Brussels Airport welcomed 22.2 million passengers in 2023, marking an increase of 17 per cent compared to the previous year.
This airport saw a seven per cent increase in the number of flights as well, by reaching 192,257.
Nearly 1.6 million of those passengers passed through this airport only during December, representing also a ten per cent increase compared to December 2022. According to a press release issued by Brussels Airport, such an increase was impacted by the start of the Christmas holidays.
The top ten countries with the most travellers during this period were Spain, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, Switzerland, Türkiye, Morocco, France, and Portugal.
As airport authorities pointed out, 2023 also marked a continued post-COVID recovery, with the leisure segment, including holiday travel and visits to family and friends, nearly fully recovered.
Business travel also increased, but travel to and from Asia has not fully recovered. The cancellation of flights to Israel since October has also impacted Brussels Airport, according to the airport authorities.
In 2023, the number of transfer passengers also increased by 21 per cent to 15 per cent of all passengers in 2023. The majority of them were from Spain, Germany, Italy, Türkiye, the US, France, Portugal, Greece, Morocco and the UK.
Commenting on the increase in the number of arrivals, CEO of Brussels Airport Company, Amaud Feist, said among others, that they enhanced their network for leisure, family visits, and business travel.
After doubling our passenger numbers in 2022, we recorded a further 17 per cent recovery last year. Together with the entire airport community, we achieved this great result, getting no fewer than 22.2 million passengers to their destinations smoothly and comfortably with a solid service.
Whereas in terms of total cargo, the airport experienced a ten per cent decrease. During last year, 700,846 tonnes were transported within this airport.
Brussels Airport has seen a continuous increase in passenger numbers throughout the months of 2023.
In the last quarter of 2023 alone, this airport welcomed more than five million passengers: December – 1,596,443, November- 1,613,845, and October – 2,016,071.
Furthermore, the airport has increased its routes and added new airlines. For the winter season, the Belgian airport decided to introduce additional routes and add two more airlines.
Whereas during the summer season of 2023, the airport decided to introduce flights to nine new destinations, including Toronto (Canada), Billund (Denmark), Seville (Spain), Kayseri (Türkiye), Monastir (Tunisia), as well as Béjaïa, Constantine, Oran, and Tlemcen (Algeria).
