Traveling in Europe During Strikes: Your Rights and Refunds
Strikes and protests have disrupted travel in several European countries in autumn 2026, from a national public-sector strike in Belgium to regular transport stoppages in Italy. If you travel for work, a canceled train or flight can cost you a meeting, a hotel night and hours of your time. This guide explains your rights to refunds, rerouting and compensation across Europe, and gives practical steps for planning and claiming as of late October 2026.
Key takeaways
- EU flight rules give care and a choice of refund or rerouting whatever the cause, plus €250 to €600 compensation in some cases.
- Airline staff strikes usually mean compensation is due; air traffic control strikes usually do not.
- EU rail rules give 25% of the ticket price for 60 to 119 minutes' delay and 50% for 120 minutes or more, plus refund or rerouting options.
- Belgium and Italy publish strike information in advance, so check before you book.
- Flexible tickets, buffer time and good records make the biggest difference.
On 17 October 2026, cost-of-living protests took place in several European countries at once, and strikes have been part of the picture in a number of them. Belgium had a national public-sector strike on Monday 12 October 2026 that disrupted rail services, and a ground-handling strike at Brussels Airport on 9 October caused about 100 flight cancellations. Italy regularly has transport strikes under rules that require advance notice. For business travelers, the risk is not that Europe is closed, but that a specific day on a specific route may go wrong.
Passenger rights apply equally to business travelers and tourists. This article is a summary and general information, not legal advice. Check the carrier's terms, official EU passenger rights information and your company's travel policy for your case. If you are traveling in France, BizTips has a separate, more detailed guide to French strikes and refunds.
Your flight rights in brief
EU Regulation 261/2004 covers all flights departing from an EU airport and flights arriving in the EU on an EU airline. It gives three kinds of protection.
- Care: meals and refreshments while you wait and, if needed, a hotel and transport to it. This applies whatever caused the disruption.
- Refund or rerouting: if your flight is canceled, you choose between a ticket refund and rerouting to your destination. This also applies whatever the cause.
- Compensation: a fixed payment for long delays or late cancellations, unless the airline proves extraordinary circumstances.
Which strikes lead to compensation
Whether you get compensation depends on whose staff went on strike.
| Type of strike | Compensation | Care and refund or rerouting |
|---|---|---|
| Airline's own staff | Usually due: not treated as extraordinary circumstances | Yes |
| Air traffic control | Usually not due: treated as extraordinary circumstances | Yes |
| Airport or third-party staff (such as ground handlers) | Depends on the facts; often disputed | Yes |
Courts and national enforcement bodies sometimes reach different conclusions on third-party strikes, so if you think compensation is due, submit a claim and let the airline explain its reasons in writing. The UK applies its own version of these rules for flights from the UK, so check UK guidance for UK departures.
Your rail rights across the EU
Rail travel is often hit harder by strikes than air travel. EU Regulation 2021/782 sets minimum rights for rail passengers.
When a train is significantly delayed or canceled, you are also generally offered a choice of a refund, continuing your journey or rerouting at a later date. Operators can apply national exemptions and their own conditions, and rules for local and regional services can differ, so check the operator's passenger rights page.
Cross-border trains and Eurostar
Cross-border trains, including Eurostar, can be affected by a strike in any country along the route. A strike in Belgium can disrupt a journey between London and Amsterdam, for example, even if neither the UK nor the Netherlands is striking. Book through tickets where possible, because a single booking usually gives you stronger protection if a connection fails than separate tickets bought from different operators.
Common mistake
Booking separate cheap tickets for each leg of a multi-country rail trip. If the first train is delayed by a strike and you miss the second, the second operator may treat you as a no-show. A single through ticket usually keeps your connection protected.
Country notes: Belgium and Italy
Strike practices differ by country. Two countries worth special attention in late 2026 are Belgium and Italy.
Belgium
Belgian unions hold national action days regularly. During the national public-sector strike on 12 October 2026, rail disruption ran from 10 p.m. on 11 October through the last train on 12 October, and some reports said around 70% of InterCity trains ran. Brussels Airport expected little impact on flights, but trains and buses to the airport were disrupted. The national rail operator SNCB/NMBS publishes alternative timetables ahead of strike days, so check them before you travel and plan another way to reach the airport if needed.
