Brussels Airport recorded 2.2 million passengers in May, a growth of 5%

Cargo volumes grow by 15% to 68,000 tonnes

Brussels Airport welcomed more than 2.2 million passengers in May, a 5% increase compared to May 2024. Since May last year, we saw the opening of several new routes and the expansion of the Brussels Airlines fleet, among other things. Total cargo volume rose 15%, reaching 68,000 tonnes.

Passenger numbers: +5% compared to 2024

2,201,633 passengers travelled via Brussels Airport in May, an increase of 5% compared to the same month last year. Thanks to the additional destinations and routes, passengers have a wide range of direct flights to choose from.

Transfer passengers accounted for around 12% of all departing passengers, mainly on routes to and from Africa and North America.

In May, the 10 most visited countries were, in order: Spain, Italy, Greece, Türkiye, Germany, Portugal, Morocco, France, United States, and Switzerland.

Flown cargo: +15% compared to May 2024

Total cargo volumes through Brussels Airport increased by 15% in May compared to the same month last year, reaching 67,726 tonnes. The total amount of flown cargo rose by 15.5%, reaching 57,970 tonnes.

The full-freighter segment increased by 3.5%, belly cargo rose by 20%. Integrator services recorded a strong 22% increase compared to May 2024, and trucked cargo volumes grew by 10%.

The main import regions were Asia, Africa, and North America. We also see the same top three in the main export regions: Asia, followed by Africa and North America.

Flight movements: +5% compared to May 2024

In May, the number of flight movements rose by 5% compared to the same period last year. The number of passenger flights increased by 5%, while cargo flights grew by 4%.

The average number of passengers per flight was 143, the same number as in the same period last year.

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About Brussels Airport

Brussels Airport is one of the most important airports in Europe. In 2024, Brussels Airport welcomed 23.6 million passengers and transported 733,000 tonnes of cargo through the airport. Brussels Airport caters for the specific needs of business travellers and holidaymakers alike, on both intra-European and long haul flights. In 2025, the airport offers direct connections between Belgium and 210 destinations worldwide, with flights operated by 80 airlines.   

The airport also offers a leading cargo platform, specialised in the transport of pharmaceutical products, perishable goods, e-commerce and live animals. Brussels Airport is the most important pharmaceutical hub in Europe with the largest area of temperature-controlled warehouses.  

With its SHIFT 2027 strategy, launched in 2022, Brussels Airport Company intends to strengthen its position as a major European hub, accelerate its ambitious sustainability goals, e.g. through the European Green Deal project Stargate, and continue to diversify its activities by focusing on innovation and cooperation.

Brussels Airport is the second most important economic engine in Belgium, good for 64,000 direct and indirect jobs and is owned and operated by Brussels Airport Company. The shareholders are a consortium of private investors (75%) and the Belgian State (25%).

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Contact

Press Office Brussels Airport Company Luchthaven Brussel Nationaal 1M 1930 Zaventem

+32 (0)2 753 53 53 (for journalists only)

media@brusselsairport.be

www.brusselsairport.be