How did seven strikes at Brussels Airport cancel 2,395 flights in 2025?
Key Points
- 12,395 flights were cancelled at Brussels Airport in 2025 due to seven days of strike action.
- 2The disruption affected approximately 330,000 passengers and cost the Belgian economy nearly €175 million.
- 3The Belgian federal government plans to raise the departure tax to a flat €10 per passenger from 2027, drawing criticism from airlines like Brussels Airlines and Ryanair.
- 4Brussels Airlines urged dialogue and suggested implementing a guaranteed minimum service to prevent total airport paralysis during future strikes.
The year 2025 was marked by major passenger disruption at Brussels Airport, Belgium’s main hub. Repeated Brussels Airport strikes 2025 brought operations to a halt. New data now quantifies the severe impact on European air travel.
The Scale of Industrial Action
Strikes at the airport led to significant cancellations over the past year. Official figures show a total of 2,395 cancelled flights were recorded. This industrial action directly affected approximately 330,000 passengers. In total, seven separate days of strike action occurred in 2025.
The economic toll is substantial for the region. The disruption has cost the Belgian economy close to €175 million. Federal MP Kjell Vander Elst noted that each strike day represents a loss of about €25 million.
Political Tensions and Rising Taxes
The frequency of strikes has reignited political debate. This centers on the management and taxation of the airport. MP Vander Elst criticized mixed signals from the Belgian federal government.
Concerns are also mounting over the Belgium aviation tax structure. Under the current budget agreement, the federal government plans to raise the departure tax. From January 1, 2027, this tax will be a flat €10 per passenger. This tax had already been increased from €2 to €5 last summer.
- The tax increase makes Brussels less attractive to airlines.
- It risks pushing passengers to nearby, cheaper airports.
- Higher taxes and strikes ultimately feed into ticket prices.
Airline Calls for Dialogue and Reliability
Brussels Airlines, the national carrier, has urged all parties to find solutions. The airline stressed the economic importance of the airport for the entire country. They do not expect a repeat of the seven strike days in 2026.
The carrier also called for a different approach to protest. They suggested alternative ways that do not completely paralyse the airport. The idea of a guaranteed minimum service should be considered. Such systems exist in other countries and sectors. They protect essential services while respecting the right to strike.
Brussels Airlines noted that for the previous six days of action, the financial burden was estimated at €14 million for the airline alone. The airline emphasized this is an external conflict.
The Long-Term Reputation Risk
The greatest concern is the long-term impact on airport reliability. Reliability is everything in the competitive aviation industry. Once airlines and passengers lose confidence, it is difficult to win it back. The repeated disruptions damage the reputation of the airport and the country.
For the hundreds of thousands of travelers, the experience is one of uncertainty. They remember cancelled flights, rerouted journeys, and long waits. As Brussels Airport looks to 2026, avoiding a repeat of 2025 is critical. The airport cannot afford to be seen as unreliable. Passengers and airlines have many alternatives in the region. For more commercial aviation news, stay tuned with https://flying.flights.
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