not involved in the industrial dispute between the trade unions and the federal government in Belgium. Yet the consequences always fall on our passengers, our colleagues and our company. In the current geopolitical climate, such actions are irresponsible.”
United Airlines has issued a waiver for passengers flying through Brussels on May 11 and 12. United is waiving change fees and fare differences. New flights must depart between May 5 and May 15, 2026, on United flights. Travel must be between the same cities.
How to use right now: united.com → My Trips → select your BRU flight → “Change Flight” → choose a new date May 5–15. The system should automatically waive the change fee and fare difference if your booking falls within the waiver scope.
If the waiver is not automatically applying online, call United at 1-800-864-8331 and reference the “Brussels May 12 strike waiver” specifically.
Lufthansa has issued a waiver for any flight on May 12 going through Brussels.
How to use: lufthansa.com → My Bookings → find your BRU itinerary → “Change Booking.” The Lufthansa waiver typically extends across the full Lufthansa Group — meaning SWISS, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings passengers on Lufthansa-coded flights may also be covered. Check at lufthansa.com/en/waiver or call +44 371 945 9747 (UK) / +49 69 86 799 799.
Brussels Airlines said passengers whose flights are cancelled will be offered the choice to rebook or request a refund.
How to use: brusselsairlines.com → My Booking → manage cancelled flight. Brussels Airlines is prioritising highest-load direct flights — if your Brussels Airlines flight is cancelled, you will receive an email notification with rebooking options. If you haven’t received it by midnight tonight, check your junk/spam folder and then go directly to the website.
Ryanair has issued waivers for every previous Belgian national strike event since 2025 (8 previous events). Ryanair’s full Charleroi schedule is cancelled. Go to ryanair.com → My Trips for fee-free date change or cash refund.
Wizz Air operates Charleroi as one of its Belgian bases. All CRL services cancelled. Go to wizzair.com → My Bookings for rebooking or refund options.
easyJet is expected to issue a travel waiver for fee-free date changes within a 7–14 day window around May 12. Check easyjet.com → Manage Bookings → Disruptions for the Belgium May 12 advisory.
Air Canada is also expected to issue a travel waiver. Check aircanada.com → Manage My Bookings.
Emirates operates around 13 weekly flights on the Dubai–Brussels route. With Brussels Airport cutting over half its departures, there is a strong chance that at least one Emirates service will be cancelled on May 12. Additionally, note that as of May 2026, Qatar Airways’ Brussels service remains suspended and is not scheduled to resume until 16 June 2026.
If you have an Emirates BRU booking: check emirates.com → Manage Booking and look for a May 12 travel advisory.
Public transport to and from the airports will also be affected, so even flights that do operate may be difficult to reach.
Belgium’s nationwide day of action affects not just airport workers but public transport unions across the country. Brussels’s trams, buses and metro — operated by STIB/MIVB — are on reduced or suspended service. National rail (SNCB/NMBS) has announced reduced service levels on many lines.
For Brussels Airport (BRU): The Airport Express train from Brussels Midi/Centraal/Noord to Brussels Airport (25 minutes) operates under SNCB. Check sncb.be for May 12 service status — national rail strikes in Belgium typically maintain reduced guarantees on main lines. Even if trains are running, frequency may be halved.
If the Airport Express is disrupted, the taxi journey from Brussels Midi to BRU is approximately 35–40 minutes in normal traffic — allow 60 minutes for May 12 given elevated demand.
For Charleroi Airport (CRL): Charleroi is 60km from Brussels. Shuttle buses from Brussels Midi to CRL are operated by Flibco — check flibco.com for May 12 service status. Note that if CRL is fully closed, this journey is unnecessary.
The alternative routing options that bypass Belgium entirely:
Alternative routing via Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) — 2 hours by Thalys/Eurostar from Brussels Midi. Paris CDG — 1 hour 22 minutes by Thalys from Brussels Midi. London St Pancras — 2 hours from Brussels Midi via Eurostar.
If you have a BRU departure that survives tomorrow (one of the ~50% that will operate) but are concerned about reaching the airport: consider departing tonight rather than tomorrow morning to guarantee your position at the terminal.
Next week will mark the ninth time since early 2025 that air traffic has been disrupted by a union strike targeting government policy.
Belgium’s chronic strike pattern is worth understanding for anyone who regularly travels through BRU or CRL. This is not an aviation dispute — it is a national political dispute about pension reform, wage indexation, and social policy being imposed by Belgium’s federal government coalition. The aviation sector is simply collateral damage because airport workers (security screeners, ground handlers, ATC staff) are union members whose solidarity action shuts the airport even though they have no specific grievance with the airlines.
