Airport chaos as EU strikes begin with 3 UK hubs affected and Brits 'stranded'
Up to 12,600 Brits could be left 'stranded' after a huge staff strike has forced two major airports to suspend all outbound flights for the day - resulting in a 'near-total shutdown' of the hubs
Brits have been issued a 'major travel warning' after a nationwide strike has triggered a 'near-total shutdown' in a European hotspot.
Two airports in Belgium (Brussels and Charleroi) are facing last-minute chaos over a staged walkout led by airport security staff, who are said to be protesting against government budget cuts and staffing shortages. The huge demonstration has forced both airports to suspend all outbound flights for the day - grounding up to 70,000 flights and 'stranding' up to 12,600 Brits.
Experts over at AirAdvisor warn the disruption is 'significantly larger' than the scale of previous aviation flights - and will directly impact approximately 100 UK flights today (Wednesday, June 25). It has therefore urged all UK holidaymakers to check their flight status ASAP and consider reroute options.
The air passenger rights company has used data from FlightRadar24's live schedule and OAG's 2025 summer projections to work out exactly which UK airports will be impacted by the strikes. For Brussels (BRU) - which receives around 60-70 daily flights from the UK - this includes:
London Heathrow (LHR): 8-10 daily flights (British Airways, Brussels Airlines).
Manchester (MAN): 2-3 daily flights (Brussels Airlines, Ryanair).
Edinburgh (EDI): 1 daily flight (Brussels Airlines).
Birmingham (BHX): 1 daily flight (Brussels Airlines).
Other UK airports (e.g., Bristol BRS, Glasgow GLA) contribute 5-7 daily flights via codeshares or direct services.
Charleroi (CRL), which is located south of Brussels, is mainly used by low-cost airlines such as Wizz Air. It receives around 40-50 daily flights from the UK, with major routes including:
London Stansted (STN): 6-8 daily flights (Ryanair).
London Luton (LTN): 2-3 daily flights (Wizz Air, Ryanair).
Manchester (MAN): 1 daily flight (Ryanair).
Other UK airports (e.g., Liverpool LPL, Bristol BRS) contribute 2-4 daily flights.
"What makes this strike so problematic is that it disrupts the backbone of airport operations: security screening," Anton Radchenko, Aviation Expert & Founder of AirAdvisor said in a statement sent to the Mirror. "Unlike pilot strikes where airlines can sometimes operate reduced schedules, security strikes shut down entire terminals. For UK travellers, this means no flexibility, no fallback options, and no notice."
The expert advised Brits to book 'flexible' fares and avoid same-day connections via Brussels or Charleroi. From a legal standpoint, he says affected passengers must be offered 'full refunds or alternative routes' as well as paid-for food, transport and overnight stays where necessary.
"Looking ahead, I strongly advise passengers to treat Belgium as a 'high-risk travel zone' for the next four to six weeks," Anton added. "The same goes for Helsinki, which has been notorious for strikes this year. Until labour disputes are resolved, travellers should reroute through more stable hubs like Amsterdam, Frankfurt, or Paris, where the chance of mass cancellations is significantly lower."
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