Brussels attacks: Brussels Airport poised to welcome between 21 to 22 million passengers this year

Brussels attacks: Brussels Airport poised to welcome between 21 to 22 million passengers this year

Up until the day of the terrorist attacks, Zaventem airport was witnessing a growth of around 8% in passenger numbers. There was then an enormous chasm after March 22nd, in particular owing to the complete shutdown of Brussels Airport to passenger flights over a 12-day period. “With the passing weeks, we are getting ever closer to the last year's volumes,” Arnaud Feist is pleased to say, remaining convinced that these volumes will once again be reached during the weeks and months to come.

The airport at Zaventem welcomed around 1.97 million passengers during May, which constitutes a decrease of 8.4% compared to the same month in 2015. Freight transport is now back up to pre-attack levels. Having achieved the successful financial results in 2015, the Brussels Airport CEO has ensured that the airport can financially withstand the shock waves of the attacks.

Last year, the airport recorded a turnover of 520 million euros (up 5% compared to 2014) and a net profit of 70 millions euros (an increase of 23% on the previous year). Moreover the record number of passengers was reached with around 25% less flights than in the year 2000. “The new planes are larger carrying more passengers,” explains Arnaud Feist. Indeed there were 114 individuals per flight on average on every flight last year, compared to 77 sixteen years ago.

(Source: Belga)


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