Brussels Airlines has been openly critical: “Brussels Airlines is not involved in the industrial dispute between the trade unions and the federal government in Belgium. Yet the consequences always fall on our passengers, our colleagues and our company. In the current geopolitical climate, such actions are irresponsible.”
For passengers: the pattern of nine strike events in 14 months means Belgian national strike days have become a recurring calendar risk for Brussels travel. If you book Belgian flights, travel insurance with strike coverage is no longer optional — it is essential. And the pattern suggests this will continue until either the government withdraws its reforms or the unions reach a negotiated settlement — neither of which appears imminent.
A nationwide general strike is classified as an extraordinary circumstance under EU261. The strike is not directed at aviation — it targets government social policy — and is therefore outside any airline’s control. Cash compensation of €250–€600 is NOT payable for tomorrow’s Belgian strike cancellations.
This applies regardless of carrier: Brussels Airlines, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Lufthansa, United, easyJet — all extraordinary circumstances, all no cash compensation.
If your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to a full cash refund to your original payment method within 7 days. Airlines cannot force a voucher. Say: “I am invoking my right to a full cash refund under EU Regulation 261/2004 Article 8.”
You are entitled to rebooking to your final destination at the earliest opportunity at no additional cost. The active airline waivers (United, Lufthansa, Ryanair, Brussels Airlines) effectively operationalise this right — use the waivers rather than trying to enforce the right independently.
At 2+ hour delay: meals and refreshments. Overnight cancellation: hotel accommodation + transport. Even with extraordinary circumstances, these apply.
If you are at Brussels Airport tomorrow and your flight is delayed 2+ hours: go to the airline desk and say: “My flight has been delayed over two hours. Under Article 9 of EU Regulation 261/2004, I am requesting meal vouchers.”
UK261 mirrors EU261 exactly for these purposes. All of the above applies equally to UK passengers on UK-registered carriers or on flights departing the UK.
Tonight, before midnight:
✅ Check your flight status right now. Your airline has almost certainly already sent you an email about tomorrow’s cancellation. Check spam/junk if not received.
✅ If Charleroi (CRL): act immediately. 100% of CRL flights are cancelled. There are no exceptions. Go to ryanair.com or wizzair.com now for rebooking or refund.
✅ If Brussels Airport (BRU): check whether your specific flight is cancelled. 50%+ of departures are going — but 50%+ are staying. Check your airline’s app for your specific flight number status.
✅ Use the active waivers tonight — not tomorrow morning. United waiver: united.com → My Trips. Lufthansa waiver: lufthansa.com → My Bookings. Do this tonight. Tomorrow morning, airline customer service lines will be overwhelmed with 95,000 displaced passengers.
✅ Consider rail alternatives. Amsterdam Schiphol by Thalys (2 hours from Brussels Midi) → your destination via AMS. Paris CDG by Thalys (1hr 22min) → your destination via CDG. Book at thalys.com or raileurope.com tonight.
✅ Check ground transport to BRU. If your BRU flight is one of the ~50% surviving: check SNCB/NMBS for Airport Express status. Allow 60 minutes extra for transit tomorrow.
✅ Do not go to Charleroi Airport tomorrow. There are no staff, no check-in desks, no operations. The airport is physically closed. If you have a CRL booking and go to the airport, you will spend hours in an unmanned terminal and achieve nothing.
| Airline | Waiver status | How to rebook | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | ✅ LIVE — May 5–15 window | united.com → My Trips | 1-800-864-8331 (US) |
| Lufthansa | ✅ LIVE — May 12 BRU | lufthansa.com → My Bookings | +44 371 945 9747 (UK) |
| Brussels Airlines | ✅ — Rebook or refund | brusselsairlines.com → My Booking | brusselsairlines.com |
| Ryanair | ✅ Expected — all CRL cancelled | ryanair.com → My Trips | 0871 246 0000 (UK) |
| Wizz Air | ✅ Expected — all CRL cancelled | wizzair.com → My Bookings | via website |
| easyJet | ✅ Expected | easyjet.com → Manage Bookings | 0330 365 5000 (UK) |
| Air Canada | ✅ Expected | aircanada.com → Manage | 1-888-247-2262 (CA) |
| Emirates | ⚠️ Check status | emirates.com → Manage Booking | 0808 164 4444 (UK) |
Brussels Airport live status: brusselsairport.be SNCB/NMBS rail: belgiantrain.be Thalys/Eurostar rail alternatives: thalys.com · eurostar.com EU261 claims: airhelp.com · flightright.eu UK CAA: caa.co.uk/passengers
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Posted By : Vinay
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