Key Takeaways
• Brussels Airport achieved a record turnover of 784 million euros in 2024, up 11% from 2023.
• Passenger traffic reached 23.6 million, a 6.4% increase, with 2.1 million in April 2025 alone.
• Cargo volume climbed to 733,000 tonnes, up 5%, with 38% growth noted in December 2024.
Brussels Airport has reached an impressive milestone in 2024, achieving a record turnover of 784 million euros. This marks an 11% rise compared to the previous year, showing a strong comeback even as some challenges remain. The airport’s achievement stands out, especially since the total number of travelers is still not back to where it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. This mix of financial growth paired with a gradual return of travelers paints a clear picture of both the airport’s successful strategies and the changing patterns of global travel.
Strong Growth in Passenger Traffic
One of the main drivers behind this record turnover is the rise in passenger traffic. Throughout 2024, Brussels Airport welcomed about 23.6 million passengers. This is a jump of 6.4% when compared to 2023, which saw 22.2 million travelers making their way through the airport’s gates. While this is a healthy increase, these numbers are still just below the airport’s record year of 2019, when 26.4 million people used Brussels Airport.
Looking closer at the most recent figures, the upward trend seems to be continuing. April 2025 brought over 2.1 million passengers to the airport—a rise of 8.5% compared to April 2024. This is particularly impressive given that there was a national trade union strike on April 29, 2025. It suggests that travel demand is strong enough to withstand even major disruptions. Also, the timing of school holidays had an impact. The Easter break for Dutch-speaking schools and the May holidays for French-speaking schools, along with holidays in the Netherlands 🇳🇱, led to more families and holidaymakers using Brussels Airport for their journeys.
Cargo Operations Play a Key Role
It isn’t just travelers who have fueled Brussels Airport’s success. The airport’s cargo operations have also seen strong results, which has made a real contribution to the record turnover. In 2024, the total cargo volume handled by the airport reached 733,000 tonnes, showing a growth of 5% from the year before.
The monthly numbers highlight this rise even more:
– In April 2025, cargo volumes nearly hit 70,000 tonnes. This marks an 11% jump from the same month a year earlier.
– Back in December 2024, the airport handled 38% more cargo than it did in December 2023. This sharp growth shows that Brussels Airport is becoming an even stronger player in global trade.
Several airlines helped drive this cargo boom. In 2024, four new airlines started cargo operations at Brussels Airport: LATAM Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo, Farcargo, and Virgin Atlantic. By adding these carriers, the airport increased its capacity to move goods, giving local businesses more options to send and receive products around the world.
Network Expansion Fuels Recovery
The record turnover at Brussels Airport did not happen by chance. A big part of the airport’s recent success comes from expanding its flight network. In 2024, the airport added ten new passenger destinations, giving travelers more choices for their journeys. This growth brings new people through the airport and helps make it a more important hub in Europe.
Alongside new destinations, five airlines began offering passenger services out of Brussels Airport in 2024. This increase in airline partnerships means travelers can book flights with even more carriers, often at better prices and with more scheduling options.
According to data published on the official Brussels Airport website, the focus was also on long-haul connections. In 2024, five new long-distance routes began operation, opening up more direct travel to faraway places in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. With these new links, Belgium 🇧🇪 becomes better connected to the rest of the world.
Efficient Operations Deliver Results
Efficiency plays a big role in Brussels Airport’s story. In 2024, the number of passengers per flight hit a record high at 144 on average. This means that planes were flying fuller, helping airlines save money and cutting down on the cost per traveler. By getting more people on each plane, the airport made the most out of every takeoff and landing.
In April 2025, that number climbed even higher. The average reached 150 passengers per flight—a 3.5% rise compared to April of the previous year. This rise in plane occupancy comes even as total flight numbers remain slightly lower than before the pandemic. Airlines and airports worldwide have been trying to find ways to improve how full each flight is; Brussels Airport’s results suggest their efforts are paying off.
Brussels Airlines: A Key Partner’s Success
Brussels Airlines—one of the biggest carriers at Brussels Airport—also turned in a strong performance in 2024. The airline reported an adjusted EBIT (which means earnings before charges like interest and taxes) of 59 million euros. This is up 11% from 2023. While the airline flew 2% fewer flights in 2024, passenger numbers still climbed from 8.29 million to 8.36 million.
Such steady growth matters for both the airline and the airport. When one of the main carriers does well, it often means more jobs, better services, and more travel options for everyone using the airport. Looking ahead, Brussels Airlines plans to add two more aircraft in 2025. It has also secured a “wet-lease” contract with Air Baltic for four new Airbus 220 planes. This means the airline will operate more flights, serving more people and helping the airport continue its growth.
Why the Leisure Segment Matters
Much of Brussels Airport’s recent success is linked to the rise in holiday travel. After the worst days of the pandemic, families and friends are eager to reconnect—with many choosing flights as the quickest and best way to spend time together. In 2024, the airport noticed strong growth in this leisure segment. Holidays, school breaks, and visits to relatives all helped push up the number of travelers.
Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that this demand for holiday flights could keep growing if economic conditions remain steady and travel remains affordable. By tailoring services to families, vacationers, and groups, the airport is better positioned to attract both repeat and first-time flyers.
