Meise Botanic Garden

At Meise Botanic Garden, a single visit feels like a journey around the world. Covering 92 hectares, this botanical haven is among the largest in the world and home to around 18,000 plant species. Visitors can explore medicinal plant collections, a rose garden, and the impressive Plant Palace, a complex of eleven greenhouses including the iconic Victoria House.

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At the heart of the estate stands Bouchout Castle, whose origins date back to the 12^th century. It was extensively renovated around the time of the French Revolution, when the surrounding landscape was redesigned with ponds and enriched with exotic plants. The castle was later home to Princess Charlotte, sister of King Leopold II and former Empress of Mexico, whose dramatic life story still lingers within its walls.

While the castle is rich in history, the garden remains the main attraction. The Plant Palace takes visitors across climates and continents, from arid desert landscapes to lush tropical rainforest and savannah environments. Spring and summer are particularly spectacular, when outdoor flowers are in full bloom, but the site offers a unique experience in every season.

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Among the highlights are the giant water lilies, famous for their strength, and the themed outdoor gardens, including culinary, medieval, and rose gardens, as well as a flower theatre. An hour is barely enough to explore the greenhouses alone, and visitors should allow additional time to discover the wider park.

Easily accessible from Brussels by bus or car, Meise also connects to surrounding walking and cycling routes, making it an ideal starting point for a countryside excursion. Nearby towns such as Grimbergen and Vilvoorde offer opportunities to extend the visit with heritage and cultural stops.

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Gaasbeek Castle and its museum garden

Originally built in 1236 by Godfrey of Leuven as a defensive stronghold, Gaasbeek Castle was later transformed into a romantic neo-Renaissance residence by Marquise Arconati Visconti. She filled it with art, fine metalwork, and stained glass, before donating it to the Belgian state in 1923.

Today, visitors can step into her vision inside the castle, and outside wander through an expansive park dotted with a pleasure pavilion, a triumphal arch, and the remarkable museum garden.

The garden itself tells a fascinating story of horticultural excellence. In centuries past, the castle’s residents relied entirely on what was grown on the estate, enjoying produce cultivated without modern pesticides or chemicals. Their gardeners were among the most skilled of their time, attracting learners from across Europe eager to master advanced growing techniques.

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That legacy continues today. The Gaasbeek Museum Garden recreates the spirit of 18^th and 19^th century castle gardens, with rare fruit trees, forgotten vegetables, and ornamental plants. Its collection of espaliered fruit trees is particularly distinctive, while informational panels explain traditional cultivation and preservation methods, from beekeeping to historic fruit storage.

The wider area also invites exploration. Visitors can easily turn their trip into a full day by combining the castle with nearby green spaces such as Groenenberg Park or the renowned rose gardens of Coloma, especially striking in early summer.

Park of Tervuren

Once the hunting grounds of the Dukes of Brabant, the Park of Tervuren is now an elegant landscape park covering 205 hectares. Visitors can stroll along ponds through a neoclassical French garden, wander into the Warande forest with its ancient oaks and beeches, and encounter traces of noble history, including the baroque St Hubert Chapel dating from 1617 and the remains of the ducal palace.

On the edge of the park lie the AfricaMuseum and the Tervuren Arboretum, where around 700 tree species from the northern hemisphere can be discovered.

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The park is easily accessible from Brussels via Tram 44, a scenic route that combines heritage and nature.

Tervuren also serves as a gateway to the Brabantse Wouden National Park. Stretching from the Hallerbos to the Sonian Forest and the Meerdaal Forest, this vast natural area covers more than 10,000 hectares. Dense forests, winding rivers, and open landscapes create a rich and biodiverse environment, offering countless opportunities for walking, cycling, and reconnecting with nature.

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Whether you are looking for a peaceful walk, a cultural discovery, or a full day immersed in nature, the parks and gardens around Brussels offer a rich and varied escape. Just a short distance from the capital, these green spaces reveal another side of the region, where heritage, biodiversity, and tranquillity come together in every season.

