Brussels Airport's activities and those in its vicinity had an impact of around €5.4 billion on Belgium's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2019, according to a study by UAntwerp and UCLouvain universities.
The last similar study, conducted by the National Bank of Belgium, was based on figures from 2015.
Research based on 2019 data – the most recent year representative of the usual activities of the airport before Covid-19 – was carried out. It highlighted that the net contribution generated by the airport's economic activity was €2.3 billion, about €700 million more than in 2015.
Directly airport-related companies employed 21,773 full-time equivalents (FTE), almost 4,000 more than four years prior. The study also considered the businesses that supply services to the airport, indirectly impacting its value-added contributions. These companies, employing 17,399 FTEs, represented an additional value of €1.622 billion, just below the €1.672 billion calculated in 2015.
Also analysed were the indirect effects of the airport, involving salary expenses made in Belgium by employees of companies directly and indirectly linked to Brussels Airport. This created a further €1.483 billion in added value and an additional 15,615 FTEs.
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Academics also estimated the 'catalytic effects' of the airport on the economy, that is, the airport's effect on investments and other sectors such as trade and tourism. This equated to €8.83 billion in additional value, or 1.85% of the Belgian GDP in 2019.
"This confirms that the airport is the country's second economic centre and a driver of its growth," said Brussels Airport CEO Arnaud Feist.
