Brussels Airport traffic rises despite disruptions

Brussels Airport recorded modest passenger growth in March, despite disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions and industrial action.

 

Nearly 1.8 million passengers travelled through the airport during the month, representing a 1.9 percent increase compared with March 2025. However, traffic was affected by the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv and Doha, along with reduced services to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, resulting in an estimated loss of around 50,000 passengers.

A national strike in Belgium on March 12 also disrupted operations, leading to the cancellation of 359 flights and impacting approximately 30,000 passengers.

Despite these challenges, the airport saw continued demand, supported by network expansion. Two new airlines began operations, including Air China, which added flights to Beijing and launched a new route to Chengdu, and Spanish carrier Volotea, which introduced services to Oviedo. Royal Air Maroc also expanded its offering with flights to Tetouan.

Transfer passengers accounted for 17 percent of departures, with key connections to Africa, North America and Europe. Spain, Italy and Germany were among the most popular destinations.

Cargo performance remained strong, with total volumes reaching around 75,000 tonnes, an increase of 8.8 percent year-on-year. Growth was driven by higher demand in full freighter and express cargo segments, particularly on routes to Latin America and Asia.

However, belly cargo declined due to flight cancellations, while trucked cargo volumes increased significantly. Overall flight movements fell slightly by 0.7 percent, although the average number of passengers per flight continued to rise.

The airport said the results highlight resilience in both passenger and cargo segments despite ongoing external challenges.