L’article Green escapes around Brussels: three parks and gardens to discover est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Feist also raised concerns about safety and staffing levels at border control, pointing to wider structural problems at the airport. He explained that overcrowded waiting areas can create risks for passengers, especially if someone becomes unwell during long queues. “The queues are a safety issue, for example if passengers become unwell, and they also damage Belgium’s image. We have been warning for years that we are heading towards a wall. The federal police are doing the maximum with the resources they have, but there is a 25% staff shortage at the airport. We cannot point the finger at the officers.”

The delays are closely linked to the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES), which is now gradually operating across 29 countries in the Schengen Area. The system applies to travellers from outside the EU and replaces manual passport stamping with digital registration. First-time entry requires passengers to provide fingerprints, a facial scan and passport details before entering or leaving the Schengen zone. The aim is to improve border security and better track short stays across Europe.

Reports from the rollout show that the system already caused delays during the winter months, even before the summer peak. Airports had to process biometric data on-site, which takes more time than traditional passport checks. Some operators warned that if parts of the system fail during busy periods, waiting times could reach up to 90 minutes. With full mandatory use now in place, concerns are growing that congestion could increase further during high travel demand.

Expected to start in October, the EU will begin rolling out the Entry/Exit System, Europe's new digital border system for non-EU nationals.

It aims to enhance border security, detect overstayers, combat identity fraud and prevent illegal migration.#EES

1/5 pic.twitter.com/BWQ6PQI10J

— EPP Group (@EPPGroup) April 23, 2025

In Belgium, authorities have decided to delay part of the EES implementation. Interior Minister Bernard Quintin and Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt confirmed that biometric registration would temporarily not be applied in full. However, enhanced checks for non-EU travellers remain in place at Brussels Airport. The decision was taken after repeated warnings about long queues and pressure on airport operations, especially ahead of the summer holidays.

Several solutions are now being prepared ahead of the summer season. Automated e-gates are expected to be used more widely for non-EU travellers to speed up border checks. Some countries, including Portugal and Sweden, are also testing mobile applications that allow passengers to pre-register parts of their EES data before arrival. Across the EU, the system has already recorded around 52 million crossings, identified nearly 700 travellers as security risks, and refused entry to more than 27,000 people. The European Commission has also signalled that temporary flexibility measures for EES checks could remain in place until September 2026 to reduce pressure on border operations.

L’article Brussels Airport raises alarm over severe border control delays ahead of summer est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

“Despite the challenges we faced in 2025, we have once again achieved strong financial results with record turnover,” said Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport Company. He added that 2025 was also a record year for investment. Feist underlined that encouraging airlines to operate quieter aircraft through lower charges is already delivering results, as part of a strategy that links growth with environmental performance.

2025 was a strong year for #BrusselsAirport with a record #revenue, growth in passengers & cargo traffic and record #investments in infrastructure, connectivity & sustainability, while continuing to grow responsibly.

Read more in our latest #pressrelease:…

— Brussels Airport (@BrusselsAirport) May 8, 2026

Passenger traffic at Brussels Airport reached 24.4 million travellers in 2025, which is a 3.3% increase compared to the previous year. Growth was mainly driven by leisure travel, visiting friends and family, and network expansion by airlines. However, repeated national strike actions limited the overall potential growth. Around 275,000 passenger journeys were disrupted across the year, with thousands of flights cancelled during several strike days. Even so, demand for air travel remained strong, showing the airport’s continued importance as a key European hub.

Cargo performance also contributed strongly to the airport’s results. Brussels Airport handled around 795,000 tonnes of cargo in 2025, an increase of 8.5% compared to 2024. Air cargo growth was particularly strong in express services and belly cargo, supported by new long-haul routes. Imports were mainly driven by Asia, Africa and North America, while exports were dominated by Asia and North America.

Despite the positive financial outcome, 2025 was also marked by operational pressure. One of the main challenges was the rollout of the European Entry/Exit System (EES), which introduced longer processing times for non-EU passengers. At peak moments, waiting times at border control reached up to several hours, leading to missed flights and congestion. The system requires biometric registration, which has slowed passenger flows and increased workload for border staff. Brussels Airport has warned that without more flexibility and staffing support, delays could worsen during busy travel periods.

