Brussels South Charleroi Airport has announced it will suspend all flights for two months in 2028 while major reconstruction work is carried out. Air traffic will be paused from August 15 until October 31 while its only runway and other major infrastructure are refurbished.
Scope of the Works
Belgium's second-busiest airport said it will “plan these projects, identify operational constraints and manage their impacts”. It stated: “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 SOWAER for the second half of 2028.” To minimise disruption, various construction projects will be carried out simultaneously. The investments are intended to ensure long-term safety, operational performance and attractiveness.
Cost and Impact
The reconstruction works are 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. Trade unions have warned that its closure could tank passenger numbers, which may not recover once it reopens.
Union Concerns
Alain Goelens, a representative of trade union SETCa, called for better coordination between the airport and the Walloon regional government. This would allow unions “to see how we are going to anticipate things, both for the staff and in relation to the airlines, to be sure that these companies will return”, he said. He told Politico: “We have been insisting with the airport management for at least two years to have a dialogue on the subject.”
Walloon minister responsible for airports, Cécile Neven, rejected this, saying the plans had been agreed upon months ago. Her office said: “Contrary to what has been claimed, preparations for this project have been underway for many months.”