A Closer Look at Cargo’s Impact
While passenger traffic usually gets the most attention, cargo is equally important when looking at why the airport performed so well. Global supply chains are still catching up from disruptions caused by the pandemic, and businesses everywhere have been looking for reliable ways to ship goods.
Brussels Airport’s cargo division offers services for many different types of goods, from medical supplies to e-commerce parcels and fresh produce. As new cargo airlines started flights in 2024, the airport responded by ramping up its support teams and expanding its handling facilities. The numbers speak for themselves: a 5% gain in cargo volume for the full year, an 11% surge in April 2025, and a big 38% spike just in December 2024.
With these gains, the airport has proved it can adapt quickly to new global trends, keeping local businesses connected to customers and suppliers at home and abroad.
The Impact of Recovery Strategies
The road back from the pandemic has not been easy for airports worldwide. Many have struggled to bring back both travelers and cargo at the same time. For Brussels Airport, the secret to recovery has been a mix of smart planning, flexible operations, and investment in network expansion.
Key steps that led to record turnover include:
– Quickly adding new routes and destinations to attract a wider range of travelers.
– Working closely with both passenger and cargo airlines to boost the number of flights and improve daily schedules.
– Targeting long-haul connections to bring in more business and intercontinental travelers, not just short-haul flights.
– Increasing operational efficiency—shown by record passenger numbers per flight.
This strategy has made Brussels Airport stand out compared to some other European airports, where growth has often plateaued or is rising much more slowly.
What Does This Mean for Immigration and Global Travel?
The strong recovery at Brussels Airport has a direct effect on people who want to move, work, or study in Belgium or nearby countries. With more destinations on offer—especially long-haul routes—immigrants and students have more choices and flexibility for visits home, while new arrivals can connect more easily from their home countries.
The airport’s rise in cargo traffic also helps local employers by making it easier to ship goods in and out. This helps Belgian companies directly, which can translate into more job creation and economic activity—key factors that often shape immigration policy.
If you are considering studying, working, or moving to Belgium, the airport’s expanding network means you may find more flight options, less travel time, and better access to cities across Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Travelers are encouraged to check the most up-to-date travel and immigration guidelines on the official Belgian government website—especially since visa requirements and regulations can change as the global travel situation evolves.
Looking Ahead: Sustainably Building on Growth
As Brussels Airport eyes the future, the question is how to keep momentum going while also planning for challenges ahead. Growth brings good things like job creation and more choices for travelers, but it can also strain airport services and put pressure on the environment.
Officials at Brussels Airport are looking at ways to improve without causing environmental harm. This means working closely with airlines on fuel-saving measures, improving how cargo and baggage are handled, and making the airport experience better and safer for everyone.
Another task is making sure that, as international travel continues to rebound, border security and document checks remain smooth and efficient. Doing so benefits not only travelers but also supports important migration flows—whether for tourism, business, education, or permanent relocation.
The Bigger Picture: What Stakeholders Should Expect
- Immigrants: More direct flights mean easier connections for family visits and smoother relocation experiences.
- Employers and Businesses: Higher cargo volumes and a wider airline network make Belgium a better place for trade and industry.
- Educational Institutions: Increased passenger traffic can help schools by bringing in more international students and making study abroad programs easier.
- Airlines: Seeing Brussels Airport post record turnover and fuller flights sends a positive signal, showing the airport is a good partner in Europe.
Summary: Why This Matters
The record turnover posted by Brussels Airport in 2024 is more than just a financial win. It highlights how the airport’s strategies—focused on growing passenger traffic, building up cargo operations, increasing efficiency, and expanding its global network—are working well, even as numbers are still climbing back from pre-pandemic highs.
African, Asian, and European travelers, as well as immigrants, can all benefit from the airport’s continued growth. With more destinations and airlines on offer, plus a sharp increase in both passenger and cargo activity, Brussels Airport seems set to keep playing a big part in travel, trade, and migration.
As global travel continues to open up, Brussels Airport’s story is a clear example of what can happen when an airport combines smart management with a focus on both passengers and cargo. The positive results for 2024—and the ongoing momentum seen in early 2025—bode well not just for the airport itself, but for the thousands of people, companies, and communities that rely on its success every day.
Learn Today
Record Turnover → The highest annual revenue generated by an organization, in this case, Brussels Airport’s 784 million euros in 2024.
Cargo Operations → The handling and transportation of goods and freight through the airport, which increased notably at Brussels Airport.
Wet-Lease → An arrangement where an airline rents planes with crew, maintenance, and insurance included from another airline.
Long-Haul Connections → Direct flights covering long distances, such as intercontinental routes connecting Belgium to Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
Operational Efficiency → Maximizing output (passengers per flight) while minimizing costs, demonstrated by increased average passenger numbers per aircraft.
This Article in a Nutshell
Brussels Airport soared in 2024, achieving a record 784 million euros turnover and 23.6 million passengers, highlighting strong recovery. Expanded routes, increased cargo—up 5%—and fuller flights propelled success. With new airlines, efficient operations, and a growing global network, Brussels Airport stands out as a leading European aviation hub.
— By VisaVerge.com
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