16 September 2026ONGOINGStrike outside the airline (ATC, airport, security staff)
Charleroi air traffic controllers' night strikes, 16 September to 10 October
WHAT'S HAPPENING
- Air traffic controllers employed by skeyes at Brussels South Charleroi Airport began nightly strike action on the evening of Wednesday 16 September 2026, called by the SLFP/VSOA and CSC unions after five rounds of talks failed.
- The action runs from 22:00 to 08:00 for 24 consecutive nights, through Saturday 10 October 2026. The dispute concerns pay for night work.
- The airport estimates around 800 flight movements could be affected over the period. At least 44 flights were cancelled on each of 16 and 17 September.
- Daytime flights outside the strike window are expected to operate, but aircraft unable to return to Charleroi overnight can cause knock-on cancellations the following morning. The action was still running as of 25 September.
Sources: Belga Share · Aviation24.be
WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOUR CLAIM
COMPENSATION: UNLIKELY — CARE STILL OWED
A strike by air traffic control, airport, or security staff is outside the airline's control and normally counts as an extraordinary circumstance, so compensation is usually not owed. Care and rerouting duties still apply in full — the airline must feed you, house you if necessary, and get you to your destination or refund you.
Basis: Recital 14, Regulation 261/2004
WHATEVER THE CAUSE, YOU'RE OWED
- Meals and refreshments after 2–4 hours' wait (by flight distance), plus hotel and transfers if you are delayed overnight.
- On cancellation: the choice between rerouting as soon as possible, rerouting at a later date, or a full refund within 7 days.
- If the airline provides no care, keep receipts — reasonable expenses are reimbursable.
- These duties apply even when the disruption itself is extraordinary.
CAUGHT IN THIS RIGHT NOW?
- Open the Black Box and record what the airline tells you — especially the reason. The exact wording decides the extraordinary-circumstances question later.
- Ask for rerouting in writing (app chat or email), and keep every receipt.
- Once you know your final delay, check your flight and generate the letter.
- Airline already replied with an excuse? Decode it.
This page explains the rules that generally apply to this type of disruption. Airlines assess each claim on its own facts; eligibility for a specific flight depends on its circumstances.