March 03, 2026
Last year, the Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB issued administrative fines totaling 32.5 million euros, almost 5 million more than in 2024. The increase comes almost exclusively from category 3 fines for fare-dodging, which account for almost all fines. In 2024, NMBS/SNCB issued 89,000 fines (+16,654), amounting to 32.5 million euros. The most fines were issued […]
March 02, 2026
The recent American and Israeli attacks on Iran, followed by Iranian retaliatory attacks, are having a huge impact on international aviation. Due to the direct military threat and airspace closure, the three Arab hubs, Dubai (DXB), Doha (DOH), and Abu Dhabi (AUH), the world’s most important transfer hubs, have become virtually unusable for international air […]
February 27, 2026
Bike sharing is becoming increasingly popular in Belgium, but the number of shared cars on offer is declining. This is according to figures collected by Way To Go, a network organization that promotes shared mobility. Nevertheless, car sharing in Flanders grew by 22% in terms of user numbers. And while Brussels is the e-scooter capital, […]
February 27, 2026
From September 7th, there will be a new high-speed train connection between Antwerp and Cologne, with a stop at Brussels Airport. The new train connection, which will run twice a day in each direction and will also stop in Liège and Leuven in Belgium, will be launched by Deutsche Bahn. Brussels Airlines, among others, will […]
February 26, 2026
The Flemish government and driving test centers are taking measures to combat exam fraud and abuse, according to the Mediahuis newspapers. From now on, it will be mandatory to register via the Itsme app or another digital key, such as an eID, to make an appointment for a driving exam, and there will be many […]
February 25, 2026
We haven’t seen much sun in Belgium this year, but now that the first signs of spring are appearing, the Walloon Road Safety Agency (AWSR) is warning about glare from the sun in traffic at this time of the year. During these months, the sun is low on the horizon at exactly the times when […]
February 24, 2026
From July 1, CO2 emissions from vehicles will be taken into account when calculating the kilometer charge for trucks in Flanders. The more environmentally friendly the truck, the lower the rate. This has been announced by Viapass, the body that coordinates the kilometer charge in Belgium. This rate change aligns with European requirements and aims […]
February 24, 2026
To say that things are currently very turbulent at the Flemish public transport company De Lijn would be an understatement. For example, the unions at De Lijn have just submitted a strike notice for nine days of action in March and April. The reason for this is the additional cuts announced by the Flemish government […]
February 23, 2026
Airbus expects to deliver a record number of aircraft this year. In the title, the European aircraft manufacturer expects to deliver 870 commercial aircraft, significantly more than the 793 it delivered to customers in 2025. This would be a record – the current record dates from 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic, with 863. Net profit […]
February 20, 2026
Air France-KLM can close the 2025 financial year with a bang: last year, the group posted a historic net profit of 1,75 billion euros, a remarkable achievement after the horror years of the Covid-19 pandemic. The group’s recovery is mainly due to a strategic shift towards higher-end customers and an unexpected windfall, such as lower […]
February 20, 2026
The express tram between Hasselt and Maastricht was a complete failure, but Belgium and the Netherlands are once again stepping up their cooperation to tackle cross-border rail connections. Only this time, it is not a collaboration between Flanders and its northern neighbors, but one at the national level. Minister of Mobility Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) […]
February 19, 2026
It seems like a PR stunt, because although newspapers are full of stories about canceled journeys, empty flex buses, outdated buses, or buses that leave too early, 8 out of 10 passengers are satisfied with their journeys on the Flemish public transport company De Lijn. The positive satisfaction survey score from last year, conducted on […]
February 18, 2026
More efficient, customized transport. Although the idea sounds appealing, the flex buses introduced by Flemish public transport company De Lijn in early 2024 to replace the old dial-a-bus service are anything but a resounding success. More than half, or 52%, of the nearly 18 million km traveled by flex buses last year were without passengers, […]
February 17, 2026
King Liu, founder of Taiwanese bicycle brand Giant, passed away yesterday at the age of 91. Liu founded Giant in 1972 and built his small business into the world’s largest bicycle manufacturer, producing more than 6 million bicycles per year at its peak. Liu was also passionate about bicycle culture, even though he himself had […]
February 16, 2026
The pre-metro tunnel in Antwerp between the Right and Left Banks of the river Scheldt will close for renovation on May 4. The work, which is urgently needed after years of underinvestment, is expected to last until the end of March 2027, which is 11 months. Some sections of the pre-metro tunnel are now more […]
February 16, 2026
