Pressroom, Events

Brussels Airport celebrates its 25 million passengers

On Friday, 21 December, Brussels Airport welcomed its 25th millionth passenger of the year – an impressive figure that attests to the appeal of Brussels Airport for passengers thanks to the development of its network, the improvement of its infrastructure, and the quality of its services and its shopping area.

2018 is undoubtedly a vintage year for Brussels Airport. With 25 million passengers since the 1st of January, the airport records strong growth. 700,000 passengers in 1959, 5 million in 1979, 21.6 million in 2000, the first new record in 2014 with 21.7 million passengers and a succession of records in the subsequent years to exceed the 25 million mark today. Brussels airport has reached this milestone thanks to the outstanding work of its teams and partners – but also because passengers are increasingly choosing our airport for their business or leisure trips. Whereas short-haul flights are more popular than ever, intercontinental flights play an essential role in the appeal of Brussels Airport. In addition to the number of destinations, passengers have been convinced by the infrastructure, service, shopping and restaurants as well as the number of digital tools.

“Welcoming over 25 million passengers in one year represents nearly 70,000 passengers per day on average, with peaks of up to 95,000 at the start of the holiday season. We are sparing no effort to make sure that every passenger feels right at home in our airport and benefits from the high quality service they expect. 20,000 staff at the airport deploy their energy and enthusiasm day in and day out so that our passengers can travel under optimal conditions, from the time they arrive at the terminal until they board their plane,” says Arnaud Feist, CEO of the Brussels Airport Company.

The red carpet was rolled out this Friday, 21 December to celebrate this milestone, with dance performances, Belgian chocolate and live music for the first departures.Brussels Airport has thus started the Christmas holidays in a festive manner. This Friday is moreover a very busy day at Brussels airport, with no fewer than 79,000 passengers expected.

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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%).Follow Brussels Airport on Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.  

Contact

www.brusselsairport.be