BRUSSELS, January 30, 2025 – Belgium’s airspace was closed Thursday afternoon following a technical malfunction at Skeyes, the organization responsible for air traffic control in the country, according to local media reports. This disruption led to the suspension of landings and takeoffs at major airports, including those in Brussels, Antwerp, Ostend, Charleroi, and Liège.
“The Skeyes air traffic control system began experiencing issues around 3:00 PM (local time),” stated Kurt Verwilligen, a spokesperson for the company, as reported by local news outlets. As a result, all aircraft within the airspace managed by Skeyes, up to an altitude of approximately 7,500 meters, were redirected to neighboring countries.
Verwilligen clarified that this operation was conducted safely using a backup system. The cause of the technical failure has not yet been identified, and aviation authorities are actively working to resolve the issue in order to restore air traffic as quickly as possible.
Passengers are advised to contact their airlines for updates regarding their flight status and any necessary actions they may need to take. Delays and cancellations are anticipated until the situation is fully resolved.
