on offer (Vueling no longer has a base at the
airport).
These new arrivals put pressure on the
airport’s main based carriers, Brussels
Airlines and Jetair y, with a battle over fares
and passengers. The latter, which has
recently been rebranded as TUI y Belgium,
has a mixed eet of Embraer 190, Boeing
737, 767 and 787 Dreamliner aircraft and
focuses mainly on leisure destinations.
Brussels Airport was the target of a co-
ordinated terrorist attack on March 22, 2016,
when two explosions occurred in the check-in
area of the terminal shortly before 8am. A
third bomb was later found and destroyed in a
controlled explosion.
Thirty-two civilians were killed in the
bombings and more than 300 injured. The
damage to the terminal was signi cant and
caused widespread disruption to the airport’s
operations.
Initially, the airport remained closed while
investigations were carried out, alongside
work to make the structure safe again.
During this time, ights operated from airports
at Antwerp, Charleroi, Liège and Lille,
while Brussels Airlines shifted its long-haul
operation temporarily to Frankfurt Airport in
Germany.On April 3, around 20% of ights resumed
at Brussels, with passengers using temporary
check-in facilities and enhanced security
screening.
It took some time before the airport was
back up to full strength and several airlines
postponed resuming ights until last year.
Some, like American Airlines, cancelled their
services entirely.
Yet, despite the horri c nature of the
attack and the catastrophic upheaval,
Brussels Airport demonstrated positivity and
determination.
By July 2016, the entrance and arrivals
hall were reopened and, in November, the
temporary check-in structures had been
dismantled and the departure hall was back
in use.
Since then, the airport has invested
in extra policing and security staff, new
equipment and operational procedures.GROWTH
The 2016 bombings failed to dampen plans
for Brussels Airport to continue growing and
creating an attractive offering for airlines and
passengers. In conjunction with returning
to full service in November 2016, the airport
published its Strategic Vision 2040, focusingon developing the facility over the coming two
decades.
Key to the proposals is improving runway
infrastructure to cope with peak capacity
periods under all weather conditions, the
construction of two new passenger piers,
re tting the existing Pier B, renovating the
iconic Sky Hall and turning the Brucargo
zone into a top-tier logistics centre to support
important sectors such as pharmaceuticals
and biotechnology.
Work continues with local train and bus
operators in an attempt to get at least 50% of
passengers travelling to the airport on public
transport by 2040. A link to the tram network
will also be provided.
Despite the pressure posed by low-cost
airlines on its home turf, Brussels Airlines has
seen a consistent increase in passengers
over recent years, with 7.7 million own in
2016, driven mainly by its long-haul business
which has been streamlined.
This network, own by Airbus A330s, is
dominated by routes to 19 destinations in
Africa, plus New York and Washington Dulles
(seasonal) in the United States.
The airline is a part of Lufthansa Group,
with the German carrier exercising an option
to purchase Brussels Airlines outright in 2016.68 Aviation News incorporating Jets March 2018TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Runways
01/19 2,987m (9,800ft)
07R/25L 3,211m (10,535ft)
07L/25R 3,638m (11,936ft)
Details
IATA: BRU
ICAO: EBBR
Web: http://www.brusselsairport.beLeft: The airport’s departures hall.
Brussels Airport CompanyBrussels Airlines’ long-haul Airbus A330
eet links the airport with 19 destinations
in Africa, plus New York and Washington
Dulles (seasonal) in the United States.
Brussels Airport Company64-69_brusselsDC.mfDC.mf.indd 68 05/02/2018 13:05