As September comes to a close and the summer travel peak winds down, airline passengers typically enjoy fewer disruptions.

However, as October begins, air travellers are bracing for a wave of new challenges across Europe and beyond.

One of the most significant disruptions will occur on 1 October in Belgium, where a national strike is expected to cause severe problems at Brussels Airport.

Security staff will walk out, resulting in the cancellation of approximately 80% of flights.

Brussels Airport has warned of “major impact” on operations, advising travellers of long delays.

In a statement, airport management said: “To avoid long waiting times at the security screening, airlines have decided in consultation with Brussels airport to cancel or reschedule a large number of departing flights on 1 October.”

Passengers impacted by these cancellations will be directly informed by their airlines.

Brussels Airlines, which operates in close connection with other Lufthansa Group carriers like Austrian Airlines and Swiss, has announced the cancellation of most of its flights on the day.

A spokesperson for the airline confirmed the decision, adding that affected passengers will be offered alternative flights on earlier or later dates, or rerouted through other Lufthansa hubs.

October also brings further complications for travellers.

The international aviation group Opsgroup has issued a bulletin detailing various airport closures and operational disruptions:

• Madrid: One of the airport’s four runways, 14R/32L, will be closed for repairs from 2 October to 12 November, reducing the airport’s movement capacity by about 25%.
• Mumbai: The airport will be completely shut down from 11am to 5pm local time on 17 October for runway maintenance ahead of monsoon season.
• Singapore: Brief closures are scheduled for 8 and 16 October due to the annual military exercise Bersama Lima.

Additionally, Opsgroup warns that Lebanon’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has introduced a ban on pagers and walkie-talkies aboard civil aircraft until further notice.

With these disruptions on the horizon, air travellers are advised to plan ahead, check for flight updates, and consider alternative routes if necessary.