Urania Eclipse Flights Sold Out: 130 Belgians to Fly

Volkssterrenwacht Urania, the public observatory in Hove, Belgium, has completely sold out its two exclusive eclipse flights for the total solar eclipse of August 12, 2026. A total of 130 Belgians will experience the astronomical spectacle above the clouds, guaranteeing an unobstructed view of this rare celestial event, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.

A Rare Celestial Event

The August 12, 2026 eclipse is the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe since 1999. The path of totality runs through Russia’s Krasnoyarsk region, Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean, northern Spain, and the Balearic Islands, as detailed by Wikipedia. In Belgium, the eclipse will be partial, with roughly 90% of the sun covered around 20:15-20:25 CEST.

Two Flights, Two Experiences

Urania organized two eclipse flights departing from Liège Airport. The first, an Airbus A320 carrying approximately 100 passengers, sold out within days at €299 per ticket. The second, a VIP experience aboard an Embraer ERJ-135 private jet with only 30 seats, business-class seating, and open bar service at €799 per ticket, was fully booked within a week of its launch, according to the Urania website.

Werner Hamelinck of Urania confirmed that the final VIP seats were filled just before the article was published. “That VIP flight is also fully booked a week after its launch. Just now the last spots were filled,” he said. “Of the eleven eclipse trips we organize, we only have a few spots left on the bus trip to Spain.”

Why Fly for an Eclipse?

The flights will head toward Nantes, France, where the eclipse will reach a maximum obscuration of 96%. While northern Spain offers a 100% total eclipse, Urania deliberately chose the slightly lower obscuration to minimize risk. “We don’t want to risk participants seeing nothing,” Hamelinck explained. “The shadow races past at a speed of 3,000 kilometers per hour. If you miss it, it’s simply over.”

Hamelinck recalled how British Airways’ 1999 eclipse flight over the Atlantic missed the shadow entirely. “Those people paid a fortune and it became a fiasco. With us, passengers are certainly sure of what they get, a beautiful sun crescent above the clouds.”

Above the clouds, the view is guaranteed regardless of weather conditions. “From an obscuration level of 90 percent you see the moon’s shadow as a gigantic, dark band moving across the cloud deck,” Hamelinck said. “Moreover, the sunlight falling at that altitude creates a breathtaking spectacle of colorations along the horizon. A spectacle you simply can never experience from the ground.”

Among the lucky ticket holders is Fanny De Brandt, a 61-year-old from Antwerp who runs a transport company with her husband. A lifelong astronomy enthusiast who previously witnessed a total eclipse in France and traveled with Urania to Novosibirsk, Siberia, she will experience this flight with her sons Tom (27) and Sam (30).

“It’s something magical,” De Brandt said. “As a child I already had an enormous fascination for the universe and everything related to stars. When you really start thinking about it, it’s incredibly impressive.” She described the €299 ticket price as “a very democratic price for such a unique experience.”

Eclipse Fever Grips the Region

The demand for eclipse viewing extends well beyond the flights. Urania has sold over 110,000 certified eclipse glasses in the lead-up to the event, as reported by VRT NWS. The observatory is holding extra planetarium shows and extended opening hours for glasses sales ahead of August 12.

Some enthusiasts are going to extraordinary lengths. Dieter Verstrynge, a 42-year-old cyclist from Maldegem, is cycling 1,500 kilometers to Burgos, Spain, to witness the total eclipse. His journey also supports Bike4Brain, a UGent initiative funding research into brain diseases. “In 1999 I already experienced a partial eclipse at home as a 15-year-old, but now I want to experience the spectacle in full glory,” he said.

Hotel prices in the path of totality have surged, with some accommodations in Burgos asking over €1,000 per night.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity

For those who missed out on the flights, patience will be required. A similar eclipse flight from Belgium will not be possible again until September 23, 2090. The Spacepage astronomy portal notes that in Belgium, the partial eclipse will begin around 17:30-17:40 CEST, reach its maximum around 20:00-20:15, and end shortly after 21:30 CEST.

Observatories across the region are organizing public viewing events. The MAS museum in Antwerp will host a free eclipse viewing from its rooftop with telescopes provided by Urania, according to the MAS website. In the Netherlands, observatories and the University of Groningen are organizing similar events, as reported by Hart van Nederland.

As August 12 approaches, the excitement continues to build across Belgium and beyond. For the 130 passengers aboard Urania’s sold-out flights, the wait will soon be over—and the view from above the clouds promises to be unforgettable.