Brussels South Charleroi Airport, Belgium's second largest airport, will close for almost three months in 2028, between August 15 and October 31, for a major runway upgrade. The 3,200-metre runway will be completely resurfaced at a cost of €50 million (£42.8 million).
Impact on airlines and routes
Ryanair has a base at Charleroi, operating flights to destinations including Tirana, Vienna, Sarajevo, Sofia, Zagreb, Prague, and Barcelona. Wizz Air also flies from there to Skopje, Warsaw, Bucharest, Budapest, and Pristina, while Air Arabia and Air Corsica offer seasonal flights to Oujda, Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi, and Figari.
In 2024, the busiest route was to Bucharest, with 343,858 passengers, followed by Tirana, Bergamo, Budapest, and Manchester. There is no direct flight to London from Charleroi; London is served by Brussels Airport.
Uncertainty and slot rules
All existing flights will need to be diverted, though limited information is available on interim plans. Trade unions are reportedly unhappy, questioning whether all routes will return after the closure.
Airports like London Heathrow operate a use-it-or-lose-it slot policy, requiring airlines to maintain at least 80% of take-off and landing slots. This rule was waived during the pandemic. Charleroi, being in the EU, falls under the same European Commission regulation, but exceptions exist when an airport or airspace is closed.
A spokesperson for Charleroi Airport said: 'A complete refurbishment of Charleroi Airport’s sole runway, together with other major infrastructure modernisation works, has been scheduled by SOWAER for the second half of 2028. These investments are intended to ensure the airport’s long-term safety, operational performance and attractiveness. To minimise the overall duration of the disruption, the various construction projects will be carried out simultaneously. This will require a temporary suspension of air traffic during the works. We are currently working closely with all stakeholders to plan these projects, identify operational constraints and manage their impacts.'
Almería Airport closure
Almería Airport in Spain will close for six days in 2028 for a new runway. easyJet operates direct flights from London Southend and Gatwick to Almería, taking 2 hours 45 minutes. The airport serves the Andalusia region, accommodating around 800,000 passengers per year. In 2023, approximately 2.65 million Brits visited the area.
Other European airport closures
Coventry Airport in the West Midlands closed last month after 90 years, previously served by Wizz Air until 2008. Alderney Airport, the first in the Channel Islands, will close for a runway revamp, widening it by five metres from 18 to 23, with updated lighting systems.
