Brussels South Charleroi Airport in Belgium will shut completely from August 15, 2028, to October 31, 2028, as part of a £43 million (€50 million) redevelopment project. The airport is due to reopen on November 1, 2028, after an 11-week closure described as the biggest infrastructure project in its history.
Runway rebuild
Charleroi operates with a single 3,200-metre runway, which means flights cannot continue while it is rebuilt. Airport authorities said the runway has reached the end of its operational lifespan after around 40 years without a full reconstruction.
Rather than carrying out years of overnight work, officials have decided to close the airport for 11 weeks so the project can be completed continuously, with work taking place around the clock. The renovation will include rebuilding the entire runway, replacing drainage systems, renewing airfield lighting, taxiway markings and other safety equipment. Passenger terminal areas and aircraft parking stands will also be upgraded during the closure.
Passenger impact
The shutdown is expected to affect more than two million passengers. Charleroi Airport handled 11.2 million travellers in 2025.
Ryanair is expected to be the airline most heavily affected. The budget carrier accounts for more than 80% of all traffic at Charleroi and operates around 660 to 670 departures each week to 114 destinations across more than 26 countries. The airline also has more than 10 aircraft permanently based at the airport.
Wizz Air, the airport's second-largest airline, will also see significant disruption. It operates around 45 to 50 departures each week, serving up to 16 destinations across Central, Eastern and Southern Europe.
Almost all traffic affected
Together, Ryanair and Wizz Air account for almost 95% of the airport's annual passenger traffic. Some experts estimate that more than 7,300 Ryanair flights and over 500 Wizz Air flights could be disrupted during the 11-week closure.
Other airlines operating from Charleroi, including Pegasus Airlines, Air Corsica and Volotea, are also expected to be affected while work is carried out.
