2.4 million passengers (+3.9%) at Brussels Airport in September, more than 70,000 tonnes of cargo handled (+6.8%)

Brussels Airport welcomed around 2.4 million passengers in September, an increase of 3.9% compared to the same month in 2025. Cargo volumes rose by 6.8% to more than 70,000 tonnes. The figures for the first three quarters of 2026 also show growth in both segments. Over the first nine months of the year, total passenger numbers increased by 3.2% on the same period last year. Cargo volumes grew by 8.1% to reach 627,000 tonnes.

Passengers: September remains a popular holiday month

Last month, a total of 2,361,512 passengers travelled via Brussels Airport, up 3.9% on September last year. For travellers looking to take a holiday outside the peak season, September remains a popular month.

During the first three quarters of the year, from January through September, the airport welcomed more than 19 million passengers, around 3.2% more than in the same period last year. This growth was achieved despite two national trade union action days in March and May, and the spontaneous strike at air navigation service provider skeyes in June. On those days, only part of the scheduled flights could be operated.

Transfer passengers accounted for 14% of departing passengers in September.

The ten most popular destinations were Spain, Italy, Türkiye, Greece, Germany, Morocco, Portugal, France, the United States and Switzerland.

Cargo volumes increase by 6.8%

Total cargo volumes handled in September reached 70,257 tonnes, an increase of around 6.8% compared to the same month last year. This growth was primarily driven by trucked cargo volumes, which increased by 37.2%.

Flown volumes increased by 2.5%, mainly thanks to a strong rise in cargo carried on passenger aircraft (+11.4%). Both the full-freighter and integrator segments recorded slight decreases of 1.1% and 0.2% respectively.

The main import regions last month were Asia, Latin America and North America. For exports, Asia and Latin America once again ranked highest, followed by Africa.

In the first three quarters of 2026 too, cargo volumes showed positive growth. ​ ​ Between 1 January and 30 September, more than 627,000 tonnes of cargo were handled at Brussels Airport, representing an increase of 8.1% on the same period in 2025.

Flight movements increase by 2.3%

In September, Brussels Airport recorded a 2.3% increase in commercial flight movements compared to the same month of 2025. Passenger flights grew by 2.5%, while cargo flights rose by 3.2%.

Last month, each flight carried an average of 150 passengers, two more than in September last year.