Flights have been grounded in Belgium today, leaving thousands of Europeans stranded.

Departing flights have been cancelled to guarantee “the safety of passengers and staff” after a a nationwide industrial strike was called for 13 February.

Operations at Belgium’s largest air hub have been the most heavily affected, with some arrivals into Brussels Airport also cancelled.

Likewise, only flights from the Schengen zone being permitted to land at Charleroi Airport.

A statement by Brussels Airport says. “We regret the inconvenience caused by this union action.”

How will I know if my flight is cancelled?

If you have plans to travel to and from Belgium in the next 48 hours, you are advised to check the status of your flights with your airline. Flights from France, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the US are all being impacted by the strike.

A spokesperson for Brussels Airport says: “Airlines will contact passengers whose flights have been impacted. We ask passengers not to come to the airport on the day.”

You can also speak to your airline to discuss rescheduling and rebooking options.

Brussels-South Airport in Charleroi also says: “Due to the lack of staff present to ensure operations run safely, all flights scheduled to depart from Charleroi Airport have been cancelled. Only incoming Schengen flights will be operating.”

Eurostar and regional train services in the European capital are so far unaffected, but may be busier than usual due to passengers making alternative travel arrangements.

Public transport services such as buses may also experience delays and some cancelled services.

The Belgian strike action is also causing a domino effect on pressure to airports throughout Europe. Maastricht Aachen Airport, the Netherland’s second-largest air cargo hub is also bracing for an influx of both passenger and cargo flights today. This includes nine rerouted Wizz Air flights.

What is the reason for the nationwide strike in Belgium?

A joint trade unions have joined together to organise a mass walkout by all Belgium’s airport security staff and baggage handlers. This is to protest again the Belgian Government’s pension reform plans, as well as ongoing labour concerns around working conditions and wages.

This follows a strike last month – on 13 January – as unions plan to strike on the 13th of every month until further notice while negotiations continue.

Given that the aviation sector relies heavily on its security and ground staff, the unions hope that the continued strikes will put pressure on the government and employers to address their demands.

If you are planning a flight to Brussels in the next few months, you may be better off booking it for early or later in the calendar month to avoid disruption.

Brussels airports caution to expect a “busy day” on 14 February

“Due to the rescheduling of many passengers, we expect a very busy day at Brussels Airport on Friday”, says the airport website.

“We recommend to come to the airport in time and to check our online tool or our app to know at what time to arrive for your flight.”

Are passengers entitled to compensation due to a strike?

Under EU law, if a flight is cancelled, the airline has to offer you a refund or an alternative flight.

If your flight is delayed, you may be entitled to refunds for unplanned expenses, such as food and accommodation.

Contact your airline or travel agent to claim your refunds, though beware it can take months for your money to arrive.

According to EU law, rail passengers within the bloc are also entitled to compensation.

If your train is delayed but you choose to travel anyway, you may still be eligible for a partial or full refund. This usually depends on how late your train arrives at its destination.

If your train is delayed by more than 60 minutes, you can choose not to travel and will receive a full refund for your ticket.

Alternatively, you can choose to travel at a later date.

Europe’s airports have finally exceeded pre-Covid levels of passenger traffic, according to a new report.

Airports Council International (ACI) Europe confirmed that 2.5 billion passengers passed through European airports in 2024 – 7.4 per cent higher than in 2023.

As a result, last year’s overall traffic was 1.8 per cent above pre-pandemic levels (2019).

However, 47 per cent of Europe’s airports are still below their pre-pandemic volumes.

Structural aviation market changes and geopolitics have resulted in significant performance gaps across national and individual airport markets, ACI Europe said.

Europe’s airports surpassed historic passenger traffic records in 2024

The growth of Europe’s airports in 2024 was mostly driven by international passenger traffic (up 8.8 per cent on 2023), the report found.

Domestic passenger traffic only grew 2.5 per cent on 2023 – remaining 6.3 per cent below pre-pandemic levels.

Traffic was more pronounced in the first half of the year as well as during off-peak months traditionally associated with lower traffic.

This reflects structural aviation market changes – including a partial shift to rail – strong cross-border mobility within the EU Single Market, and fast-growing demand in emerging markets outside the EU, ACI Europe said.

“Europe’s airports welcomed an additional 200 million passengers last year, with many surpassing their previous historic records,” said Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI Europe.

“This was achieved despite much-inflated airfares, continued supply pressures, mostly tepid economic growth and geopolitical tensions. That clearly speaks volumes about how consumers are now prioritising experiences and travel in particular.”

Jankovec added that 2024 confirmed major structural post-Covid shifts, with passengers increasingly travelling for leisure and visiting friends and relatives, and low-cost carriers largely defining traffic performance.

Which are Europe’s busiest airports?

The best-performing European airports in 2024 were London Heathrow, Istanbul, Paris CDG, Amsterdam Schiphol and Madrid.

London Heathrow retained its position as Europe’s busiest airport in 2024, welcoming 83.9 million passengers. This represented an increase of 5.9 per cent over the previous year, allowing the British hub to surpass its pre-pandemic levels by 3.7 per cent.

