Airline files for bankruptcy. Travel. On April 30, 2025, a well-known airline officially declared bankruptcy. Back in October 2023, the company had already stopped all passenger flights. Over the following year, it slowly reduced the number of planes and employees. The airline tried to find new investors but failed. Now, the company is being closed. This is bad news for passengers — most people who already bought tickets will likely not get their money back.
Air Belgium stops operating
Air Belgium was known more for charter and cargo flights than for regular passenger routes. It was also one of the few airlines still flying to Asia, especially China. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of passengers going to China dropped a lot, and the company lost money. Later, the French logistics company CMA CGM took over the cargo part of the business and saved 124 jobs.
Money for tickets is lost
For many people, the worst part is that getting a refund for tickets is almost impossible. A company representative told the Belgian news agency Belga that the money from tickets is now part of the bankruptcy case, and will be handled by the court. Surprisingly, the airline’s website is still working, even though flights are not.
Read also: New superfast train to connect Berlin and Rome with direct route
Travel agencies call for stronger rules
The European Association of Travel Agencies and Tour Operators (ECTAA) has asked the European Union to introduce stronger protection for customers in cases like this. ECTAA says the bankruptcy caused more than €8 million in losses, and around €5 million of that affects travel agencies and agents. These companies must now help customers by offering new travel plans — even though they won’t get their money back from the airline.
A bigger problem in Europe
ECTAA warns that airline bankruptcies like this are happening more often. They say new EU rules are needed to protect both passengers and travel agencies. This case also shows how weak some small airlines are, especially those working in niche markets. Right now, Europe does not have a strong system to help passengers or businesses when airlines go bankrupt. The company’s bankruptcy has been confirmed by official sources and reported by the Belga news agency.