Brussels Airport faces significant disruption on Friday 9 October 2026 as some employees of ground-handling provider Alyzia join Belgium’s nationwide industrial action. An initial estimate suggested around 140 flight cancellations, but on Thursday 8 October the airport confirmed to The Independent that approximately 100 flights had been cancelled at that point. These figures describe different stages of the developing disruption, not competing final totals. The airport remains open, and its latest passenger guidance says more than half of Alyzia-handled flights are expected to operate. Services handled by Aviapartner are not currently expected to be affected.
Updated 8 October 2026.
The disruption will not affect every Brussels Airport flight in the same way. Alyzia provides ground services for several airlines, including Brussels Airlines. Its work covers essential activities between an aircraft’s arrival and its next departure, including baggage handling, ramp operations, aircraft cleaning, de-icing when required and some cargo and mail handling.
Brussels Airlines among the most exposed carriers
Alyzia is expected to operate with reduced staffing on Friday. Brussels Airport says approximately half of the flights handled by the company should still run as scheduled, while airlines will have to cancel or adjust part of their programmes.
Brussels Airlines is particularly exposed because Alyzia handles its Brussels ground operations. The carrier expects to cancel about 40% of its Friday schedule, according to information provided to the press. A first list circulated on 7 October by travel trade organisations VVR and UPAV identifies 48 cancelled Brussels Airlines flights: 42 were scheduled for Friday, including 36 European services and six departures to Africa, while six return flights from Africa are already cancelled on Thursday 8 October. The list may still change as the operational programme is finalised. Brussels Airlines stresses that it is not a party to the industrial action and says affected passengers will be contacted directly and offered alternative travel arrangements.
Passengers should not assume that every flight on 9 October is cancelled. Brussels Airport says flights handled by Aviapartner are currently not expected to be affected by this action. Cancellations will appear in the airport’s flight information system only once individual airlines register them.
Why ground-handling shortages can cancel flights
Ground handling covers the work required to turn an aircraft around safely between flights. If there are not enough staff to handle baggage, support ramp operations or prepare aircraft, airlines may have to delay or cancel services even when pilots, cabin crew, air traffic control and the airport itself remain available.
Friday’s disruption should therefore not be described as a closure of Brussels Airport. The airport remains operational, but Alyzia’s handling capacity will be reduced. The practical impact will depend on each airline and on which ground handler serves its flights.
Brussels Airport advises passengers to check their individual flight status directly with their airline. Carriers working with Alyzia are expected to contact affected travellers with information on cancellations and available alternatives. Passengers should also monitor the airport’s departures and arrivals board, while bearing in mind that cancellations may appear progressively as airlines register them.
The picture is different at Belgium’s other major airport. Brussels South Charleroi Airport confirmed on 7 October that all scheduled arriving and departing flights will operate on both 9 and 12 October. It nevertheless warns that roads and public transport may be disrupted, particularly TEC shuttle services between Charleroi-Central railway station and the airport.
A separate trade union action is planned in Belgian public services on Monday 12 October. Brussels Airport currently expects no impact on air traffic from that action, although public transport to and from the airport may be disrupted. Travellers may therefore need to allow extra time for the ground journey.
What is established at this stage is that Alyzia’s activity will be reduced on Friday, around half of its handled flights should operate normally and Brussels Airlines will remove a substantial share of its schedule. The final airport-wide cancellation total may still change before 9 October as individual airlines finalise their programmes.
Sources: Brussels Airport, Brussels Airlines, Brussels South Charleroi Airport, Reuters, and VVR/UPAV travel trade information reported on 7 October.
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