Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

Charleroi, one of Belgium's most well-known airports both domestically and internationally, will be forced to find more expensive alternatives to travel to Brussels ahead of the upcoming European elections due to the closure of Brussels South Airport for 11 weeks. The European Playbook magazine, based in Brussels, reported under the headline "Inopportune Timing": The reconstruction of the airport's single runway—scheduled for August 15 to October 31, 2028—will coincide with the early months of Latvia's presidency of the Council of the European Union and the beginning of the final stretch before the 2029 EU elections. Mixed feelings prevail: It's an airport that Brussels residents particularly dislike, from the 50-minute flight time to the long security checkpoints upon arrival. However, many of those interviewed by Playbook were upset about the prospect of losing the affordable transport option offered by Charleroi Airport (parliamentary assistants from southern Italy and Greece were the most vocal).

Easy for some: The closure is likely to affect lower-ranking officials, activists, and political staff more, who will find it harder to afford the higher airfares or travel by alternative routes. This is because Charleroi Airport connects Brussels cheaply with regional cities, EU candidate countries, and parts of the EU with poor rail services, which could be bypassed by connecting flights via Zaventem, Brussels' other airport.

Pricing: “Charleroi is one of Ryanair’s biggest bases on the European continent,” John Strickland, director of JLS Consulting, told Playbook, predicting significant disruption as airlines reorganize aircraft and passengers—with Zaventem Airport expected to benefit as an alternative route, as well as the nearby city of Lille. Pain Threshold: John Grant, senior analyst at OAG, told Playbook that the limited network of affordable airlines will increase the cost barrier. “For travelers, there are always other options, albeit sometimes at a premium,” he added.

Presidential Election Calculations: Latvia will not lose its direct route to Brussels: airBaltic currently operates flights from Riga to Zaventem. However, the country will lose its cheapest option. Ryanair advertises tickets from Riga to Charleroi starting at €29.99 one way, compared to around €85 on airBaltic flights to Zaventem—a difference of approximately €110 for a round trip before any additional costs. However, a shuttle service from Charleroi Airport, starting at €14.99 one way, reduces this difference. Prices for 2028 have not yet been finalized.

Paying the price: However, for officials, experts, and journalists who frequently travel back and forth to Brussels, or who book round-trip flights to Riga for the Latvian presidency, the added cost could quickly add up.

The bigger question: While 11 weeks of disruption might be manageable, the Belgian SETCa union has already warned that some planes, crews, and airlines will not return after the shutdown ends, potentially making Brussels a weaker and more expensive gateway to the rest of the continent.