Airports in Belgium are bracing for major service disruptions tomorrow, Tuesday 29 April, amid a nationwide strike of both private and public sector workers.

Brussels Airport and Charleroi Airport have warned travellers to expect cancellations and delays, particularly for departing flights.

The walk-out has been organised by Belgian trade unions CVC/ACV and FGTB/ABVV to protest against government reforms affecting pensions, working conditions and wage regulations.

Brussels Airport strike: 30 per cent of departing flights cancelled

The industrial action is expected to severely impact security and baggage handling at Brussels Airport in Zaventem on Tuesday.

Belgium’s main flight hub announced that it has requested airlines to limit operations in preparation. At least 30 per cent of departing flights have already been cancelled.

“Significant disruption is expected throughout the day,” the airport has warned. Official advice for passengers is to check flight status updates regularly and prepare for possible delays or last-minute changes.

Arriving flights are expected to run on schedule, although the airport says modifications may occur as the situation develops during the day.

A spokesperson added that further departing flights may be scrapped depending on how the industrial action develops over the next 24 hours.

Brussels Airlines cancels 70 flights

Brussels Airlines, which is based at the airport, will be most affected by the strike.

The carrier has already scrapped around 70 flights on Tuesday. Passengers are being notified via email and should receive guidance on rebooking or claiming a refund through a dedicated online portal.

“This process takes several hours, as we aim to offer travellers alternative solutions immediately – such as rebooking on a different flight or routing via another airport,” Brussels Airlines spokesperson, Nico Cardone, said.

Charleroi Airport cancels all departing flights

Charleroi Airport (BSCA) will also feel the impact of the strikes. It has scrapped all departing flights on Tuesday, citing insufficient staff “to run operations in complete safety”, according to news site Brussels Times.

The latest updates are that arriving flights should not experience major disruption, although passengers are advised to monitor updates in the run-up.

Passengers should plan for public transport disruptions

Travellers have also been warned to leave plenty of time for journeys to airports in Brussels.

Public transport across the city will be disrupted by the strikes, with train, metro, tram and bus services all affected.

“We will do everything in our power to ensure at least part of the service, and will inform passengers in real time about the situation on the network,” public transport operator STIB/MIVB said.

Brussels Airport advises passengers to arrive at least two hours before departure for Schengen destinations and three hours for non-Schengen flights.

The transport hub has urged passengers to follow updates on official communication channels and monitor airline websites closely.

“We are doing our utmost to minimise the inconvenience for our passengers, but given the national scope of the strike, disruption will be unavoidable,” the airport added.

Nearby airports may experience knock-on effects of the strikes as flights are re-routed or passengers book alternative routes.

Tourists are increasingly aware that the way they travel matters – not just for the planet, but for the people who call popular destinations home.

That’s the key takeaway from Booking.com’s 2025 Sustainable Travel Report.

In its tenth edition, the report finds that more than half of travellers are now conscious of tourism’s impact on local communities as well as the environment.

Based on insights from 32,000 people across 34 countries, the report reveals a potential paradigm shift in how we define responsible travel.

Are good intentions enough?

Seeing the world in a more sustainable way seems to be more popular than ever.

A whopping 93 per cent of respondents to the survey, which included thousands of people across six continents, said they want to make more responsible choices and have already taken steps to do so.

That is more than double the percentage of respondents who said as much in 2016.

Simple actions, from turning off air conditioning to avoiding overcrowded hotspots, have begun to enter the mainstream, too.

But this year’s research shows that more environmentally friendly travel is only part of the story. The economic and social effects of exploring new places, from the pressure added to housing systems to paying due respect to cultural traditions, are now top of mind for many tourists.

Almost 40 per cent of respondents are seeking advice on travel outside of peak seasons or visiting alternative destinations to avoid overcrowding.

The report also reveals a disconnect between ideas and action, however.

Almost a third of respondents reported rising living costs in their home destinations due to tourism. Yet only 16 per cent believed that capping visitor numbers is the answer. Instead, many call for better investment in waste management, public transport and conservation to curb the impact of overtourism.

Many destinations are embracing this shift in priorities

Some places are adapting to evolving traveller expectations.

Chile, for instance, is actively courting “responsible high-spend tourists” – people who, according to the country’s tourism board, seek immersive, culturally sensitive experiences. They are also willing to spend more to support local businesses and conservation efforts​.

To target these travellers, the country is expanding protected areas, supporting rewilding projects and investing in eco-friendly travel options.

