- Flight Disruptions
- Skeyes ATC strike disrupts 6,793 flights across Belgium and Europe
Skeyes ATC strike disrupts 6,793 flights across Belgium and Europe
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Checked by Josh Arnfield
Last updated on 3 June 2026
6,793
Affected flights
26
Affected airports
16
Affected airlines
Disruption overview
A sudden strike by Skeyes air traffic controllers on 3 June 2026 effectively closed Belgian airspace and disrupted 6,793 flights across Europe. Brussels Airport and Brussels South Charleroi Airport were at the center of the disruption, while major hubs including Paris Charles de Gaulle, London Heathrow, Amsterdam Schiphol, Frankfurt, and Munich also saw heavy delays and cancellations. easyJet and Ryanair were among the airlines hit hardest. Because the disruption was caused by air traffic control staff rather than the airlines themselves, compensation under EC 261 is unlikely, but airlines should still provide care, rerouting, or refunds where needed.
Disruption details
A wildcat strike by Skeyes air traffic controllers on 3 June 2026 effectively closed Belgian airspace and disrupted 6,793 flights across Europe. For passengers, that meant last-minute cancelations, missed connections, long waits, and rerouted journeys as flights to, from, and through Belgium were thrown off course.
By mid-afternoon, flight tracking data showed 6,159 delays and 634 cancellations linked to the strike. Because Belgium sits in the middle of some of Europe’s busiest air corridors, the disruption quickly spread well beyond the country itself and affected travel across at least 13 European states, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Greece, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Croatia.
The heaviest impact was felt at Brussels Airport, which recorded 186 cancellations and 155 delays. Nearby Brussels South Charleroi Airport lost 75 flights and delayed another 79, hitting low-cost operations especially hard.
Some of the biggest knock-on effects at other major airports were:
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport recorded 610 delays and 13 cancellations.
London Heathrow Airport logged 565 delays and 51 cancellations, while London Gatwick Airport reported 397 delays.
Frankfurt Airport saw 365 delays and 71 cancellations, and Munich Airport recorded 244 delays and 38 cancellations.
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport absorbed 395 delays and 23 cancellations.
Athens International Airport and Milan Malpensa Airport each reported 311 delays, while Barcelona–El Prat Airport had 303, Rome Fiumicino Airport had 285, and Madrid Barajas Airport had 264.
The disruption also spread across airline networks. easyJet recorded the highest delay total of any carrier, with 683 delays and 28 cancellations. Ryanair followed with 541 delays and 83 cancellations. British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, KLM, Swiss, ITA Airways, Vueling Airlines, Aegean Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Transavia France, and several regional operators were also affected as schedules unraveled across the continent.
For travelers, the practical impact was immediate. Thousands were left waiting in terminals as connections fell apart, and airlines warned that some passengers should expect overnight stays. Carriers urged people to rebook through mobile apps where possible instead of queueing at airport desks, while hotel vouchers and alternative flights started to be offered where required.
What made the situation harder was the lack of warning. The walkout was unannounced, no end time had been confirmed on 3 June, and Belgian authorities had not set out a formal contingency plan. That left airlines scrambling to reroute aircraft around Belgian airspace and manage the growing backlog. Even after operations restart, knock-on disruption on 4 June looks hard to avoid while delayed aircraft, crews, and passengers are repositioned.
If your flight was affected, it’s worth knowing where you stand. Because this was caused by an air traffic control strike outside the airlines’ control, compensation under EC 261 is unlikely in most cases. But that doesn’t mean you’re without support. Your airline should still provide care and assistance during long delays, including meals and refreshments, hotel accommodation and transport if you’re stranded overnight, and rerouting or a refund if your flight was canceled. If you want to check what may apply to your journey, AirHelp’s free flight checker is a simple place to start.
Know your rights
These are your air passenger rights
When your flight's disrupted, you may be entitled to various forms of care and compensation under EC 261 and other applicable laws.
Rerouting or refund
If your flight is canceled, your airline must provide an alternative. You may also get a full refund if you no longer wish to travel.
Care and assistance
Your airline must provide food and refreshments if your journey is delayed more than a few hours.
Accommodation
If you are away from home and your journey is delayed overnight, the airline must offer you accommodation and transportation to it.
Communication
Under EC 261 you are entitled to 2 phone calls or emails if your journey is delayed over 1 hour. No compensation when a disruption is caused by extraordinary circumstances, as this appears to be.
This advice is provided to help you if your flight is delayed or canceled. However, the exact care and compensation you are entitled to will depend on your specific circumstances and flight. Always follow the directions of your airline, particularly with regard to check-in and boarding times.
Quick facts
Summary
Disruption
Delays and Cancellations
Cause
Other strike
Status
Current disruption
Compensation
Not eligible for compensation
Flights affected
6793
Airlines affected
Easyjet, Ryanair, British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, ITA Airways, Vueling Airlines, Aegean Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Air Baltic Corporation, Airlinair, Transavia France, LOT - Polish Airlines, Sky Express S.A.
Airports affected
Brussels Airport, Charleroi Brussels Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, London Heathrow Airport, London Gatwick Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Frankfurt am Main Airport, Munich Franz Josef Strauss Airport, Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, Milano Malpensa Airport, Barcelona-El Prat Airport, Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Madrid-Barajas International Airport, Paris Orly Airport, Zurich Airport, Manchester International Airport, Malaga Airport, Vienna International Airport, Geneve-Cointrin Airport, Warsaw Chopin Airport, Berlin Brandenburg Airport, Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport, Prague Vaclav Havel Airport, Milano Linate Airport, Cote D'Azur Airport, Franjo Tudman Airport
Cities affected
Brussels, Charleroi, Paris, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Athens, Milan, Barcelona, Rome, Madrid, Zurich, Manchester, Malaga, Vienna, Geneva, Warsaw, Berlin, Bologna, Prague, Nice, Zagreb
Countries affected
Belgium, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Greece, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, Croatia, Czechia
Start date
2026-06-03
Checked by
Josh Arnfield
Date updated
3 June 2026
What to do if your flight is delayed, canceled, or overbooked
If you're traveling to, from, or within the European Union, here's what you should do when you experience a disruption.
Gather evidence that your flight was delayed, canceled, or overbooked.
Get the airline to provide written confirmation of the disruption and the reason behind it.
Request an alternative flight to your destination — or a refund if you no longer wish to travel.
Make a note of the arrival time at your final destination.
Ask the airline to provide vouchers for meals and refreshments.
Avoid signing documents or accepting offers that may waive your passenger rights.
If an overnight stay is required, ask the airline to provide accommodation.
Save receipts for any additional expenses caused by the disruption.
