12,000 passengers grounded as strikes trigger 'near-total shutdown' at two major airports
A nationwide strike in Belgium today (June 25) has triggered a near-total shutdown at Brussels and Charleroi airports, grounding 50-70 UK flights, including many flying out of Scotland, and stranding between 9000 and 12,600 Brits .
The walkout led by airport security staff protesting government budget cuts and staffing shortages has forced both airports to suspend all outbound flights today (June 25).
From Edinburgh Airport there is a daily Brussels Air flight, while Glasgow Airport usually sees between five and seven daily flights via codeshares or direct services.
Experts at AirAdvisor estimate that the strikes will affect between 50 and 70 flights from the UK and will impact between 9,000 and 12,000 passengers.
And they said while strikes across Europe have become more common, the scale of disruption today is significantly larger, and it comes during peak summer planning, leading to more problems for travellers.
There are also fears of more disruption for travellers with Belgium possibly seeing more strikes in the peak summer months of July and August.
This could affect 10 to 15 per cent of summer bookings to the country. Unions have said they may call strikes every four to six weeks if the situation is left unresolved.
Anton Radchenko, Aviation Expert & Founder of AirAdvisor said: 'What makes this strike so problematic is that it disrupts the backbone of airport operations: security screening.
"Unlike pilot strikes where airlines can sometimes operate reduced schedules, security strikes shut down entire terminals. For UK travellers, this means no flexibility, no fallback options, and no notice."
They advise passengers to be prepared ahead of further action this summer.
Anton said: "Book flexible fares, avoid same-day connections via Brussels or Charleroi, and build at least 24-hour buffers if your itinerary involves Belgian hubs.
"From a legal standpoint, while airlines aren't obligated to pay compensation for these third-party strikes, they must still offer full refunds or alternative routes, and they're required to provide care, including food, transport, and overnight stays where necessary.
"If your airline fails to meet these obligations, you have the right to escalate your claim."
He also said: "Looking ahead, I strongly advise passengers to treat Belgium as a 'high-risk travel zone' for the next 4–6 weeks.
"The same goes for Helsinki, which has been notorious for strikes this year. Until labour disputes are resolved, travellers should reroute through more stable hubs like Amsterdam, Frankfurt, or Paris, where the chance of mass cancellations is significantly lower."
AirAdvisor's has also offered advice for UK passengers:
Check Flight Status: Use your airline's website or app for accurate and timely updates.
Flexible Booking: Reschedule via airline change policies or use travel insurance to cover £150-£1,200 losses.
Reroute Options: Consider flying via Amsterdam (AMS) with KLM (£150-£250, 1 hour) or Paris (CDG) with Air France (£200-£300, 1.5 hours), adding 2-4 hours but ensuring safety.
Document all receipts, and avoid tight layovers in affected areas.
Check FCDO travel advice for Belgium updates and airline apps for real-time changes. Contact customer service for rebooking, as other mediums report 24-hour delays in responses.
Consider delaying Belgium trips until mid-July, when strikes may ease.
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