Brussels Airlines has released information about its preparations for a summer season, during which it expects to handle around two million passengers aboard a newly expanded fleet of 50 aircraft, compared to 44 in summer 2024.
Destinations
Spain is the most popular choice of holiday for departing Belgians and Brussels Airlines delivers them to 12 Spanish destinations. Malaga, Barcelona and Alicante attract the most people from Belgium, but Valencia is experiencing a sharp increase in demand, the carrier said in a press release.
Next in line are Greece and Italy, both with 9 destinations. Brussels Airlines also notes a sharp increase in Belgian travellers to Oporto, in Portugal. Meanwhile in terms of long-haul flights, New York and Kinshasa are the most popular vacation spots for Belgians, whether it concerns leisure travel or visits to family and friends.
Extra aircraft and staff
Brussels Airlines has grown its fleet “significantly” since summer 2024, the press release points out. The carrier has added one Airbus 320 for short- and medium-haul routes and one Airbus 330 for long-haul routes to its own fleet. In addition, 4 Airbus A220 aircraft are deployed in the network via wet-lease partner Air Baltic, who operates flights on behalf of the Belgian carrier. This brings the total fleet during the summer to 50.
As seasonality remains a challenge in the aviation industry, Brussels Airlines’ strategy has been to hit maximum capacity in summer. In addition to the wet-lease capacity, Brussels Airlines will be working with summer students as cabin crew members for the very first time. Nearly 50 students have been hired and put through the same selection process and rigorous training as all other crew members. They join at a time when recruitment firm Randstad has identified aviation as the most attractive industry to work in in the country.
In fact, Brussels Airlines has taken on almost 300 additional recruits (153 cabin crew members, 57 pilots and 47 airport employees) since January 2025. Noting that instead of being a season for rest and recuperation, summer is “the season when our teams are at their busiest,” Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO of Brussels Airlines, thanked all the staff for “going the extra mile.”
Increased bag drop, apps and advice
Handling more customers means more baggage to deal with. Brussels Airlines says it has doubled the capacity of its bag drop area in the departure hall of Brussels Airport, allowing passengers who checked-in online to have their luggage processed “in no-time.”
For stress-free journeys in the busy season, the airline recommends arriving at the airport on-time to allow enough time to go through security and find the right gate. Check-in for hand luggage is free and the airline thinks it offers many advantages: “no limitations on liquids, no hassle to get your trolley through security and a smoother boarding process leading to an on-time departure.”
To stay informed about your flight, an app is available and not just any app: the Brussels Airlines app has been voted the best airline app in the world. When it comes to remaining on top of all your documentation, the Belgian Federal Service of Foreign Affairs has a website where travellers can check advice and all the documents needed to enter a country.
