Mar 22, 2016, 5:59 am
Last edit by: JDiver
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Flyertalk Brussels incident moderator team: stut, cblaisd and starflyergold
N.B. PLEASE do not alter the contents of this moderator note.
SUMMARY: At ~08:00 local time on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, three men with several large bags arrived by taxi at BRU / Brussels Zaventem airport. They proceeded with their bags on trolleys into the departures area, where they detonated Claymore type devices within the suitcases (explosives wrapped with shrapnel consisting of nails, etc.) at opposite ends of the Departures area.
11 are known dead in this incident, many more injured. Two bombs detonated, a third suitcase detonated later, after the area had been evacuated. Two bombers were killed, a third one is being searched for; he is believed to be Hakim Laachraoui, allegedly the bomb designer and implicated in the November 13 Paris terrorist bombings.
Approximately an hour later, two men including the brother of one of the BRU bombers detonated a suicide explosive device at the Maelbeek metro station, not far from EU / EC buildings. More than 20 were killed at the metro station. In all, there have been over 260 reported injuries.
BRU / Zaventem began to open with three flights 3 April. There are new procedures in place, as reported by member flatlander on Sunday, 3 April in the American Airlines | AAdvantage forum.
Alternate access to / from Brussels by air is via Brussels Charleroi / CRL / EBVI 29 miles from the city and connected by bus. CRL hosts Low Cost Carriers and some airlines have temporarily diverted flights from BRU to CRL.
Rail services (e.g. Thalys from Amsterdam and Paris) are functioning normally.
11 are known dead in this incident, many more injured. Two bombs detonated, a third suitcase detonated later, after the area had been evacuated. Two bombers were killed, a third one is being searched for; he is believed to be Hakim Laachraoui, allegedly the bomb designer and implicated in the November 13 Paris terrorist bombings.
Approximately an hour later, two men including the brother of one of the BRU bombers detonated a suicide explosive device at the Maelbeek metro station, not far from EU / EC buildings. More than 20 were killed at the metro station. In all, there have been over 260 reported injuries.
BRU / Zaventem began to open with three flights 3 April. There are new procedures in place, as reported by member flatlander on Sunday, 3 April in the American Airlines | AAdvantage forum.
flatlander, 3 Apr 2016:
BRU is now open with limited service. See http://www.brusselsairport2203.be for new arrivals and departures procedures.
Of note: There will be a vehicle check approaching the drop-off zone. Only passengers will be allowed past the drop-off area into the temporary check-in and departures area, and there will be no luggage trolleys or catering in the departures area. After security there are a few places to eat and drink.
There are no train or bus services to the airport. Access is by private car, taxi, foot or bicycle. No car rental at the airport.
...Recommended arrival time at the airport is 3 hours before departure.
BRU is now open with limited service. See http://www.brusselsairport2203.be for new arrivals and departures procedures.
Of note: There will be a vehicle check approaching the drop-off zone. Only passengers will be allowed past the drop-off area into the temporary check-in and departures area, and there will be no luggage trolleys or catering in the departures area. After security there are a few places to eat and drink.
There are no train or bus services to the airport. Access is by private car, taxi, foot or bicycle. No car rental at the airport.
...Recommended arrival time at the airport is 3 hours before departure.
Rail services (e.g. Thalys from Amsterdam and Paris) are functioning normally.
Resource information:
Link to BRU / Zaventem airport site with maps and details of current procedures.
Link to detailed BRU procedures for departing passengers.
Belgian Federal Crisis Center offers an English PDF here, and current updates on its FaceBook page here. Twitter @crisiscenterbe.
Relatives of BRU / Zaventem airport victims or inquiring may call +32 2 753 73 00.
Relatives of Maelbeek victims or inquiring may call +32 78 15 17 71.
Rail service has been reestablished to all rail stations (excepting BRU). Noctis busses are running. Trams #92 and #93 are running. For Metro service, see here. Plan more time for security procedures implemented as Belgium is at Security Level 3, even at rail stations, etc. and be sure to be prepared to produce valid identification.
Link to updated article on BBC
Updated 03 April 2016 by JDiver
Link to BRU / Zaventem airport site with maps and details of current procedures.
Link to detailed BRU procedures for departing passengers.
Belgian Federal Crisis Center offers an English PDF here, and current updates on its FaceBook page here. Twitter @crisiscenterbe.
Relatives of BRU / Zaventem airport victims or inquiring may call +32 2 753 73 00.
Relatives of Maelbeek victims or inquiring may call +32 78 15 17 71.
Rail service has been reestablished to all rail stations (excepting BRU). Noctis busses are running. Trams #92 and #93 are running. For Metro service, see here. Plan more time for security procedures implemented as Belgium is at Security Level 3, even at rail stations, etc. and be sure to be prepared to produce valid identification.