Industrial action also remained another recurring factor affecting operations. Multiple national strikes impacted airport activity throughout 2025, in some cases leading to the full cancellation of departing flights. The repeated disruptions added uncertainty for passengers and airlines alike, while increasing pressure on operational planning and capacity management across the airport ecosystem. Looking ahead, further strike actions planned in 2026 could continue to place additional strain on airport operations and passenger flows, extending this pattern of disruption into the following year.

At the same time, Brussels Airport continued to invest heavily in its future infrastructure. The €302 million investment in 2025 focused on safety, capacity and passenger comfort. Projects included new logistics buildings at Brucargo Central, a new car park, runway renovations and the opening of new passenger facilities.

Environmental performance also played a growing role in the airport’s strategy. In 2025, 42% of all flights were operated by the most noise-efficient aircraft, such as newer generation models like the Airbus A320neo. This share has doubled over the past decade, supported by differentiated airport charges that reward quieter aircraft. The airport also continued efforts to reduce ground emissions through the electrification of equipment and noise reduction measures around runways.

Sustainability innovation was further developed through the Stargate project, part of the European Green Deal. The initiative includes self-driving electric shuttles, green energy sharing with nearby communities and tests with sustainable aviation fuel. These projects aim to reduce emissions while improving airport efficiency. Brussels Airport is also generating thousands of megawatt-hours of solar energy on-site, contributing to its transition toward cleaner operations.

Looking at the overall picture, 2025 reflects a combination of strong financial growth and increasing operational complexity. Higher passenger and cargo volumes supported record revenue and investment, while strikes, border procedures and environmental concerns added pressure to daily operations.

L’article Brussels Airport reaches record revenue and investment in 2025 despite operational disruptions est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Café Belga 

One of the most well-known terrace spots in Brussels is located at Place Flagey in Ixelles, right next to the Ixelles ponds. This café is often described as legendary and becomes extremely busy as soon as the sun comes out. The large terrace attracts a steady flow of people throughout the day, creating a lively and social atmosphere. Visitors come here for coffee, brunch, lunch, or evening drinks, depending on the time. It is also a popular place for watching passers-by and enjoying the energy of one of the city’s most active squares. 

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Walvis 

Near the Brussels Canal, there is a relaxed café-bar that has become a favourite for many locals looking to enjoy sunny days. The atmosphere is easy-going and welcoming, with people coming and going from morning until late evening. Its terrace is simple but comfortable, offering a place where visitors can sit for hours without feeling rushed. The menu includes drinks, small meals, and desserts, which makes it suitable for a full day visit. It is especially appreciated for its calm vibe in a central but slightly quieter area. 

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Le Dillens 

In Saint-Gilles, a small neighbourhood bistro offers a warm and local terrace experience. The space is decorated with natural elements, soft lighting, and small details like garlands that create a cosy feeling. Everything served is homemade, seasonal, and often sourced from local producers, which adds to its charm. People usually come here for relaxed dinners or long evenings with friends on the terrace. The atmosphere feels personal and peaceful, away from the busiest parts of the city. 

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Cipiace 

A small Italian-inspired canteen in Saint-Gilles brings a different flavour to the terrace scene. This spot is known for its simple but high-quality food, including coffee, pasta, bruschetta, and focaccia. The terrace is colourful and informal, making it easy to sit down and stay for a while. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, ideal for brunch or casual drinks. The name reflects the spirit of the place, which focuses on enjoying simple things in a welcoming environment. 

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Python 

In Schaerbeek, a craft beer bar offers a cosy terrace for those who enjoy Belgian and international beers. The selection changes regularly and attracts people who like to try new flavours. The terrace is modest in size but has a strong neighbourhood feel, making it comfortable and easy-going. Visitors can also buy beers to take home, which adds an extra option for beer lovers. It is a place that feels local and authentic while still attracting a wide mix of people. 

