Charleroi airport: why did TEC scrap the A2 and A3 bus lines?
TEC, Wallonia's public transport operator, has withdrawn two express bus lines serving Brussels South Charleroi Airport after finding them almost empty — often carrying just one or two passengers while hundreds of runs circulated with no one aboard.
In 30 seconds
- TEC has withdrawn the A2 and A3 bus lines serving Brussels South Charleroi Airport, per La Dernière Heure (14 July 2026).
- TEC says the buses often carried only one to two passengers, with hundreds of journeys running effectively empty.
- The airport remains reachable via the frequent shuttle from Charleroi-Sud station and private coaches such as Flibco.
- TEC is run by the Opérateur de Transport de Wallonie (OTW), funded by a Walloon Region budget under pressure.
TEC (Transport En Commun) is the public bus operator for Wallonia, run by the Opérateur de Transport de Wallonie (OTW), a public-interest body funded largely by the Walloon Region. The A2 and A3 were express bus lines connecting outlying municipalities to Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA/Charleroi Airport), Belgium's second-busiest airport and a major low-cost hub used by Ryanair and Wizz Air. The airport is also served by a frequent shuttle from Charleroi-Sud (Charleroi-Central) station and by private coach operators such as Flibco. In July 2026 TEC withdrew the A2 and A3, citing near-zero ridership.
Background
Charleroi Airport's rise since the early 2000s as Belgium's low-cost hub, anchored by Ryanair, transformed a secondary Hainaut airfield into a gateway for millions. Public and private transport links multiplied to serve it, from the TEC shuttle to intercity coaches. In parallel, TEC and its parent OTW have faced years of budget strain, driver shortages and debate over network rationalisation across Wallonia — the backdrop against which underused lines have become targets for cuts.
What to do
Travellers from the affected communes should plan alternative routes to Charleroi Airport — chiefly the Charleroi-Sud (Charleroi-Central) shuttle or private coaches such as Flibco — and allow extra transfer time; those relying on the A2/A3 for early-morning flights should confirm current TEC schedules before travelling.
Impact
Regional — Residents of the smaller municipalities served by the A2 and A3 lose a direct public connection to Charleroi Airport and must fall back on the Charleroi-Sud shuttle, private coaches, car or taxi. For the wider Charleroi metropolitan area, the move tightens an already car-dependent mobility pattern and puts pressure on the remaining airport shuttle to absorb demand.
EvidenceDeveloping · 1 primary source + 1 official document · some details remain unconfirmedExplore evidence →Hide evidence ↑
- Published:
- 14 Jul 2026, 02:00
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 9 Aug 2026
- Publication date unavailable
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 9 Aug 2026
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This story was assembled from verified evidence, with its sources and reasoning recorded as it was written.