In theGalapagos, where fragile ecosystems face enormous pressure from tourism, some cruise operators are rethinking their business models. Itineraries now prioritise sustainable activities​, with guides reminding guests of the impact even a single footprint can have on the environment.

The islands have also pushed back against overtourism by doublingentry fees.

Others are feeling the pressure

The situation is more strained elsewhere as increasing visitor numbers overwhelm some destinations.

After a trial last year, Venice relaunched its day-tripper tax in 2025 to help manage the flood of tourists that strain its historic core. Visitors who fail to pay can face steep fines​. But the €10 fee has done little to dissuade travellers from descending upon the city en masse.

Last summer, the number of tourist beds in Venice overtook the number of residents.

Spain has seen a rise in anti-tourism sentiment. In destinations likeBarcelona,Mallorca andTenerife, locals have protested the impact of short-term rentals, noise and congestion.

Local governments are beginning to act, but change has been slow and piecemeal.

Outside La Sagrada Familia – one of Barcelona’s most photographed places – officials are introducing aselfie space to ease overcrowding. But the plan seems unlikely to stem the tide of tourists queuing up to see Gaudí’s famously unfinished cathedral.

Tourism needs clearer direction

The findings of the 2025 Sustainable Travel Report underscore a key challenge for the industry: aligning growing traveller awareness with meaningful, accessible action.

“To ensure that destinations can continue to be enjoyed by both locals and visitors alike, tourism, infrastructure and innovation need to keep pace with travellers’ good intent,” says Danielle D’Silva, director of sustainability at Booking.com.

The app itself is likely to contribute to these causes. D’Silva says the company plans to feature hotels, homestays and guesthouses that have reputable sustainability certifications or provide training and guidance for its accommodation partners.

With so many travellers wanting to make more sustainable choices, the question now is whether next year’s figures will show intent turning into impact.

Millions of visitors travel to Egypt each year to see the iconic Pyramids of Giza.

Despite being one of the world’s most famous ancient sites, the experience leaves many travellers with unpleasant memories.

For years, the UNESCO World Heritage Site has been plagued by poor management, unregulated and aggressive vendors, and reports of animal cruelty.

Now, Egypt is taking steps to clean up the Pyramids of Giza – but the revamp has got off to a rocky start.

Vendors protest relocation to new zones

Experiences of overcrowding and persistent tour touters have tarnished many tourists’ experiences of the Giza Plateau – home to several pyramids and the Great Sphinx.

The Egyptian government’s newly unveiled plan aims to relaunch the site with improved management and regulations.

The project, led by Orascom Pyramids Entertainment Services Company, is reportedly set to cost $51 million (€45 million).

This week, a new access point to the complex on the Fayoum Highway was tested, replacing the historic entrance near Marriott Mena House, which frequently suffers from traffic jams and congestion.

But the trial run faced pushback from horse and camel tour operators, who blocked vehicles from entering in a protest against their relocation to new designated parking areas.

They say these are too far from the entrance and will damage business. The vendors have long been accused of harassment and alleged extortion by visitors.

Businessman Naguib Sawiris, the founder of Orascom Telecom Holding and Orascom Investment Holding, wrote on X that sellers who refuse to move to the new zone area would be banned.

“The well-being of the public and preservation of this treasure is far more important than catering to the interests of 2,000 individuals who have caused harm to the country for years,” he posted.

Pyramids of Giza adopt electric vehicles

The new measures also prohibit private vehicles and tour buses from entering the plateau, instead providing visitors and their guides with eco-friendly electric vehicles to get around the site.

While the transition aims to improve the sustainability of the complex, some visitors have complained on social media about the availability of the vehicles, saying they’ve been forced to wait or walk in the heat.

Orascom issued a statement in response, stating that 45 electric buses had been made available on the site and are scheduled to run every five minutes.

The revamp will also see several tombs restored, the introduction of online ticketing and a new visitor centre.

Visitors warned against animal tours at Pyramids of Giza

Some hope that the relocation of tour vendors is also a step towards bringing an end to animal cruelty reported at the site.

A recent investigation by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) found instances of routine abuse and animals left to rot at the side of the road.

“PETA has documented the routine punching, kicking, whipping, and starving of horses and camels at the pyramids,” says PETA Asia Vice President Jason Baker.

“Animals are literally ridden to death and then dumped like rubbish outside the gate. The Pyramids of Giza should symbolise Egypt’s beauty and history – not unchecked animal abuse. The Egyptian government must act to remove these suffering animals from Giza.”

The campaign group is urging tourists not to engage the services of these animal tour companies.