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Chez Richard 

Located in the Sablon district, a traditional Brussels bistro offers a terrace on one of the city’s most elegant squares. The setting is central and charming, making it a pleasant place to enjoy outdoor drinks or meals. The menu includes Belgian classics as well as simple modern dishes, served in a friendly and relaxed way. It is popular for both lunch and evening visits, depending on the moment of the day. The combination of location and atmosphere makes it a comfortable all-day stop. 

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Barbeton 

In the Dansaert neighbourhood, a popular local bar is often described as the kind of place everyone wishes they had nearby. The atmosphere is relaxed but lively, with a mix of regular visitors and newcomers passing through. Its terrace is used throughout the day for coffee, cocktails, beers, and light snacks. People often stop here to meet friends or simply enjoy the rhythm of the city. It is open every day and remains a steady favourite in the area. 

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Café Flora 

On the Parvis de Saint-Gilles, a colourful terrace stands out as one of the most energetic evening spots in the neighbourhood. The space becomes especially lively in the late afternoon and evening hours when people gather for drinks and music. Cocktails, beers, and sharing plates are served, often accompanied by DJ sets or live performances. A happy hour adds to its popularity after work, drawing in both locals and visitors. It is a social and vibrant place where groups tend to stay for long, relaxed evenings outside. 

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L’article Where to enjoy the sun: Brussels’ best terraces for a drink est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Almost 60% of the people who reported severe sleep disturbance as a result of night flights at the airport are resident in the Brussels-Capital Region. The 104,000 figure is an increase of 2.5% on 2024, slightly more than the 2.1% increase in night time flights (departing or arriving at the airport between 11pm and 7am).

The districts with the worst night time noise pollution were the “City of Brussels” where 16,643 people reported severe sleep disruption; followed by Schaerbeek (12,924), Sint-Jans-Molenbeek (10,596), and Evere (7,039). In the Flemish Brabant neighbourhood of Zaventem, which hosts the airport, only 6,770 people reported sleep disruption, while in Vilvoorde 5,482 people suffered.

The report, conducted by aviation consultancy To70 and commissioned by the airport in accordance with VLAREM regulations, also found a sharp rise in sleep disruption reported in the Sint-Jans-Molenbeek district (up 54%) and Koekelberg (up 47%). Residents of Jette on the other hand appeared to benefit from a noise pollution reduction resulting in 35% fewer people claiming severely disturbed sleep patterns.

These changes could be attributed to a new landing protocol that came into effect in summer 2025, eliminating the way aircraft used to carry out a turn in the skies over Jette and instead aligning them with the runway as they overfly Molenbeek and Koekelberg.

The report also claims that demographic changes also play a part in how many people are affected by airport noise. For example, the size of so-called “L-den” 45 decibel area (the European standard for measuring environmental noise and community annoyance) increased by 2.9% in 2025, and the number of potentially “highly annoyed people” within the 55 decibel area increased by 7.4%. However, if the population in these areas had remained constant, the report says, the number of people potentially highly annoyed in 2025 would have been 0.9% lower.

This seems not only a small percentage difference, but a spurious argument in a northern European capital where population increases are a given. Some commentators point out that it remains unclear why the airport is still operating high numbers of supposedly banned night flights at all, and why aircraft are overflying densely populated areas near the centre of the capital city, potentially annoying so many people, when they could be flying over the less populated outskirts. Meanwhile, tens of millions of euros in fines for noise pollution by airlines remain unpaid.

Noise pollution and sleep disturbance have been associated with poor health and wellbeing outcomes, including heart disease, especially among men.

L’article Brussels Airport noise disrupts sleep for over 104,000 residents est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

BRUSK, in the heart of the UNESCO city, is designed by Robbrecht en Daem architecten, the firm that previously designed the iconic Concert Hall. With strong eco-credentials, the new museum boasts “monumental exhibition spaces” that will “host Musea Brugge’s exhibitions of ancient, modern, and contemporary art, always in dialogue with current themes,” a press release reveals. The in-house collection and the Bruges context will usually serve as the starting point, the museum states, while masterpieces and loans from renowned institutions and museums around the world will complement the offer.

