People will be spending less time in passport control queues at Brussels Airport if the airport police's ‘summer plan’ works out.
In recent months, some people have waited in line at Brussels Airport for up to two hours, causing immense frustration for travellers.
In response to concerns about the airport’s ability to handle large numbers of passengers, Interior Minister Bernard Quintin announced on Monday that it would be implementing a 'summer plan'.
Under the plan, reinforcements will be brought in, including additional staff assigned to passport control during peak periods, reports Belga News Agency.
On so-called ‘orange days’, capacity will be increased by 30%, and on ‘red days’ it will be increased by 40%. Reinforcements will be temporarily taken from other departments, but in the long term, targeted recruitment and training should enable staffing levels to be increased.
“We're working on a structural solution, because it's no secret that airport police, as well as other police services, are facing a staff shortage,” said Quintin. "For the airport police, we're talking about a 23% shortage. The urgency was to finalise the summer plan".
According to Wald Thielemans, Director General of the Administrative Police, reinforcements have been “spread out as much as possible”, and the impact on the original sites “will not be too great”.
In the coming weeks, an additional sixth cubicle will be installed for airport police officers. All six booths will be operational on busy days.
'Important for safety, but also for Belgium's image'
Speaking to the press earlier this week, Bernard Quintin pointed out that this was already his third working visit to the airport, even though he has only been Minister of the Interior for just over four months.
"Our national airport is a calling card for Brussels and Belgium. With over 60,000 employees, it is also the second largest employer. Zaventem is not only important for Belgium's image abroad.”
The minister also stressed that, for the ‘Arizona’ government, the fight against crime and illegal immigration is an integral part of the coalition agreement.
At the end of April, the federal government allowed agents from Frontex, the European border and coast guard agency, to operate on Belgian soil. They can also be deployed to control external borders.
Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport, welcomed the new measures. "We, and certainly our passengers, appreciate this. Brussels Airport is a strategic hub, and border control is an essential part of our operation. The police are a crucial link. A smooth process is important for safety, but also for Belgium's image".
During the summer peaks, up to 90,000 passengers pass through the airport. For the two summer months, this represents over 5 million people. Tighter border controls will be necessary, not least because Brussels Airlines will be welcoming a new Airbus later this summer. Thanks to this aircraft, the company will increase its flights to Africa by 10%.
