EasyJet switches Brussels flights to Lille
Brussels airport has confirmed that it will remain closed today due to an ongoing forensic examination following Tuesday’s two explosions in the departures hall.
As a result, all flights to and from Zaventem airport have been cancelled.
EasyJet said there was a possibility the airport would remain closed over the Easter weekend, so it has switched its flights to Lille over the border in France instead.
In a statement on its website it said: "It is possible that this closure [of Brussels Airport] may be extended further until such time that the damage has been assessed and rectified to allow safe and semi-normalised operations.
"The decision to open the airport rests with the Belgian authorities and the airport company and this situation may extend to the weekend over Easter.
"In the meantime we are very conscious that people may still wish to travel to and from Brussels and thus we have taken the decision to transfer our Brussels operation to Lille Airport which is located in Northern France, approximately 120 kms from Brussels, but has good and frequent rail connections with Brussels. The scheduled flight times will remain unchanged."
Passengers flying into Lille for onward transfer to Brussels will be offered a free transfer service. They will be advised of the details when they arrive at Lille airport.
Passengers wanting to travel from Brussels via Lille to their final destination are being asked to make their own way from Brussels to Lille airport, and must present themselves to the check-in desk at Lille airport for a new boarding pass to meet the scheduled departure time.
It said that due to the ‘logistical challenge’ of trying to consolidate so many passengers in Brussels city centre, customers must arrange and pay for the transfer to Lille themselves, but it will reimburse ‘all reasonable costs’. Passengers must apply for refunds via customer services.
It said ‘reasonable costs’ include bus, train tickets or car hire expenses and overnight accommodation for early morning flights
British Airways said it has cancelled flights to Brussels today and it is also keeping flights from Friday under review.
"We are awaiting more information from the authorities in Belgium," it said.
Passengers with confirmed bookings for travel today can rebook for a later date, choose an alternative destination or claim a full refund.
Those due to travel between Friday and next Tuesday can rebook for a later date or an alternative destination.
Ryanair has switched its flights to and from Brussels to Charleroi airport until next Tuesday. Passengers are being asked to check in three hours before departure.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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