Summer's Back: 2.1 Million Pax at Brussels Airport

DALLAS — In June, Brussels Airport (BRU) welcomed 2,098,373 passengers, an increase of 4% compared to June 2023. The first half of 2024 had about 11 million passengers, 6% more than in 2023.

The start of the summer high season saw more departing passengers than arriving, according to the airport update. The proportion of departing transfer travelers was 15%.

Intercontinental Travel Is Up

The number of transfer passengers was down from previous year due to a decrease in the number of passengers traveling within Europe. However, BRU says the number of intercontinental transfer passengers is increasing.

Further, BRU's network continues to expand. Hainan Airlines (HU) launched new routes to Shanghai in June, Brussels Airlines (SN) to Nairobi, and Wizz Air (W6) to Budapest.

The ten most important countries were Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Turkey, the United States, Portugal, Morocco, France, and the United Kingdom.

Air Freight Volumes Down 12%

The Zaventem-located airport saw cargo volumes declined by 12% in June compared to June 2023, totaling 44,310 tons. The global freight volume is down 9% compared to the same period last year, at 53,625 tons.

The full freight segment has declined by 30%, whereas belly cargo has grown by 27%. On the other hand, express services are down 15%, while trucked volumes are up roughly 3%.

Cargo volumes remained constant in the first half of 2024, with a 0.5% reduction over the same time in 2023. Asia, Africa, and North America are the three main import regions. Asia, Africa, and North America are the top export destinations.