Nearly 2,400 flights cancelled at Brussels Airport in 2025 due to strike action

Successive strikes at Brussels Airport led to the cancellation of 2,395 flights last year, according to figures requested by MP Kjell Vander Elst (Open VLd), reports Belga.

In total, some 330,000 travellers were affected by seven days of strikes that disrupted air traffic at the airport in Zaventem in 2025.

Earlier this month, the airport said: “275,000 passengers have already missed a flight this year, representing a cost of nearly €175 million for the Belgian economy.”

Vander Elst pointed out that:  “Each day of the strike represents a loss of €25 million for our economy. But above all, in the long term, it simply damages the perception of our airport’s reliability.”

He also criticised the federal government’s intention to raise the airport tax from €5 to €10 for departing passenger in 2027.  “Whoever plays with our airport plays with our prosperity. And while the Flemish government is going into debt to the tune of €3 billion to put a Flemish lion on the roof of the departures terminal, the federal government is doubling the airport tax. It makes no sense.”

Photo: ©Brussels Airport