Major airport to close from August to October – all flights cancelled | World | News

Brussels South Charleroi Airport announced that it will suspend all flights for two months in 2028 while major restructuring works are carried out. Air traffic will be stopped from August 15 to October 31 while the single runway and other major infrastructure are renovated.

Belgium’s second-busiest airport said it would “plan these projects, determine operational constraints and manage their impacts”. The statement said: “The complete renovation of the single runway of Charleroi airport (which has an estimated lifespan of 25 years), together with other major infrastructure modernization works, is planned by SOWAER for the second half of 2028.

“Various construction projects will be carried out simultaneously to minimize overall downtime.

“These investments aim to ensure the long-term security, operational performance and attractiveness of the airport.”

The rebuilding work is expected to cost around €50 million (£42 million), according to Belgian public broadcaster RTBF.

Brussels South Charleroi Airport, which served 11.2 million passengers last year, is mainly used by Ryanair, Wizz Air and Pegasus Airlines.

Unions have warned that closing the facility could lead to a drop in passenger numbers, which may not recover when it reopens.

Alain Goelens, representative of the SETCa union, called for better coordination between the airport and the Walloon regional government.

This, he said, would allow unions “to see how we anticipate things, both in terms of staff and airlines, and make sure that these companies will come back.”

“We have been insisting on a dialogue with the airport management on this issue for at least two years,” he told Politico.

His office said: “Contrary to what is claimed, preparations for this project have been going on for months.”