Belgium travel advice (updated 30 March)

30 Mar 2016

What you should do if you are travelling to, or through, Brussels on University business

If you are travelling to, or through, Brussels on University business then you need to do the following (until further notice):

refer to the latest FCO advice;
book via the Egencia travel management system wherever possible;
ensure that you have a proper risk assessment in place: the Belgian threat level has been downgraded to Level 3 - a serious and real threat (your local School Safety Advisor or equivalent can assist here);
secure approval from your Head of School (approval from your VP/Dean is no longer necessary.

Booking via the Egencia system gives us a level of information about you and your journey that makes it possible for us to contact you in the event of a problem. We were able to ascertain the safety of all University staff and students in Brussels within a couple of hours of the bombings on 22 March. That is potentially important information for your families, colleagues, the University and the authorities.

The FCO advice is currently:

There were explosions at Zaventem International Airport and Maalbeek station in Brussels on 22 March 2016. The Belgian Crisis Centre has given the Belgian telephone number 1771 (+32 7815 1771 from outside Belgium) for those who are concerned about relatives.
On 24 March, the Belgian threat level was changed to Level 3 – a serious and real threat. Police operations are ongoing. You should remain vigilant, stay away from crowded places and follow the instructions of the Belgian authorities. You can find more information on the Belgian Crisis Centre website and Twitter feed.

For information on public transport and rail services:

For more information about flights to and from Brussels airport::

contact your airline or travel company;
or
visit the Brussels airport website or Twitter channel.

Consider allowing extra time for your journey due to increased security measures in place at UK ports and borders.