Brussels Airport asks airlines to cancel 50% of departures on 12 May

Disruption overview

Passengers due to fly from Brussels Airport on 12 May 2026 are being warned of major disruption after the airport asked airlines to cancel around 50% of departing passenger flights. Security screening and ground-handling staff are expected to join a nationwide trade union demonstration in Belgium, and the airport says cutting the schedule in advance should help keep the terminal safe, limit queues, and reduce last-minute cancellations while airlines rebook affected passengers. Arrivals should face more limited disruption, although connections may still be affected. Because the action involves airport-service staff rather than airline staff, compensation under EC 261 is unlikely in most cases, but airlines should still provide rerouting or refunds and care such as food, refreshments, and accommodation if needed.

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Disruption details

Passengers flying from Brussels Airport (BRU) on Tuesday, 12 May 2026 face major disruption after the airport asked all airlines to cut departing passenger flights by around 50%. The move comes ahead of a nationwide trade union demonstration in Belgium that will involve security screening and ground-handling staff.

For passengers, that means a significant chance of canceled departures, rebooked travel plans, and longer waits at the airport. Even travelers arriving in Brussels could still face knock-on disruption if they were due to continue on a connecting flight.

Brussels Airport says normal operations cannot be maintained because the staff joining the protest are essential to day-to-day flight handling. Security teams are needed for boarding pass checks, while ground crews are responsible for baggage loading and aircraft turnaround.

After reviewing expected staffing levels with its partners, the airport decided to reduce the schedule in advance rather than risk more disruption on the day itself. It says the aim is to keep the terminal safe, avoid unmanageable queues, and reduce the chances of last-minute cancellations once passengers are already at the airport.

Airlines are now adjusting timetables and rebooking affected passengers. More cuts could still follow if absenteeism turns out to be higher than forecast.

The heaviest impact is expected on departing passenger flights. Arrivals should face only limited disruption, but onward connections may still be affected because many flights that were due to leave Brussels will no longer take off.

The planned walkout will be the ninth union-led action to hit air traffic at Brussels Airport since the beginning of 2025. The protest is directed at Belgium's federal-government policies, rather than at Brussels Airport or any specific airline, but aviation continues to be caught in the middle.

Airport officials say they are still in talks with security contractors, ground-handling companies, and public authorities in an effort to preserve as many essential operations as possible. Even with those discussions continuing, the airport has warned that delays could still be added to the expected wave of cancellations.

Because this disruption is linked to airport-service staff taking part in a wider national protest, rather than something an airline controls directly, compensation under EC 261 is unlikely in most cases. But that doesn't mean you're without support. If your flight is canceled, your airline should offer rerouting or a refund, and during long delays it should also provide care such as food, refreshments, and accommodation when needed. If you want to understand what may apply to your journey, AirHelp's free flight checker is a simple place to start.

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