Airports in the EU+ market – including in Hungary, Czechia and Estonia – saw passenger traffic increase by 7.8 per cent in 2024 when compared to the previous year, outperforming those in the rest of Europe.

The impact of geopolitics was more acute in those areas, hitting airports in Israel (-33.3 per cent), Russia (-13.5 per cent) and Ukraine (no traffic).

Passenger traffic at small airports (less than one million passengers) in 2024 grew at the slowest pace and remained 34.5 per cent below their pre-pandemic volumes.

These small airports provide connectivity and territorial cohesion across the breadth of Europe, ACI Europe said, yet structural market changes and regulatory developments are hindering their recovery.

‘Ill-advised aviation policies’ will be biggest challenge for further growth in 2025

“Looking at the months ahead, we expect demand for air travel to remain resilient – defying fragile consumer confidence and generally sluggish European economies,” Jankovec said.

“We are thus forecasting a 4 per cent growth in passenger traffic for 2025 – but we will need to keep that forecast under review, considering the overwhelming global political and economic uncertainties.”

The main challenges for traffic will be airlines’ fleet management woes, air traffic management capacity shortages, ill-advised aviation policies and geopolitics, Jankovec said.

Heathrow is taking the art of the private lounge to a new level with an upgraded terminal where VIPs can peruse pieces from the likes of David Hockney, Tracey Emin, and Francis Bacon.

The Windsor by Heathrow, as it’s now called, is an exclusive VIP suite inside the London airport, that caters to high profile fliers from world leaders to A-list celebrities.

The private terminal has been refurbished to a startlingly luxurious degree, with prices starting at £3,812 (€4,575) for up to three guests, who must be flying first or business class.

“From our carefully curated interiors to our exceptional service, we provide our guests with an unparalleled experience that reflects the finest of British hospitality,” says Charlotte Burns, VIP lead at Heathrow.

Deep-pocketed passengers can also enjoy a private chauffeur service in an electric BMW from front door to plane door, a private butler service, and exclusive dishes from a Michelin-starred chef.

Heathrow has a rich history of luxury lounges

The Windsor by Heathrow signals “a new chapter in luxury travel” according to the airport – but a fair few chapters predate it.

Heathrow launched the world’s first airport VIP service in the early sixties, initially serving only royalty and diplomats.

The Windsor Suite came on the scene in 2008, and the commercial service was officially rolled out a year later, in time for the London 2012 Olympics.

Members of the British Royal family, the Pope, and celebs such as the Beckhams have all made use of Heathrow’s luxurious side, where all airport formalities are handled by the dedicated VIP team.

The luxury airport lounge-cum-gallery where you can add to your private art collection

The Windsor’s eight private lounges also double as a private art gallery, showcasing museum-worthy artworks from around the world. Modern British artists such as David Hockney, Tracey Emin and Francis Bacon, as well as American icons like Andy Warhol, feature on the walls.

These pieces won’t be hanging around for long though: guests can purchase them through a QR code, and the collection gets refreshed every two months so frequent fliers don’t get bored.

Fine dining is a given, of course Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton has curated the suite’s menu since 2016, and is marking its reopening with a signature dessert dish of English butter shortbread with praline cream, Earl Grey tea ice cream, custard sauce, and charred mandarin.

But other ‘personal touches’ may surprise outsiders.

For special occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries, the VIP team promises to go the extra mile, with chefs on hand to bake cakes for last-minute surprises.

The Suite accommodates family pets, particularly dogs, when asked. And bespoke menus are crafted for Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, and even the quintessentially-British summer tennis championship: Wimbledon.

Then there’s the personal shopper, who will “navigate the back corridors of Heathrow” to take guests to their favourite stores in Terminal 5, such as Cartier, Burberry, Fortnum & Mason, Dior, and Rolex.

Europe’s other luxurious airport lounges

Heathrow has certainly pushed the boat out with The Windsor, but it’s not the only deluxe place the super-rich can await their flights in Europe.

Frankfurt Airport’s first-class lounge has its own terminal, where guests can make a day of it in private bathing rooms (one featuring a jacuzzi) before hitting the whisky-replete bar. A personal assistant is also assigned to each VIP to keep stress firmly at bay through the boarding process.

As a souvenir, first class passengers – who must be flying with Lufthansa – are reportedly gifted a collectible rubber duck.

SWISS Air’s First Class Lounge in Terminal E at Zurich Airport is also a destination in itself. Lounge guests have access to two hotel rooms with a double bed, a private bathroom, and panoramic views of the Alps.

The mountains also take centre stage on the 352 square metre terrace, where first class fliers can watch planes take off before their turn – champagne in hand.

Michelin-chef designed delights are on offer at Air France La Première Lounge at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, too, alongside complimentary spa treatments.

While off to the east of Europe, Turkish Airlines CIP Lounge at Ataturk International Airport was refurbished in dazzling style in 2019, serving high fliers at gastronomy stations.