Drunk drivers will now be punished in the same way throughout Belgium. Anyone caught driving with a blood alcohol level of more than 0.8% will have their driver’s license suspended for 15 days on the spot. Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) has signed a circular letter to this effect, which takes effect immediately and […]
February 13, 2026
As of today, Brussels Airlines has two Tintin aircraft in service, though this will be temporary. The airline is introducing a new themed aircraft based entirely on the characters from the famous comic series by artist Hergé. The first Tintin aircraft, which was also Brussels Airlines’ very first themed aircraft in 2015, will be removed […]
February 12, 2026
One in five Walloons is unaware of the minimum medical standards required to drive a vehicle. This is according to a survey by the Walloon Road Safety Agency (AWSR). The agency is using the results to launch a campaign on fitness to drive based on health, an essential but often overlooked aspect of road safety. […]
February 11, 2026
The demolition permit for two cooling towers at the nuclear power plant in Tihange, near Huy in the province of Liège, has been suspended following an appeal. Operator Engie wants to proceed quickly with the dismantling. Still, the federal government and Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet (MR) are reluctant to allow it because they want to […]
February 11, 2026
Lufthansa pilots and cabin crew will walk out tomorrow due to a wage dispute and working conditions. The strike will affect all Lufthansa flights and those operated by its cargo division, Lufthansa Cargo, departing from Germany. The exact extent of the cancellations is still unclear, but passengers should expect flight cancellations and delays in any […]
February 10, 2026
The frequent use of a new flight path has meant that 450,000 Brussels residents in the municipalities of Koekelberg, Schaerbeek, and Molenbeek-Saint-Jean have been subjected to intensive overflights since the summer. The Mayors concerned had an initial, disappointing meeting on the issue with Minister of Mobility Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés). However, the latter has since […]
February 09, 2026
Mobility organization Touring has never been a fervent supporter of low-emission zones (LEZ). While in Flanders, for example, a coalition of environmental associations has gone to the Council of State to challenge the freezing of LEZ in Antwerp and Ghent, Touring says that the freezing of LEZ is a good thing in the long run. […]
February 09, 2026
Flemish families who purchase a heat pump can count on a subsidy of up to 8,000 euros. They can also take out a low-interest or, in some cases, interest-free renovation loan to purchase a heat pump. Because electricity is now four times as expensive as gas, the Flemish government will also implement an energy tax […]
January 30, 2026
Traffic manslaughter is now a criminal offense in Belgium. The Chamber has given the green light for this. Previously, fatal accidents were usually classified as ‘unintentional homicide’. The new legislation, based on a bill drafted by Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden (CD&V), now makes vehicular homicide a separate crime with significantly increased penalties. The call for […]
January 30, 2026
In 2025, Belgium’s FPS Finance collected 646.4 million euros in fines. This represents an increase of 22.4 million euros compared to 2024. Traffic violations account for most of these cases. The increase is due to more efficient collection, as well as rate increases and the explosive growth of cameras along Belgian roads. Most of the money […]
January 30, 2026
Belgian Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet (MR) has defended himself in parliament against criticism that he is not taking enough action on nuclear issues. Nothing concrete came of it, but according to Bihet, discussions are underway with operators and owners of nuclear power plants, and there are investors “interested in extending the maximum number of reactors, […]
January 29, 2026
In Wallonia, there are an average of 32 secondary accidents per year, resulting in 57 victims, including 3 fatalities. A secondary accident occurs when other road users collide with the scene of a crash or with people involved, such as drivers who get out of their cars, witnesses, or emergency responders. In a campaign, the […]
January 29, 2026
Ghent-based Joule, a subsidiary of the Brussels-based holding company D’Ieteren, is now the exclusive bicycle leasing company for the federal government. By winning the public tender, it will have the opportunity to lease bicycles to some 70,000 federal servants. This is the first time that bicycle leasing has been rolled out on such a large […]
January 27, 2026
Irish budget airline Ryanair saw its profits fall by no less than 80% last quarter due to a fine of more than 255 million euros imposed by the Italian competition authority in December. Profit after tax amounted to 30 million euros in the three months to the end of December. A year earlier, profits stood […]
January 26, 2026
The company car system in Belgium is a unique phenomenon. And although the system is popular with users, it also attracts significant criticism, partly because it costs 4 billion euros a year. Brussels Groen leader and Brussels Minister of Mobility Elke Van den Brandt wants this tax money used to fund train passes costing €12 […]
January 26, 2026