Starting on 8 May, the art gallery opens with a digital art experience titled Latent City, by Turkish-American artist Refik Anadol, as well as a “cultural-historical exhibition” named Bigger Picture. Connected worlds of Bruges 900-1550. Introducing the two shows, the museum notes that Latent City will be “Refik Anadol’s first solo exhibition in Belgium, an international pioneer in AI-powered art. At the same time, Bigger Picture will shed new light on Bruges as a medieval metropolis.”

Running from 8 May to 8 November 2026, Refik Anadol Studio brings the fruits of its bespoke trained AI models: transforming the idea of the metropolis with over five million images of global cities and unique algorithms.

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Bigger Picture meanwhile engages museum goers with the notion of the metropolis in the Middle Ages, looking at Bruges as a “world city, a hub in global networks of trade, culture and politics.” The exhibition materials draw attention to the way “Bruges seemed to be the epicentre of the world. But the city was never isolated. Bruges was constantly in contact with other regions and cultures through trade, travel, faith and ideas. And it was precisely these connections that gave it an important role in world history.” Visitors will experience “five chapters full of unique, historical objects and stories from different ages and continents” that “highlight the interactions between medieval Bruges and the rest of the world.”

BRUSK’s opening weekend (8-10 May 2026) is being branded as an “unmissable city festival” called “BRUSK FEST” that will “unfold in and around the art gallery over the course of 3 days.” The programme includes free performances, workshops, theatre, live performances, and music for all ages. One ticket allows guests to discover all the current exhibitions in BRUSK in one day, for a standard price of €20.

L’article Bruges inaugurates BRUSK art hall with major exhibitions and festival weekend est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The initiative, led by visit.brussels, relies on recognised experts based in the Belgian capital to bring large scale conferences to the city, reinforcing its role as a European hub for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, known as MICE tourism.

A growing but uncertain global market

The move comes at a time when business travel and events are showing strong recovery, despite geopolitical and economic headwinds.

According to the latest Global Events Barometer by the Events Industry Council, demand for business events remains robust. Hotel group room nights have reached 97% of 2019 levels, while event planners’ requests for proposals now exceed pre pandemic figures at 102%.

At the same time, pricing has surged, with global room rates for business events averaging 139% of 2019 levels, reflecting sustained demand alongside rising structural costs.

Longer term forecasts remain positive. The global business travel market, valued at $689.7 billion in 2021, is expected to reach $2.1 trillion by 2031, with spending potentially hitting $1.8 trillion as early as 2026, according to the Global Business Travel Association.

However, the outlook is not without risk. Geopolitical tensions, including instability in the Middle East, as well as economic uncertainty and shifting travel patterns, could affect short term planning and investment decisions.

Brussels’ strategy: expertise as leverage

Against this backdrop, Brussels is positioning itself not just as a destination, but as a knowledge hub capable of attracting high value events.

The Business Events Ambassadors programme brings together leading professionals from sectors such as medicine, science, technology and environmental research, encouraging them to use their international networks to secure major congresses for the city.

Rather than focusing solely on promotion, the model is built on influence and expertise. Ambassadors help prepare bids, connect international associations with local ecosystems and ensure that events hosted in Brussels are anchored in relevant industries.

The impact has been significant. Over the past nine years, 135 ambassadors have contributed to attracting more than 300,000 delegates, generating over $250 million in economic benefits for the tourism sector.

Such events are also seen as strategic tools, supporting knowledge exchange, innovation and year round tourism flows, while reinforcing Brussels’ international reputation.

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A competitive edge in Europe

Brussels’ institutional landscape remains one of its strongest assets. As host to European Union institutions and a wide range of international organisations, the city offers direct access to policymakers, regulators and industry leaders.

This makes it particularly attractive for conferences that go beyond networking and aim to influence policy, investment or sector development.

The ambassador network, capped at around 150 members, is designed to remain active and selective, ensuring continued engagement across priority sectors.

