Belgium National Strike on March 12, 2026: Widespread Travel Disruptions Anticipated

Belgium is bracing for a nationwide strike on Thursday, March 12, 2026, organized by the country’s three major trade-union confederations: FGTB/ABVV, CSC/ACV, and CGSLB/ACLVB. The strike, protesting stalled wage-indexation talks and proposed pension reforms, is expected to cause significant disruption, particularly for travelers.

Airport Shutdowns

Brussels Airport (BRU) has preemptively cancelled all scheduled departures and most arrivals for March 12th. Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) will be completely shut down to passenger flights on the same day. Belgium’s civil aviation authority has issued a NOTAM declaring zero departure slots after midnight on the 12th.

Ground-handling firms Aviapartner and Swissport have advised airlines to withdraw aircraft to avoid them being stranded.

Public Transportation Impact

Public transportation within Belgium will be severely affected. STIB/MIVB (Brussels), De Lijn (Flanders), and TEC (Wallonia) have warned that metro, tram, and bus services will be “severely limited to non-existent,” making access to airports and other destinations difficult even for unaffected flights. De Lijn trade unions are striking against federal government policies, resulting in fewer buses and trams running throughout Flanders.

Travel Advisories and Rebooking Options

Foreign governments are advising citizens to postpone travel to Belgium if possible. Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry issued a travel advisory on March 11th urging citizens to delay trips and confirm itineraries with carriers. Travelers are similarly advised to verify whether route changes will affect their visa status.

Major airlines, including Air Canada, Brussels Airlines, and Royal Air Maroc, have introduced free rebooking or refund waivers. Moroccan news portal Bladi reports that thousands of Moroccans holding Easter tickets are facing re-routing via Paris or Amsterdam.

Visa Considerations

VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) can assist with clarifying transit and entry requirements, processing emergency visa applications or passport renewals, and coordinating document delivery for travelers who may need to fly via alternative Schengen checkpoints.