Throughout the week, fewer trains than usual will be running in Belgium due to a new five-day rail strike that began on Sunday evening. The national solidarity action in Brussels against the socio-economic policy of the current Arizona coalition government may also disrupt various bus, tram, and metro lines operated by De Lijn in Flanders, MIVB/STIB […]
January 23, 2026
It’s not a title to be proud of, and certainly not something to boast about to visitors or travelers, but of the approximately 140 major train stations in Belgium, Genk remains the least punctual. The Limburg station is also the only one where, on average, more than two in ten trains were delayed by at […]
January 23, 2026
The Flemish public transport company De Lijn is deploying two autonomous shuttles in Leuven (Louvain). They will operate on line 16, the new line connecting the train station with the station and the borough of Heverlee. According to De Lijn, this is a European first for a public transport company. The Leuven-Heverlee route is approximately 4 […]
January 22, 2026
A recent study by the American investment bank Jefferies estimates that the four largest American Airlines could save as much as 580 million dollars per year in fuel costs if passengers weighed less. The study approaches the weight issue from a surprising angle, namely the impact of rheumatoid arthritis on often controversial weight loss drugs […]
January 22, 2026
The Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB is launching Mobi 2.0, its updated AI chatbot. The virtual assistant is designed to help train passengers with questions about their journey 24/7. According to NMBS/SNCB, the revamped virtual assistant answers 90% of all questions correctly. The railway company says that it is one of the first large-scale GenAI […]
January 21, 2026
Since the end of last year, passengers with reduced mobility have been able to request assistance at 24 additional NMBS/SNCB-operated stations. This brings the number of stations where this is possible to 174, or approximately one in three, as NMBS/SNCB manages around 555 train stations in Belgium. The stations concerned are Aalter, Antwerp-Luchtbal, Arcaden, Barvaux, […]
January 21, 2026
There is currently a remarkable mudslinging match going on between Starlink and Tesla owner Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, and Michael O’Leary, the CEO of Ryanair. What began as a business discussion about Wi-Fi on board airplanes has escalated into personal insults and even a laconic threat from Musk to buy Ryanair. […]
January 20, 2026
Last year, Brussels Mobility counted approximately 12% more cyclists on cycle paths in the Brussels Capital Region. The increase is greatest on weekdays, at +13%, which drops to +7% at weekends. Meanwhile, cyclists and e-scooter riders are also anxiously awaiting the ban on bicycles and e-scooters in the Anspachlaan/Boulevard Anspach pedestrian zone, which is awaiting political […]
January 20, 2026
French railway company SNCF has ordered 15 new high-speed trains from train manufacturer Alstom. The additional trains will be used to expand services between France and Belgium, particularly between major French cities and Brussels. The order is worth 600 million euros. Alstom’s Avelia Horizon very high-speed train is the only double-decker train in the world capable […]
January 19, 2026
Military vehicle manufacturer Arquus and German truck manufacturer Daimler Trucks have secured a contract to supply 7,000 trucks to the French Army. This was announced by Belgian engineering group John Cockerill, which has owned French company Arquus since 2024. According to several French media outlets, the contract is worth approximately 2 billion euros. The order is […]
January 19, 2026
Spanish train manufacturer CAF wants to collaborate with Alstom in Bruges to build trainsets for NMBS/SNCB. Alstom lost the contract and unsuccessfully challenged that decision before the Council of State. Trade unions at Alstom Bruges feared that losing the contract would spell the end of the factory. The collaboration between CAF and Alstom Bruges comes […]
January 16, 2026
Almost one in ten children under 1.35 meters tall are not consistently secured in their car seats. Of the children who are secured, not all are in a child seat. In addition, one in five children keeps their coats on in their car seats in winter. This is according to a new study by the […]
January 15, 2026
The Lufthansa Group, including its subsidiary Brussels Airlines, is tightening the rules for power banks on board flights. For example, they may no longer be used to charge devices, and storing them in the overhead compartment above the seats is also prohibited. The tightening of the rules is due to an increase in fire incidents […]
January 14, 2026
Eurostar’s high-speed trains carried a record 20 million passengers last year. By investing in new trains and routes, the high-speed train operator, which currently has a monopoly on passenger transport through the Channel Tunnel, aims to reach 30 million passengers in the long term. Compared with 2024, passenger numbers increased by half a million, or just […]
January 14, 2026
The Lufthansa Group, which includes Brussels Airlines, will offer free, high-speed Wi-Fi on its approximately 850 aircraft starting in the second half of 2026. It will do so using the Starlink satellite network from SpaceX, the American space company owned by billionaire Elon Musk. The collaboration with Starlink applies to the entire Lufthansa Group, which also […]
