Breaking · Safety & Advisories
Belgium Is Shutting Down on Monday 12 October, Here’s What Still Runs and How to Reach Brussels Airport
A national public-sector strike hits Belgian trains and buses on 12 October. Brussels Airport expects flights to run, but getting there is the problem.
At a glance
- Published
- TopicSafety & Advisories
- Verified againstUK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
- Treks coveredNepal Classic Tour — 7 Days
On Monday 12 October 2026 Belgium’s public-sector unions are striking, and flights from Brussels Airport are expected to run but trains, trams and buses to it will not. The UK Foreign Office updated its advice on 7 October to warn of the strike, and Brussels Airport cancelled some flights during the 9 October demonstration, so build in time and a plan B for the journey to the terminal.
Key facts
- Strike day: Monday 12 October 2026; rail action starts 22:00 on Sunday 11 October
- National rail plans 70% of InterCity trains and 50% of local trains
- Brussels Airport does not expect air traffic disruption from the strike
- Strikes may be announced at short notice, says the FCDO
Will your flight from Brussels Airport still go?
Very probably yes, but check your airline before leaving. The FCDO page, last updated on 7 October and still current on 10 October, says Brussels Airport does not expect air traffic disruption from the public-sector action. Flights were cancelled on Friday 9 October during the large demonstration in central Brussels, so a flight-level change on the day is not impossible.
Which trains and buses are running?
Rail will run a reduced timetable on Monday: according to Travel and Tour World’s summary of the operator notices, 70% of InterCity trains, 50% of suburban and local trains and 20% of extra peak-hour services. Brussels metro, trams and buses may run less often, with routes confirmed shortly before 06:00 on the day. In Flanders, De Lijn expects serious disruption in Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges, with an alternative timetable due on Saturday evening.
| Service | Expected |
|---|---|
| SNCB InterCity | 70% of trains |
| SNCB suburban and local | 50% of trains |
| SNCB extra peak trains | 20% |
| Brussels metro, tram, bus | Reduced, confirmed before 06:00 |
| De Lijn (Flanders) | Serious disruption |
| Brussels Airport flights | Expected to run normally |
What if a strike makes you miss your flight?
Probably nobody pays you. UK Civil Aviation Authority guidance treats strikes by airport or air traffic control staff as extraordinary circumstances, so an airline owes no cash compensation, and a train strike you could have planned around is even weaker ground for a claim. Most travel insurance also excludes a strike that was already announced when you bought the policy, so a policy bought now is unlikely to help. Read the wording or call the insurer before you rely on it.
How do you get to the terminal on strike day?
Travel the day before if you can, because a hotel near the airport costs far less than a missed flight. Otherwise pre-book a taxi or transfer, leave two to three hours earlier than normal and check the rail journey planner about 24 hours ahead. Eurostar and ICE services were not reported as suspended, but your connection to a Belgian domestic train may be affected, so confirm your onward leg separately.
What this means for you
Treat a strike day like a bad-weather day: arrive early, book transport you control and keep your receipts. The same buffer-day thinking applies to a mountain itinerary, and it is built into our Nepal classic tour.
Sources: UK FCDO Belgium travel advice (updated 7 October 2026); Travel and Tour World; UK Civil Aviation Authority.
Cover photo: Travel Photographer via Pexels (Pexels License). Section photos: Jyrki Nieminen via Pexels (Pexels licence); Planespotter Geneva via Pexels (Pexels licence); Jan van der Wolf via Pexels (Pexels licence); Braeson Holland via Pexels (Pexels licence); Sinitta Leunen via Pexels (Pexels licence).
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