In September, Brussels Airport welcomed over 2 million passengers, and handled 66,000 tonnes of cargo.
Last month, 2.002.540 people traveled through Brussels Airport, which is 80% of the number of travelers in September 2019. September is the third month in a row with more than 2 million passengers at Brussels Airport. The airport announced the figures last Friday in a press release, but the numbers are not back to pre-covid levels yet.
The strong recovery in passenger traffic which we saw during the summer holidays (with around 2,2 million passengers in both July and August, ed.) is therefore continuing beyond the holiday period.
Brussels Airport
In a press release, the airport stated that business traffic is also increasing again, and that many Dutch travelers chose Brussels Airport to avoid the crowds in The Netherlands.
The ten most popular countries in September were Spain, Italy, Turkey, Germany, Greece, Portugal, the United States, France, Morocco and the United Kingdom. Turkey, Greece, Morocco and the United States outperformed September 2019 numbers.
The number of passenger flights in September 2022 was 75% of the number of passenger flights in September 2019. However, the flights’ occupancy rate continues to rise: In September 2022, the average number of passengers per flight was 142, compared to 132 in 2019.
The occupancy rate of flights therefore continues to rise, as does the use of larger aircraft.
Brussels Airport
In the same period, the airport handled 66,000 tonnes of cargo, a decrease of 5% compared to 2021, but an increase of 30% compared to 2019. According to the Belgian airport, the current geopolitical situation, disruption of the energy market, the lockdowns in China, and the recession are the causes behind the decrease of cargo volumes.
Cargo volumes are under pressure due to the current geopolitical situation and the disrupted energy market, the lockdowns in China and the impending recession and its impact on e-commerce.
Brussels Airport
However, belly cargo increased by 9% due to the increase in the number of passenger flights.
