Brussels South Charleroi Airport, Belgium's second-largest airport and a key hub for budget carriers, will close for nearly three months starting August 15, 2028, for a €50 million infrastructure overhaul. The airport will reopen on November 1, 2028, after an 11-week shutdown described as the most significant infrastructure project in its history.
Runway reconstruction forces full closure
The closure is necessary because Charleroi operates with a single 3,200-metre runway, making flight operations impossible during reconstruction. Airport officials said the runway has reached the end of its operational life after about 40 years without a full rebuild. Rather than years of night-time maintenance, the airport will close for 11 weeks to allow work to proceed continuously, day and night.
The project includes rebuilding the entire runway, replacing drainage, updating airfield lighting, taxiway markings, and other safety equipment. Terminal areas and aircraft parking bays will also be improved during the closure to avoid future disruptions.
Over two million passengers affected
Charleroi handled 11.2 million passengers in 2025, and the shutdown is expected to impact more than two million travellers. Ryanair, which accounts for over 80% of the airport's traffic, will face the most significant disruption. The airline operates about 660-670 weekly departures to 114 destinations across more than 26 countries and bases over 10 aircraft at Charleroi.
Wizz Air, the second-largest operator, runs around 45-50 departures per week to up to 16 destinations in Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe. Together, Ryanair and Wizz Air represent nearly 95% of the airport's annual passengers. Analysts estimate that over 7,300 Ryanair flights and more than 500 Wizz Air flights could be disrupted during the closure.
Other airlines also affected
Other carriers flying from Charleroi, including Pegasus Airlines, Air Corsica, and Volotea, are also expected to face disruption while the works take place.
