Charleroi Airport to Close for Months in 2028 for Runway Renovation
Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA), Belgium’s second-busiest airport, will completely close for several months in the second half of 2028 to allow for a full renovation of its single runway, the airport operator confirmed on Friday. All flights will be grounded during the closure period, affecting the millions of passengers who travel through the airport annually.
Background
Charleroi Airport served 10,504,554 passengers in 2024, making it the second-busiest airport in Belgium after Brussels Airport, according to Wikipedia. The airport broke that record in 2025, reaching 11.2 million passengers — a milestone announced by BSCA in February 2026.
Located 46 kilometers south of Brussels in Gosselies, the airport is a major operating base for Ryanair and a focus city for Wizz Air. Its single asphalt runway (06/24) was extended to 3,200 meters in 2021 but now requires a full renovation after approximately 25 years of use.
Renovation Details
BSCA confirmed that the project represents “historic construction works,” as VRT NWS reported. Beyond the runway renovation, additional modernization projects will be carried out simultaneously to minimize overall disruption — though this means all air traffic will be completely halted during the works.
“These investments are necessary to guarantee the safety, performance and attractiveness of the airport in the long term,” the airport operator stated.
Preparations have been ongoing for years. The Walloon airport infrastructure authority SOWAER and BSCA have been studying the renovation since before November 2024, when a joint decision was made on how to organize the works, according to the cabinet of Walloon Minister of Airports Cécile Neven.
Sensitive Timing
The closure announcement comes at a particularly challenging moment for the airport. Just three days earlier, on July 22, 2026, Ryanair announced it would remove five aircraft from its Charleroi base and cut 2 million seats across its Belgian operations. The airline cited an increase in Belgium’s air travel tax from €5 to €7 for flights over 500 kilometers, effective January 2027, as reported by VRT NWS.
Aviation experts have noted that Ryanair traditionally reduces its Charleroi fleet during winter months, and the airline reported a 34 percent drop in quarterly profits partly due to higher fuel prices and geopolitical tensions. Nonetheless, the reduced presence raises questions about whether all destinations served from Charleroi will return after the renovation.
Union Concerns
Labor unions have voiced serious concerns about the impact of the extended closure on workers. Alain Goelens of the SETCa union told VRT NWS:
“What guarantees are there that all destinations will return after the reopening? And what about the wages of employees who become temporarily economically unemployed? Despite questions from the unions, there is still a lot of uncertainty about this.”
The union has criticized the Walloon government for lacking a clear strategy for the airport’s future, particularly given its heavy reliance on low-cost carriers.
Government Response
Minister Neven responded to union criticism through her cabinet, emphasizing that the renovation plans have been in preparation for years. SOWAER and BSCA made a joint decision in November 2024 on how the works would be organized, with the aim of minimizing disruption while ensuring the airport remains safe and competitive.
Broader Context
The closure places Charleroi within a broader trend of European airport infrastructure upgrades. Eindhoven Airport in the Netherlands recently announced a five-month closure in 2027, while Rotterdam The Hague Airport has scheduled major maintenance in 2028. Ostend-Bruges Airport in Belgium underwent a two-month closure in early 2024, highlighting the challenges airports face in maintaining aging infrastructure while keeping operations running.
Looking Ahead
With the prolonged planning period reflecting the complexity of coordinating a complete shutdown of a major transport hub, the airport and Walloon authorities now face the challenge of reassuring airlines, passengers, and workers that the temporary closure will not result in permanent losses. The runway renovation is essential for long-term safety and performance, but its success will depend on careful execution and clear communication with all stakeholders.
Passengers planning flights through Charleroi in the second half of 2028 are advised to monitor announcements from the airport and airlines as the renovation timeline is finalized.