A major European airport is set to close for nearly three months with all flights temporarily suspended.
Brussels South Charleroi Airport in Belgium, the country’s second busiest airport and the country's main hub for low-cost airlines, will shut as part of a £43 million (€50 million) redevelopment project.
Airport authorities said the closure, lasting 11 weeks, will allow engineers to carry out the most extensive infrastructure work in the airport's history, including a complete reconstruction of its 3,200-metre runway.
Brussels airport to close for 11 weeks with flights cancelled
Charleroi’s single-runway design means the airport cannot remain partially operational during the works, which will include rebuilding the runway, upgrading terminal areas, and improving aircraft parking stands.
The refurbishment will also include the replacement of drainage systems, airfield lighting, and taxiway markings.
The airport said: "A complete refurbishment of Charleroi airport's sole runway (which has an estimated lifespan of 25 years), together with other major infrastructure modernisation works, has been scheduled by [airport infrastructure company] SOWAER for the second half of 2028.
"To minimise the overall duration of the disruption, the various construction projects will be carried out simultaneously.
"These investments are intended to ensure the airport's long-term safety, operational performance and attractiveness."
It added that "this will require a temporary suspension of air traffic during the works."
Thankfully for passengers, the planned works are not for another couple of years.
The plan is that the airport will shut down from August 15 to October 31, 2028 for the works.
The airport is expected to reopen on November 1, 2028.
It is expected to have a big impact on passengers, with Charleroi Airport handling 11.2 million travellers during 2025.
More than two million passengers are expected to be affected by the closure.
How will the Brussels airport closure affect UK passengers?
Ryanair, which operates more than 80% of flights from the airport, will be the most affected airline.
The low-cost carrier flies around 660 to 670 flights per week from Charleroi, serving 114 destinations across more than 26 countries, and has more than 10 aircraft permanently based at the airport.
Wizz Air, the airport’s second-largest carrier, will also be heavily impacted.
The airline operates around 45 to 50 departures each week to up to 16 destinations across Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe.
Other affected airlines include Pegasus Airlines, Air Corsica, and Volotea.
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Nearest alternative airports
For those still looking to travel to the area, some alternatives to Brussels South Charleroi Airport that are nearby are:
- Brussels Airport
- Lille Airport
- Luxembourg Airport
Have you flown into Brussels South Charleroi Airport before? Let us know in the comments.