Italy
In Italy, strikes in essential public services, including transport, are governed by Law 146/1990. Unions must give advance notice, generally at least 10 days, and guarantee minimum services. An independent body, the Commissione di garanzia, oversees compliance and publishes a strike calendar, and the transport ministry also lists upcoming transport strikes. Strikes are often limited to set hours, with guaranteed travel windows on public transport. That makes Italian strikes easier to plan around than many travelers expect.
How to plan business travel around strikes
Most strike disruption can be reduced with a little planning. Use these steps for any trip in Europe this autumn.
- Check announced strikes before booking. Look at national rail operators, airport websites and, for Italy, the official strike calendar.
- Check official travel advice. Read your government's advice, such as the US State Department or the UK FCDO, for each country you will visit.
- Choose flexible fares. Changeable or refundable tickets cost more but save money when plans shift.
- Build in buffer time. Avoid scheduling an important meeting on the same day as a long journey, especially on announced strike days.
- Plan a backup route. Know the alternatives, such as a different airport, a coach or a car rental, before you need them.
- Make meetings hybrid-ready. Agree in advance that a video link will be available if you cannot get there.
- Keep every document. Save tickets, boarding passes, delay notices, receipts and messages from the carrier.
Pro tip
If your flight is canceled, ask the airline for rerouting on the earliest available option, including other carriers or trains where that is faster. Note the time you asked and the answer you got. If the airline does not help and you rebook yourself, keep receipts: reasonable costs may be recoverable, but you will need proof that you asked first.
How to claim refunds and compensation
Claims are won on evidence and persistence. Here is the usual process.
Step by step
- Claim from the carrier first. Use the airline's or rail operator's official claim form, and quote the regulation that applies.
- Be specific. Give the booking reference, the scheduled and actual times and the amount you are claiming.
- Keep copies. Save your claim and every reply.
- Escalate if refused. If the carrier refuses or does not reply within a reasonable time, contact the national enforcement body or an approved dispute resolution service in the country concerned.
- Check other cover. Travel insurance, corporate travel policies and some business credit cards may cover extra costs that passenger rights rules do not.
Hypothetical example
Imagine Daniel, a consultant from Manchester, is due at a client workshop in Brussels on a day Belgian unions have announced a national strike. He checks the SNCB/NMBS alternative timetable a few days ahead, sees reduced service to the airport and decides to fly in the evening before. He books a flexible hotel rate and agrees a video backup with the client. On the way home his train connection is delayed by over two hours, so he keeps his ticket and the delay confirmation and files for 50% compensation. The names and details are made up for illustration.
Tax and expense records
For business travel, keep receipts for any extra meals, hotels or rebooked tickets for your expense records and tax return, and record any refunds or compensation you receive. Tax treatment differs by country, so check with your accountant or national tax authority.
Your strike-day travel checklist
- Announced strikes checked for every country on your route
- Official government travel advice read
- Flexible fares and through tickets booked where possible
- Buffer time added before key meetings
- Backup route and video link agreed
- Tickets, receipts and delay notices saved
- Claims filed promptly with the carrier
Frequently asked questions
Do I get compensation if my flight is canceled because of a strike?
It depends on who went on strike. Strikes by the airline's own staff usually mean compensation is due under EU Regulation 261/2004, while air traffic control strikes usually do not. Care and refund or rerouting apply in both cases.
What are my rights if my train is delayed by a strike?
Under EU Regulation 2021/782, you can generally get 25% of the ticket price for a delay of 60 to 119 minutes and 50% for 120 minutes or more, plus refund or rerouting options. Operators may apply exemptions, so check their passenger rights page.
How do I find out about strikes in Italy?
Italian law requires unions to give advance notice, generally at least 10 days, for strikes in essential services. The Commissione di garanzia publishes a strike calendar and the transport ministry lists upcoming transport strikes.
Do business travelers have the same rights as tourists?
Yes. EU passenger rights do not depend on the purpose of your trip. Your employer's travel policy or insurance may add extra protection on top.
Related reading
The bottom line
Strikes are a normal part of European life, and autumn 2026 has brought more than usual in some countries. EU rules give you real protection: care and a refund or rerouting whatever the cause of a flight cancellation, compensation in many cases, and set percentages back for long rail delays.
The best protection is planning. Check announced strikes and official travel advice, book flexible fares and through tickets, add buffer time and keep every receipt. That way a strike day becomes an inconvenience rather than a lost trip.
