Belgium's second-busiest airport will suspend all flights for over two months in 2028 to facilitate a major runway reconstruction and infrastructure upgrade.

Brussels South Charleroi Airport is scheduled to halt all flight operations for 11 weeks in the second half of 2028. The suspension, running from August 15 to October 31, is required to facilitate a complete refurbishment of the hub's only runway and other infrastructure modernization projects managed by SOWAER.

Operational Impact and Costs

The airport stated that carrying out multiple construction projects simultaneously is intended to minimize the overall duration of the disruption. The runway, which has an estimated 25-year lifespan, will undergo a full refurbishment alongside other upgrades. According to reports from the Belgian public broadcaster RTBF, the total cost of these works is estimated at approximately €50 million.

Passenger and Economic Concerns

With 11.2 million passengers recorded in 2025, an 11-week closure could impact more than 2 million travelers. Trade unions have expressed concern regarding the long-term impact on employment and whether passenger traffic will return to pre-closure levels. Alain Goelens of the SETCa union stated that labor representatives have been seeking a dialogue with management for two years to address these risks.

Broader Aviation Challenges

The airport is currently facing additional pressure following Ryanair's recent announcement that it will remove five aircraft from its Charleroi base and cut 2 million seats from its Belgian network. This decision follows a government increase in the national boarding tax from €5 to €7. While the Walloon regional government maintains that preparations for the 2028 runway project have been underway for months, the airport continues to navigate these broader capacity and tax-related challenges.