Travellers to and from Belgium should expect serious disruption to air and rail services following the attacks in Brussels and ongoing security operations in the country.
The Belgian authorities are currently advising the public to remain where they are, while the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office has warned British citizens in Brussels to remain alert and vigilant, to stay away from crowded places and avoid public transport. Travellers should follow the advice of local authorities and respect security controls.
Belgium is currently at threat level 4 and all public transport in Brussels, including all metro stations, are closed.
Brussels Airport, the location of one explosion, remains closed. All flights today have been cancelled and passengers are requested to contact their airline for further instructions. The public have been asked to avoid the area surrounding the airport. Those with questions about family or friends at the airport should call: (0032) (0)2/753 73 00.
In a statement, the airport also said that passengers holding a ticket for a Lufthansa Group flights (Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines and Germanwings) between today and 28 March, to, from or via Brussels can rebook or refund their ticket for free.
Brussels South airport is currently open, however passengers are advised to arrive at the airport at least four hours before departure and check flight details with airlines.
Eurostar has suspended services on the Brussels route and are running a limited service to and from Lille Europe. Customers are strongly advised not to travel today and the company will be offering free exchanges to anyone who is affected. Those who are travelling are advised to allow one hour for check in.
British Airways has cancelled all flights to and from Brussels for the remainder of today. In a statement it said that flights from Wednesday 23 March are currently under review, but passengers can rebook or claim a refund regardless of whether their flight is operating or not. Passengers should visit the British Airways website to check the status of their flight.
Easyjet has also cancelled all flights to and from Brussels and are directing passengers to check its flight tracker for the latest updates.
All flights and trains with an Air France number are also suspended to and from Brussels. Passengers due to travel on these routes between 22-31 March 2016 will be able to postpone their trip until March 31 2016 at no extra cost.
Airports in the UK have also released statements following the attacks. Heathrow airport says it is “working with the police...who are providing a high-visibility presence”.
Gatwick and Manchester airports also said security presence had been increased. There is also an increased police presence at key transport hubs around the UK.
If you are concerned about family or friends in Belgium you can call the Belgian Crisis Centre on 00 32 2753 7300, or 1771 for general enquiries. You can also contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 020 7008 0000.