Tourism, investment and global events

Recent developments in the tourism sector illustrate how business events are evolving.

Among those recognised within the ambassador programme is Bulut Bağcı, President of the World Tourism Forum Institute, who has played a role in bringing the Global Tourism Forum 2026 to Brussels.

His approach reflects a broader shift in how such events are positioned. “We make billion dollar investment decisions in Brussels. For me, Brussels is not a destination, it is a home,” Bağcı said. “We bring together governments, investors and industry leaders around the same table.”

Bulut Bagci has been recognized by https://t.co/avHrtKzb93 as a 2026 Business Events Ambassador. This is not just an award, it’s a strong signal that Brussels is becoming a key hub for global tourism investment and decision-making through the Global Tourism Forum. pic.twitter.com/jnST3o9hC4

— Global Tourism Forum (@gtourismforum) May 3, 2026

He argues that tourism is increasingly linked to wider economic strategy, particularly in areas such as infrastructure, investment and international cooperation. “Tourism is economic infrastructure,” he added, pointing to the role of large scale forums in connecting public and private stakeholders.

As global demand for in person events continues to recover, cities are competing to attract gatherings that deliver not only visitor numbers but long term impact. For Brussels, the Business Events Ambassadors programme is a key part of that strategy, aligning local expertise with international opportunity.

L’article Brussels boosts MICE ambitions through Business Events Ambassadors est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The incident allegedly involved two men of no fixed abode, one of whom the public prosecutor said was “gravely injured” with a box cutter and taken to hospital for surgery, while the other was reportedly arrested by law enforcement officers. No motive for the attack has yet been reported.

Brussels Airport was the scene of a terrorist plot that killed 32 people just over a decade ago in March 2016. It has also been linked to drug trafficking activity, with recent accusations that it is the scene of a huge spike in the illegal transport of narcotics. Around nine tonnes of drugs were seized there in 2025, according to figures revealed at the annual press conference of Belgium’s General Administration of Customs and Excise (AAD&A). That’s double the quantity seized the previous year. Police say a small number of corrupt employees have helped to facilitate the illegal imports.

In addition, the airport began closing its doors between midnight and 3 am in 2023 due to an increasing homelessness problem. “Normally the airport is indeed open 24/7, but it is now a temporary closure of a few weeks”, said spokesperson Ihsane Chioua Lekhli at the time. Reporters at HLN, said there were about 75 homeless people living on the premises, in 2023.

However, the transport hub handles tens of millions of passengers every year. In 2025, it welcomed 24.4 million, making the latest violence a relatively isolated occurrence. Yet, Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele has responded to the event with a call for stricter policing—especially of vulnerable communities.

“The pressure on safety and public order is real today, partly due to nuisance and homelessness in and around the airport,” Diependaele said. “Urgent reinforcement is needed so that the police can fully resume their role and travellers can count on a safe and efficient arrival, every single day.”

Diependaele is a known critic of airport operations who has frequently questioned the efficiency of passport control processes and is now raising the matter of the “overall safety of all passengers at our airport.” His motive? In his words, the “clear impact on Flanders,” which means he is “following this case closely.” Diependaele is a member of N-VA, a Flemish nationalist, conservative political party established in 2001 by a right-leaning faction from the centrist-nationalist movement.

L’article Brussels Airport stabbing causes grave injury and demands for police reinforcements est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The new bus station will be located at level 0 and will include five platforms for all bus traffic. This includes public transport services operated by De Lijn and STIB/MIVB, as well as long-distance coach companies such as Flibco, Flixbus and Airport Express. A covered walkway will connect the station to the terminal, making it easier for passengers to move between the two. Despite the relocation, bus schedules will remain unchanged, meaning travellers should not experience delays due to the move.

The station will also include luggage lockers, giving passengers the option to safely store their bags before or after a flight. This can be useful for those who want to visit the city without carrying their luggage. Around 600 buses travel to and from the airport every day, showing how important bus transport is for both passengers and airport staff. In total, about 1.3 million people use bus services at the airport each year, making it a key part of the overall transport system. 