Link to updated article on BBC
Updated 03 April 2016 by JDiver
Brussels airport and metro explosions 22 March 2016
Mar 29, 2016, 12:46 pm
#106
Join Date: Feb 2016
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I'd say the checks in DUB were slightly more lengthy than normal - the queue at the border was significant (although most likely because there was an influx of arrivals at the same time), but whereas usually a British passport would result in almost automatic wave through thanks to the Common Travel Area, this time there was a few seconds of studying.
The biggest change was certainly a much more visible presence of Airport Gardai - not all armed - outside the building, and they were reacting to something as we waited for a taxi. Local media reports suggest this move had been planned for some months, but brought into action earlier as a result of the Brussels attacks.
http://www.her.ie/news/dublin-airpor...-threat/284378
Mar 29, 2016, 1:31 pm
#107
Join Date: May 2004
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We all (mix of Irish and European passports) sailed through border control at DUB on Thursday... The usual cheery "welcome home" which I love (yep, I'm a sucker). I think we were lucky in our timing - Christmas eve was not good in terms of queuing at the border - somewhere between La Guardia and Marrakech! That's what I get for being a cliché and coming home for Christmas and easter...
Mar 29, 2016, 1:43 pm
#108
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Mar 29, 2016, 4:05 pm
#109
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Mar 30, 2016, 1:51 am
#110
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While LGA does get some common carrier flights from outside of the US, those international flights into LGA are only regularly scheduled to come from US CBP PreClearance airports. Speaking of the last few decades at least. But in terms of passport control lines for ordinary common carrier flights at least, no such thing as passport control lines on arrival at LGA. [Well, maybe if CBP or ICE or some other federal or local LEO is there to do something to one or more arrival passengers on one of these international flights into LGA, but I've never seen that for my flights from Canada into LGA.
LGA also has some scheduled common carrier international flights that leave the US from LGA. So in that sense it's an international airport.
Last edited by GUWonder; Mar 30, 2016 at 2:06 am
Apr 1, 2016, 11:22 am
#111
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Who pays extra costs for transportation?
I came back to Belgium on Monday flying into AMS instead of BRU.
I bought a train ticket @ AMS to continue my journey home. Never thought much of this until I read an article on deredeactie.be (unfortunately I can't find this anymore) stating the airline company is responsible to pay for your entire trip home.
I wonder what others think of this:
- I don't find it appropriate to charge these costs to the airline, it's not their fault, concerning me this is rather force majeure
- I was in the impression that the EU law excluded force majeure but according to this article apparently not
- We voluntarily changed our flight to AMS (we could choose for other airports as well). Is it fair to have an airline pay for these tickets when everybody can plan their own itinerary.
Also, keeping in mind what has happened I find it rather inappropriate to make a big deal about a few euros.
Still, from this article and what I hear from other people I may be a bit too good, don't think about all this and just request for compensation.
What do other flyertalkers think?
I bought a train ticket @ AMS to continue my journey home. Never thought much of this until I read an article on deredeactie.be (unfortunately I can't find this anymore) stating the airline company is responsible to pay for your entire trip home.
I wonder what others think of this:
- I don't find it appropriate to charge these costs to the airline, it's not their fault, concerning me this is rather force majeure
- I was in the impression that the EU law excluded force majeure but according to this article apparently not
- We voluntarily changed our flight to AMS (we could choose for other airports as well). Is it fair to have an airline pay for these tickets when everybody can plan their own itinerary.
Also, keeping in mind what has happened I find it rather inappropriate to make a big deal about a few euros.
Still, from this article and what I hear from other people I may be a bit too good, don't think about all this and just request for compensation.
What do other flyertalkers think?
Apr 1, 2016, 4:44 pm
#113
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 297
I have a scheduled Brussels Airlines operated trip that transits through Brussels in mid-April, YYZ-BRU-TLS booked on Expedia, with a return trip (direct from not-Belgium) via Air Canada.
I just want to change the trip out to YYZ-CDG ORY-TLS and deal with the change-of-airport to avoid all this uncertainty, and probably help out SN by taking a bit of load off.
But I can't get a refund/re-schedule without penalty yet.
It's getting annoying having Brussels Airlines only cancel a day or two's worth of flights at a time. Sure, they can give me a full refund if mine eventually becomes cancelled, but that will probably cover half the fare of a 24-48 hour before ticket.
It doesn't help that YYZ-BRU is a new route for SN that was supposed to start on March 28th or so (but still hasn't).
And how will this work since my return flight through a partner airline does not transit through Brussels. Would the whole ticket get cancelled?
Other airlines are offering far more generous reschedule-at-no-penalty, though with varying terms. Delta would still charge you the fare difference (as if this is the customer's fault), Air Canada won't.
If the airport police get their wish of a full security perimeter around the airport, won't that make them redundant?
Ugh... I'm venting... Anyone have any advice?
I just want to change the trip out to YYZ-CDG ORY-TLS and deal with the change-of-airport to avoid all this uncertainty, and probably help out SN by taking a bit of load off.
