Belgium faced another day of transport turmoil on 30 June 2026 as the country’s three main trade-union confederations staged a 24-hour general strike against proposed pension and welfare cuts. The action involved ground staff at Brussels Airport, regional rail operator SNCB/NMBS, TEC and De Lijn bus networks, and several municipal services.
![Nation-wide strike disrupts Belgian air, rail and bus services]()
Travellers uncertain about visa or entry requirements amid these disruptions can simplify preparations through VisaHQ, which offers up-to-date Belgian visa information, online applications and courier options, all in one dashboard (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/). Whether employees need short-stay Schengen visas or last-minute document renewals, VisaHQ’s 24/7 tracking and customer support reduce administrative headaches so mobility teams can focus on contingency planning rather than paperwork.
Early estimates by the unions place turnout at over 100,000 workers; federal police confirmed pickets at all major stations. At Brussels Airport, handling agents reported staffing levels below 60 %, forcing airlines to consolidate check-in desks and cancel at least 75 departures, mainly short-haul European rotations. Charleroi and Liège cargo hubs also saw delays as baggage and cargo loaders joined the stoppage. International rail operator Thalys suspended services between Brussels and Paris, while Eurostar ran a ‘strike timetable’ with reduced seating. Union leaders from ABVV/FGTB, CSC/ACV and CGSLB/ACLVB accuse the centre-right coalition of eroding social protections, notably by shortening unemployment benefits and freezing wage-indexation. The government insists reforms are needed to meet EU fiscal targets and keep Belgium’s ageing-related spending in check. Talks at the High Council for Employment collapsed last week, triggering the strike notice. For businesses, the walk-out underscores the importance of resilient travel policies: airlines waived rebooking fees, but many travellers faced overnight accommodation costs and missed onward connections. Mobility departments should monitor further union deadlines – organisers hinted at “rolling actions” in July if dialogue stalls – and consider staggered arrival windows or remote-work plans for assignees due in Belgium. Although airspace remained open (unlike the ATC stoppage earlier in June), today’s ground-handling disruption shows labour unrest can hit mobility even without flight bans. Corporate travel managers are advised to register staff itineraries on dynamic risk platforms and communicate real-time alternatives via Brussels Airport’s Strike Desk updates.
Travellers uncertain about visa or entry requirements amid these disruptions can simplify preparations through VisaHQ, which offers up-to-date Belgian visa information, online applications and courier options, all in one dashboard (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/). Whether employees need short-stay Schengen visas or last-minute document renewals, VisaHQ’s 24/7 tracking and customer support reduce administrative headaches so mobility teams can focus on contingency planning rather than paperwork.
Early estimates by the unions place turnout at over 100,000 workers; federal police confirmed pickets at all major stations. At Brussels Airport, handling agents reported staffing levels below 60 %, forcing airlines to consolidate check-in desks and cancel at least 75 departures, mainly short-haul European rotations. Charleroi and Liège cargo hubs also saw delays as baggage and cargo loaders joined the stoppage. International rail operator Thalys suspended services between Brussels and Paris, while Eurostar ran a ‘strike timetable’ with reduced seating. Union leaders from ABVV/FGTB, CSC/ACV and CGSLB/ACLVB accuse the centre-right coalition of eroding social protections, notably by shortening unemployment benefits and freezing wage-indexation. The government insists reforms are needed to meet EU fiscal targets and keep Belgium’s ageing-related spending in check. Talks at the High Council for Employment collapsed last week, triggering the strike notice. For businesses, the walk-out underscores the importance of resilient travel policies: airlines waived rebooking fees, but many travellers faced overnight accommodation costs and missed onward connections. Mobility departments should monitor further union deadlines – organisers hinted at “rolling actions” in July if dialogue stalls – and consider staggered arrival windows or remote-work plans for assignees due in Belgium. Although airspace remained open (unlike the ATC stoppage earlier in June), today’s ground-handling disruption shows labour unrest can hit mobility even without flight bans. Corporate travel managers are advised to register staff itineraries on dynamic risk platforms and communicate real-time alternatives via Brussels Airport’s Strike Desk updates.