The relocation is part of the wider Hub 3.0 project, a major investment programme aimed at improving the airport’s infrastructure. The future intermodal hub will connect trains, buses, taxis and a planned tram line in one central location. This will make it easier for travellers to switch between different modes of transport. The project also includes a renovated central bus station, improved access to the underground train station and a redesigned taxi area.

Other works linked to Hub 3.0 are already underway. In September 2025, construction began on a new drop-off zone located behind the Sheraton hotel, at the same level as the departure hall. This new area is designed to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow, with a direct connection from the A201 motorway. It will also include space for passengers with reduced mobility, as well as seating and greenery to create a more comfortable environment.

The airport is investing heavily in these upgrades as it prepares for future growth. In 2025, Brussels Airport handled 24.4 million passengers, a 3.3% increase compared to the previous year. Growth was affected by several national strikes, which led to thousands of cancelled flights and disrupted travel for many passengers. Despite this, demand for air travel remained strong, and the airport continues to expand its network with new airlines and destinations.

Looking ahead, the airport is also planning to improve public transport connections further. A new tram line is expected to link the airport with Brussels by 2031, making travel easier for both passengers and employees. The project will include new stops, cycling infrastructure and better links to existing train stations. Together with the intermodal hub, these developments aim to create a more connected and sustainable transport system.

With the temporary bus station opening in May, Brussels Airport is taking another step towards this long-term transformation. While some changes may require passengers to adjust their routes slightly, the overall goal is to improve accessibility and comfort in the future. By continuing to invest in infrastructure and transport links, the airport is positioning itself as a key mobility hub in the region.

L’article Brussels Airport to open new temporary bus station as Hub 3.0 works advance est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

“Unfortunately, a large number of departing flights will have to be cancelled,” the statement read, adding: “This can also impact certain arriving flights.” The airport apologised for the inconvenience.

Passengers will be contacted directly by their carrier if their flight is among those affected. Anyone travelling to or from the airport on the day of the walkout should be aware that public transit, including trains and buses that serve the hub, could also be disrupted.

#UnionAction 12 May Part of the departing flights will unfortunately be cancelled due to expected limited staffing. This may also impact some arriving flights. Public transport to/from #BrusselsAirport will be affected as well. We apologise for the inconvenience. More info:… pic.twitter.com/o5Da6UqjTm

— Brussels Airport (@BrusselsAirport) April 28, 2026

Impact assessments show a high proportion of security and ground-handling staff are likely to join the strike, as members of three major unions (ABVV/FGTB, ACV/CSC and ACLVB/CGSLB) withdraw their labour. The action forms part of an ongoing mobilisation against the Bart de Wever government’s social and economic policies.

Organised to coincide with the strike on 12 May, a national demonstration will take place in the Belgian capital, “bringing together concerns shared by many employees today,” the unions said in a joint statement.” Those concerns include pensions, salaries and purchasing power, labour force protections, and working conditions.

The airport has suffered repeated disruption, directly and indirectly, as a result of a year-plus-long campaign of industrial action directed against de Wever’s reforms. If the walkout on 12 May goes ahead, it will be the ninth time since the start of 2025 that operations have been interrupted by strike action that has not always been aimed at the airport.

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After six months of monthly strike action in June 2025, the airport, alongside Belgian flag carrier Brussels Airlines and Tui fly, issued a strongly worded appeal to unions to highlight the reputational and economic damage being caused by the campaign. It urged them to consider the “disproportionate impact on tens of thousands of passengers, airline staff and the aviation sector as a whole, and choose different ways to pressure the government.”

The last 24-hour strike on 12 March 2026 resulted in “the cancellation of 359 departing and arriving flights,” the airport has reported, noting: “In total, 30,000 passengers were affected.” The airport handled a total of 1,767,797 passengers over the month of March 2026, an increase of 1.9% compared to the same period in 2025.

L’article Brussels Airport warns of flight cancellations ahead of 12 May strike est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.