Icy temperatures returned to Belgium on 5 January, forcing Brussels Airport to break out its full de-icing arsenal. According to airport spokesperson Jeffrey Franssens, only a “limited number of flights” were affected, but de-icing added 30–45 minutes to turnaround times and created ripples in departure timetables.
Unlike neighbouring hubs—Schiphol cancelled hundreds of flights and Paris saw widespread disruptions—Brussels avoided outright cancellations thanks to adequate glycol reserves and overnight runway treatments. Airlines nevertheless urged business travellers to arrive early and build buffer time into connections, particularly for trans-Atlantic or onward intra-Schengen hops.
![De-Icing Delays Hit Brussels Airport but Flights Keep Moving]()
For mobility managers the key risk is missed onward travel and visa-linked overstays. Non-EU assignees nearing the end of their 90-day Schengen allowance should document weather-related delays in case audits arise. Cargo operators reported only minor slippage in slot allocation, but warned that sustained freezing could divert freight to Liège or Cologne.
Meteorologists expect sub-zero nights through 7 January, and the Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) has retained a yellow alert for snow and ice. Travellers should monitor airline waiver policies; several carriers are allowing free changes for Belgium-origin itineraries through the end of the week.
Looking ahead, Brussels Airport says it will review glycol stock-management and explore additional heated parking stands, part of a broader winter-operations upgrade scheduled for discussion with Belgium’s civil-aviation authority next month.
Unlike neighbouring hubs—Schiphol cancelled hundreds of flights and Paris saw widespread disruptions—Brussels avoided outright cancellations thanks to adequate glycol reserves and overnight runway treatments. Airlines nevertheless urged business travellers to arrive early and build buffer time into connections, particularly for trans-Atlantic or onward intra-Schengen hops.
For mobility managers the key risk is missed onward travel and visa-linked overstays. Non-EU assignees nearing the end of their 90-day Schengen allowance should document weather-related delays in case audits arise. Cargo operators reported only minor slippage in slot allocation, but warned that sustained freezing could divert freight to Liège or Cologne.
Meteorologists expect sub-zero nights through 7 January, and the Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) has retained a yellow alert for snow and ice. Travellers should monitor airline waiver policies; several carriers are allowing free changes for Belgium-origin itineraries through the end of the week.
Looking ahead, Brussels Airport says it will review glycol stock-management and explore additional heated parking stands, part of a broader winter-operations upgrade scheduled for discussion with Belgium’s civil-aviation authority next month.
Source: The Brussels Times
