Brussels Airport is preparing for one of its busiest summer holiday seasons on record, expecting around 5.2 million passengers to travel through the airport during July and August, a 4% increase compared to the same period last year.
The summer rush will begin on Friday, 26 June, when around 82,000 passengers are expected, while Monday, 20 July, is forecast to be the busiest day of the holiday period, with more than 90,000 travellers passing through the airport. In total, passengers will have access to 180 direct destinations, with traditional Mediterranean holiday hotspots such as Spain, Türkiye, Greece, Italy and Morocco once again among the most popular choices. Portugal, Tunisia, Egypt and Croatia also remain in high demand among departing passengers during the peak season.
The airport has also expanded its long-haul offering this summer with new direct connections to São Paulo, Halifax and Kilimanjaro, while additional services to China and Hong Kong further strengthen its intercontinental network.
Today, @FlyingBrussels launched its 1st flight to #Kilimanjaro from Brussels Airport, expanding its long-haul network to 18 destinations in sub-Saharan Africa. With two-weekly flights, this new route strengthens our role as Europe’s gateway to Africa. Happy travels to crew &… pic.twitter.com/Fn2l5ENRwM
— Brussels Airport (@BrusselsAirport) June 3, 2026
To accommodate the increased passenger volumes, Brussels Airport has introduced several operational measures. A new self-bag drop zone has opened for passengers travelling with SAS, Finnair, KLM and Transavia, complementing the existing automated baggage facilities used by Brussels Airlines and Lufthansa Group carriers. Extra staff will also be deployed throughout the terminal, while pop-up check-in desks can be activated during peak periods to reduce waiting times.
To further reinforce smoother passenger flows, the airport has announced that it will introduce a new generation of body and CT security scanners for hand luggage, with which passengers will no longer need to remove liquids or electronics. The rollout is expected to be operational in 2028 and fully in service in 2029.
“The safety of our passengers and staff is always our top priority. With this new technology, we will not only continue to ensure safety but also make security screening even smoother and easier for our passengers”, said Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport, in a statement.
In the run-up to the summer holiday season, Brussels Airport customer service teams are handling around 300 passenger enquiries a day, mainly about flight status, check-in times, and airport procedures. Travellers are being directed to the Brussels Airport App and the BRUce chatbot for real-time updates on departures and gate information.
BRUce wins the Airport Innovation Award at @FutureTravelX 👏 Got a question like “Can I bring this in my #handluggage?” 💭 Just snap a photo & #BRUce gives you the answer in seconds. A great start to summer at #BrusselsAirport! ✈️ pic.twitter.com/B4BzAZ5BRf
— Brussels Airport (@BrusselsAirport) June 16, 2026
Border control capacity is also expected to be a key operational focus during the holiday period. Management has repeatedly warned that insufficient staffing at federal border control poses a growing risk to passenger flows during peak travel periods, calling on the authorities to provide additional resources ahead of the busy summer season.
Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport two hours before departures to Schengen destinations and three hours before non-Schengen flights. To reduce the risk of delays at border control, the airport said it will deploy additional federal police officers at departure passport checkpoints during peak travel periods. It will also install nearly 60 pre-registration kiosks for the European Union’s upcoming Entry/Exit System (EES), aimed at speeding up processing for non-EU travellers.
Brussels Airport & @SafranEngines take the next step together: 1st stone laid for a 15,000 m² engine maintenance facility. By 2028, up to 1500 modules will be handled here each year, creating around 250 additional jobs & further strengthening #BrusselsAirport's role as leading… pic.twitter.com/l0jSzTJXTy
— Brussels Airport (@BrusselsAirport) June 17, 2026
The preparations come as Brussels Airport continues to build on strong passenger growth despite operational challenges earlier this year. The airport recently reported record financial results for 2025, supported by higher passenger traffic and increased commercial revenues, while continuing to invest significantly in infrastructure and sustainability projects.