But I can't get a refund/re-schedule without penalty yet.
It's getting annoying having Brussels Airlines only cancel a day or two's worth of flights at a time. Sure, they can give me a full refund if mine eventually becomes cancelled, but that will probably cover half the fare of a 24-48 hour before ticket.
It doesn't help that YYZ-BRU is a new route for SN that was supposed to start on March 28th or so (but still hasn't).
And how will this work since my return flight through a partner airline does not transit through Brussels. Would the whole ticket get cancelled?
Other airlines are offering far more generous reschedule-at-no-penalty, though with varying terms. Delta would still charge you the fare difference (as if this is the customer's fault), Air Canada won't.
If the airport police get their wish of a full security perimeter around the airport, won't that make them redundant?
Ugh... I'm venting... Anyone have any advice?
Last edited by tecate55; Apr 1, 2016 at 5:10 pm
Apr 1, 2016, 7:08 pm
#114
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Have you tried directly telephoning SN and asking for a re-book? Or AC? Sometimes human agents can bypass the rules that are applied to the web.
Apr 2, 2016, 8:19 am
#116
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Date of restart has been set: #brusselsairport will partially resume passenger flights as of Sunday 3 April.
Brussels Airlines will be the first to resume their flights. 3 flights have been scheduled for tomorrow afternoon: to Faro, Turin and Athens. Brussels Airlines said yesterday that they were "fully ready" to restart at Zaventem.
Other airlines are to follow, but Ryanair will keep Charleroi airport ('Brussels South') as their hub until Thursday. Tour operators Jetair and Thomas Cook will probably use regional Belgian airports such as Ostend and Liège until the end of the Easter holidays. The Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling is to keep its hub in Lille, in northern France, at least until Tuesday.
Other airlines are to follow, but Ryanair will keep Charleroi airport ('Brussels South') as their hub until Thursday. Tour operators Jetair and Thomas Cook will probably use regional Belgian airports such as Ostend and Liège until the end of the Easter holidays. The Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling is to keep its hub in Lille, in northern France, at least until Tuesday.
Apr 2, 2016, 8:21 am
#117
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Apr 2, 2016, 10:17 am
#118
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http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0WZ0HM
Interesting material about access being limited to arriving just by car, as my norm there is often to use the train.
Cars/pax screened on the access road to the temp check-in area.
Extra police check and ID/boarding pass check at entry to the temp area.
The general public not flying to be denied entry to airport.
India style.
That was what the BBC said, except they didn't say it was Indian airport style (which is what this is).
Interesting material about access being limited to arriving just by car, as my norm there is often to use the train.
Originally Posted by Reuters
With its temporary check-in zone, it will only be able to handle some 800 departing passengers per hour, around 20 percent of previous capacity.
The airport says it aims to return to maximum capacity before the start of summer holidays at the end of June or early July, with some check-in desks restored in the departure hall, followed by a full reopening of that space.
Initially, the airport will only be accessible by car.
Special cameras will be set up to read number plates, there will be random checks of vehicles and the drop-off zone will not be accessible.
Passengers and their baggage will be checked on arrival and there will be increased patrols of armed police and military.
The airport says it aims to return to maximum capacity before the start of summer holidays at the end of June or early July, with some check-in desks restored in the departure hall, followed by a full reopening of that space.
Initially, the airport will only be accessible by car.
Special cameras will be set up to read number plates, there will be random checks of vehicles and the drop-off zone will not be accessible.
Passengers and their baggage will be checked on arrival and there will be increased patrols of armed police and military.
Extra police check and ID/boarding pass check at entry to the temp area.
The general public not flying to be denied entry to airport.
India style.
That was what the BBC said, except they didn't say it was Indian airport style (which is what this is).
Last edited by GUWonder; Apr 2, 2016 at 10:25 am
Apr 2, 2016, 11:04 am
#119
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http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0WZ0HM
Interesting material about access being limited to arriving just by car, as my norm there is often to use the train.
Cars/pax screened on the access road to the temp check-in area.
Extra police check and ID/boarding pass check at entry to the temp area.
The general public not flying to be denied entry to airport.
India style.
That was what the BBC said, except they didn't say it was Indian airport style (which is what this is).
Interesting material about access being limited to arriving just by car, as my norm there is often to use the train.
Cars/pax screened on the access road to the temp check-in area.
Extra police check and ID/boarding pass check at entry to the temp area.
The general public not flying to be denied entry to airport.
India style.
That was what the BBC said, except they didn't say it was Indian airport style (which is what this is).
First the Belgian government cancelled the anti-fear demonstration, out of fear. Now they won't let people take the train? This CYA mentality is not how you respond to terrorists.
Apr 2, 2016, 11:34 am
#120
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Yes, the BRU bombers arrived by car/taxi. My bet is that there will be some car trunk and maybe even under the engine hood checking.