January 13, 2026
Swiss company Stromer, which has been the market leader in speed pedelecs in the Netherlands and Belgium for many years, has recalled approximately 6,500 devices. The speed pedelecs are equipped with a WREN brand suspension fork, but they have a safety issue. A risk of metal fatigue has been identified in the steering tube of the […]
January 13, 2026
After Diamant, Maalbeek/Maelbeek, Stokkel/Stockel, and Ossegem/Osseghem, Brussels metro stations Delta and Herrmann-Debroux on line 5 in Oudergem are also getting a facelift this year. The work is part of Brussels Mobility’s Refresh program. With the Refresh program, Brussels Mobility aims to quickly improve user comfort through targeted interventions, without waiting for a complete renovation. The […]
January 12, 2026
Engie must set aside an additional 3 billion euros to finance the dismantling of nuclear power plants. This is according to a report by Niras, the national institution for radioactive waste, as reported by De Tijd and L’Echo. The French energy company, which operates the seven nuclear power plants in Belgium, has agreed with the […]
January 12, 2026
The French-speaking liberal MR faction in the Brussels Parliament has proposed a measure to significantly reduce fines for violations of the low-emission zone (LEZ) in the capital. The MR strongly opposes what it calls ‘punitive ecology’. It wants to reduce LEZ fines from €350 to €15. This would immediately remove the big stick for owners […]
January 10, 2026
Belgian railway network operator Infrabel is launching Impulse Belgium, a start-up laboratory, according to the business newspaper De Tijd. Through this internal innovation unit, Infrabel aims to focus on projects that enhance the network’s efficiency and safety. Two projects are being put forward: opening their electricity grid to third parties and using AI for railway maintenance. […]
January 10, 2026
There has been unrest for some time at the Dumarey factory in Strasbourg, which manufactures car gearboxes. The union protest is set to grow now that West Flemish businessman Guido Dumarey has announced plans to close the factory in Alsace, France, before the end of this year. The closure could result in the loss of […]
January 08, 2026
The French energy company Engie, which also operates in Belgium, has obtained a permit to demolish the cooling tower of the Tihange 1 nuclear power plant. It wants to start dismantling it in September. This undermines the plans of Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet (MR), who wants to restart the plant and negotiate an additional 10-year […]
January 08, 2026
Now that many long-term unemployed people in Belgium are losing their allowance, the bus and coach sector is calling on them to become bus drivers. The industry is facing a severe staff shortage and has 530 vacancies. The 374 companies in the sector, united in the FBAA sector federation, are even willing to finance the training. […]
January 07, 2026
Lufthansa, founded on January 6, 1926, as “Luft Hansa,” celebrates its 100th anniversary today. The history of the German airline is almost as turbulent as aviation itself. From a technological pioneer in the 1920s to an active role during the Nazi regime, Lufthansa grew into Europe’s largest airline group, at least in terms of revenue. […]
January 06, 2026
During the first six months of last year, 5,028,562 traffic violations were recorded by the federal police in Belgium. This is an absolute record, as it is more than 436,000 more than in the same period two years ago. Compared to 2017, this is even double the number. Almost 4.2 million of the traffic violations […]
January 06, 2026
Brussels Airport has experienced substantial growth in the intercontinental segment over the past few years. According to the business newspaper L’Echo, the share of so-called ‘long-haul’ flights rose by more than 11%. This growth is the result of a deliberate strategy to strengthen Brussels as an international hub. From Africa to North and Latin America […]
January 05, 2026
Belgians are increasingly using bicycles for their journeys, including commuting. This trend is confirmed by various mobility barometers and surveys in both Flanders and Wallonia. For the first time, more than half of Flemish people regularly cycle to work. Wallonia lags in this area, but even there, we observe that, for the first time, 6% […]
January 05, 2026
Starting the new year with fireworks? For many people, it is a tradition they would like to maintain. From next year, consumer fireworks will no longer be allowed in the Netherlands, and many Belgian municipalities and cities are also banning them. Every year, there are hundreds of victims, and the damage to houses and cars […]
December 30, 2025
From now on, anyone in France who exceeds the speed limit by 50 km/h or more will no longer receive a simple fine but will be immediately summoned to appear before the criminal court. Just as they would for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they could face a fine of up to […]
December 29, 2025
In 2025, 2,395 flights were canceled due to strikes at Brussels Airport. The seven-day national union action affected more than 330,000 travelers. According to the airport, these actions cost the Belgian economy approximately 175 million euros. Brussels Airlines says that these seven days of national union action “should not be repeated” in 2026. “We call […]
