More than 1.5 million passengers at Brussels Airport in February

Almost 60,000 tonnes of freight transported

In February, Brussels Airport welcomed over 1.5 million passengers, down 1.6% from the same period last year. This is primarily due to February having one fewer day this year than in leap year 2024. The nationwide industrial action on 13 February also negatively affected passenger numbers. The total amount of transported cargo increased by 0.3% to reach almost 60,000 tonnes.

Passenger numbers: -1.6% compared to February 2024

In February 2025, 1,528,190 passengers travelled via Brussels Airport, down 1.6% compared to February last year. This is primarily explained by February having one fewer day than in the leap year 2024 and by the nationwide industrial action on 13 February, due to which no flights could depart or land throughout the day. Additionally, the mid-term holiday in Dutch-speaking schools began in March this year instead of February.

Given that the mid-term holidays in French-speaking schools began in the last week of February, there were more departing passengers than arriving ones. Transfer passengers made up about 15% of departing passengers, primarily on routes to and from Africa and North America.

The top 10 countries were Spain, Germany, Italy, Morocco, Switzerland, France, Türkiye, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, respectively.

Flown cargo volumes: +1.4% compared to February 2024

Total cargo volumes through Brussels Airport in February 2025 increased by 0.3% compared to the same period last year, reaching 59,177 tonnes. Flown cargo volumes grew by 1.4% to a total of 49,580 tonnes.

There was a 12% decline in the full-freight segment. Belly cargo increased by 6.3%. Integrator services were up 13% compared to February 2024, while trucked volumes were down 5%.

The primary import regions were Asia, Africa and South America. The major export regions are again Asia, followed by North America and Africa.

Flight movements: -0.5% compared to February 2024

The number of flight movements in February dropped slightly (-0.5%) compared to last year. The number of passenger flights saw a 1.5% decrease. The number of cargo flights remained almost status quo compared to February 2024.

There were an average of 138 passengers per flight in February, the same number as in 2024.

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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