Over 1.5 million passengers passed through Brussels Airport in April

Brussels Airport welcomed more than 1.5 million passengers during April, an increase of 527% compared to April 2021 and a decrease of 31% compared to April 2019 (before the Covid crisis). This is the highest number of passengers since the start of the crisis in March 2020. Air cargo volumes are down by 14% year-on-year, but up 22% compared to the same period in 2019.

Passenger traffic: an increase of 527%.

In April, Brussels Airport welcomed 1,568,413 passengers, the best result since the crisis began in March 2020. Nevertheless, even if progress and recovery are evident, this is still a 31% decline compared to April 2019. Compared to 2021, the airport records a 527% increase, but Belgium was facing a travel ban at the time. The Easter holidays were the main reason for this increase. The increase continued after the holidays, which bodes well for the summer season. The start of the spring holidays in the Netherlands also had a positive influence on the figures for the last week of April. On the other hand, the strike by Belgian Ryanair cabin crew had a very limited impact as only a small number of Ryanair flights operated from Brussels Airport were affected.

The share of departing transfer passengers is 13%, 4 percentage points lower than in 2019 due to a stronger recovery in originating departures and a decrease in transfers within Europe.

The top ten most visited countries from Brussels Airport in April were Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Turkey, the USA, France, the UK, Switzerland and Greece. Spain, Turkey and Greece did particularly well compared to 2019.

The top ten destinations in April were Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, Lisbon, Malaga, Milan, London, Alicante, Istanbul and Geneva. Istanbul, Alicante and Malaga in particular recorded high visitor numbers.

Cargo transport: a decrease (-14%) in cargo volumes

In April, cargo transport at Brussels Airport decreased by 14% compared to April 2021. Air cargo volumes also fell by 14%. The full cargo segment declined by 30%, while belly cargo rose by 58% due to the increase in the number of passenger flights. Cargo-only passenger flights accounted for 39% of full cargo flights.

Integrator services declined by 17% due to slower growth in the Western European e-commerce market and the temporary reallocation of certain flights to other airports. In addition, trucked air cargo volumes fell by 14%.

Asia has again become the largest import and export region. Africa is the second largest import region and the third largest export region, showing growth in both segments over the last year. North America is the third largest import region and the second largest export region.

Since the start of global vaccine distribution in November 2020, Brussels Airport has transported 1.2 billion COVID-19 vaccines, making Brussels Airport a preferred hub for vaccine shipments.

Flights

The number of flight movements in April 2022 increased by 152% compared to 2021, totalling to 14,838 flight movements (compared to 19,710 in 2019). The number of passenger flights has increased by 306% compared to 2021 and reaches about 70% of passenger flight movements in April 2019.The average occupancy rate per flight was 130 passengers, compared to 128 in 2019. Passenger load factors continue to rise.

As to cargo, the number of cargo flights has decreased by 16% compared to 2021.