Upcoming European Airport Strikes and Delta Lawsuit: Travel Updates

(BRUSSELS, BELGIUM) A nationwide walkout in Belgium on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, will shut down most air travel in the country, with both Brussels Airport and Brussels Charleroi Airport halting nearly all operations for the day. Airport authorities say all departing flights at Brussels Airport are canceled on October 14, and arriving flights may also be affected. Brussels Charleroi Airport is canceling all departures and arrivals on October 14.

The strike is expected to hit public services broadly, with train, bus, tram, and metro frequencies sharply reduced and many shops and public offices closed. The shutdown comes as a wave of European airport strikes spreads across the continent in October, placing added pressure on airlines, airport ground teams, and travelers already dealing with tight fall schedules and school holiday peaks.

Belgium-wide walkout: immediate impacts

The Belgian action is part of a national strike, meaning aviation will not be the only sector affected. For air passengers, the most immediate impact will be at the capital’s main hub and at Brussels Charleroi Airport, a major base for low-cost carriers.

• Brussels Airport typically handles around 200 departures daily, underscoring the massive scale of cancellations.
• Airlines have issued waivers and rebooking options, but travelers should expect long response times and limited seat availability given the volume of grounded flights.
• According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, ripple delays can carry into the following day as aircraft and crew are out of position and schedules are rebuilt one route at a time.

Local commuting will also be difficult. With the strike extending to public transport, many travelers may struggle even to reach airports for any remaining or rescheduled flights. Authorities urge passengers to check airline apps and airport websites before leaving home and to avoid arriving at the terminal unless they have confirmation their flight is operating.

Important: Do not go to the airport on October 14 unless your carrier has explicitly confirmed your flight is operating.

Wider disruptions across Europe

Beyond Belgium, European airport strikes are set to affect travel throughout October:

• France
  • A planned four-day strike by French air traffic controllers could disrupt hundreds of thousands of travelers across Europe.
  • Even flights not landing in France may face reroutes, speed controls, or cancellations if airspace capacity drops.
• Spain
  • Ongoing strikes by Azul Handling baggage staff—serving Ryanair and other carriers—are scheduled on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through the rest of 2025 during these hours: 05:00–09:00, 12:00–15:00, and 21:00–23:59.
  • Impacted airports include: Alicante, Barcelona, Girona, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Madrid, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Tenerife South, and Valencia.
  • Expect delayed baggage delivery, slower turnarounds, and flight departures during the affected windows.
• Italy and Portugal
  • Strikes are also anticipated in Italy and Portugal in October, with potential for delays and uneven service at major hubs and regional airports.

This strike cluster coincides with the European Union’s phased rollout of a new biometric entry system at external borders, replacing passport stamps for many non-EU travelers. The launch began in October 2025.

• For official details on the Entry/Exit System (EES), travelers can consult the European Commission’s page: European Commission – Entry/Exit System.
• Launch periods often bring longer lines and confusion for first-time users. The overlap of border changes and labor actions raises the chance of longer queues and missed connections, especially where border control staffing is stretched.

Airline and network responses

Airlines are adjusting flight plans and crew duties day by day. Typical responses include:

1. Consolidating flights or moving passengers onto earlier or later departures outside strike windows.
2. Cancelling segments entirely to protect network integrity.
3. Rebuilding schedules route by route as aircraft and crew become available.

Families connecting through strike-affected airports should consider splitting itineraries—adding longer layovers or choosing different hubs—if rebooking options allow.

A separate legal and operational complexity involves transatlantic partnerships: Delta and Aeromexico are challenging a U.S. government decision to dissolve their joint venture, which could affect coordination of transborder schedules. While no immediate schedule changes are tied to the lawsuit, carriers dealing with European disruptions may have tighter margins to maintain on-time performance across long-haul networks.

In other airline finance news, Spirit Airlines received court approval for up to $475 million in debtor-in-possession financing as part of its Chapter 11 process, highlighting ongoing economic pressures in the industry. Separately, Delta agreed in July 2025 to pay $8.1 million related to Payroll Support Program compliance allegations.

Practical guidance: what travelers should do now

With the Belgian shutdown and broader European airport strikes, take these steps to reduce disruption risk:

• Confirm flight status repeatedly in the 24–48 hours before departure.
• Use airline apps to accept self-service rebooking quickly; seats go fast when mass cancellations hit.
• If flying from Belgium on October 14, do not go to the airport unless your carrier confirms operation.
• Allow extra time on surrounding days as services recover due to reduced public transport.
• In Spain, plan around the listed strike hours and pack essential items in carry-on in case checked bags are delayed.
• Keep receipts for meals, hotels, or other expenses if disrupted—depending on local rules and carrier policies, you may be able to claim care or refunds.
• Monitor border control updates during the EES rollout and allow extra time for outbound and inbound checks if you are a non-EU traveler.

Human impact and anecdotes

The human side of these disruptions is already showing. Students heading to fall terms, grandparents traveling for family events, and workers on tight project timelines face tough choices: cancel, reroute, or wait it out.

Example chain of disruptions a traveler might face:
– Baggage delays in Spain → reroute to Amsterdam to bypass French airspace constraints → final leg by train to Belgium after the national strike ends.

Other incidents this week include:
– A Ryanair Boeing 737 MAX evacuated in the UK after smoke was detected; all passengers exited safely.
– A passenger with a pilot’s license helped fly a commercial jet after a crew member became incapacitated.
– A passenger folded paper Boeing 737 models on a Delta flight and gifted them to the cockpit crew; the gesture gained traction on social media.

These stories show both the stress and the small acts that can ease tense moments.

Key takeaways and recommended best practices

• Check official government, airport, and airline advisories frequently.
• Keep itineraries flexible—avoid tight connections when possible.
• Travel with carry-on only when you can, or pack essentials in your hand luggage.
• Prefer early-day departures to reduce risk when disruption windows are large.
• Keep records of extra expenses to support claims for compensation or care.

For official travel and border policy updates, consult government and airport advisories alongside your airline. VisaVerge.com recommends keeping itineraries flexible and planning ahead to reduce risk when strikes and new border checks collide.