Brussels Airport's growth trend in passenger traffic continued in August, with over 2.4 million passengers travelling through the airport (+7% vs. 2023). This figure is comparable to that for July. In total, the airport welcomed 4.9 million passengers in July and August, up 6% from the same period in 2023. In terms of cargo, the slight decline in August (-3% vs. 2023) was balanced by the 6% growth in July.
"The results speak for themselves: this summer was a real success for Brussels Airport. Over the months of July and August, we welcomed 4.9 million passengers to the airport, representing growth of 6% compared with 2023. Thanks to rigorous preparations with all our partners, we were able to offer top-quality service to the large number of passengers who chose our airport this summer, providing them with a smooth, comfortable and pleasant experience", comments Arnaud Feist, CEO Brussels Airport Company.
Passenger numbers: up 7% compared to August 2023
The summer holidays got off to a flying start in July, with particularly high passenger numbers. This momentum was maintained in August, which also posted solid results. With 2,415,871 passengers travelling through Brussels Airport, August saw growth of 7% compared with the same period in 2023. In total, 4.9 million travellers chose Brussels Airport over the two summer months, an increase of 6% on the previous year.
As in 2023, August saw some 200,000 more passengers arriving than departing, a typical phenomenon linked to the end of the summer holidays. In parallel, the proportion of transit passengers grew significantly, reaching 16% in August, reinforcing Brussels Airport's strategic role as a Star Alliance hub.
The top 3 most popular destinations in August remain unchanged from 2023: Spain, Türkiye and Greece. Italy and Morocco move up to 4th and 5th place respectively. These destinations are followed by Germany, the USA, Portugal, France and the UK.
Air freight volumes: slight decrease of 3% compared to August 2023
In August, flown air cargo volumes at Brussels Airport fell slightly by 3% to 47,500 tonnes. Overall cargo volumes were down by a similar amount, totalling some 56,500 tonnes.
The full-cargo segment has fallen by 12%, while belly cargo has significantly increased, by 26%. Express services fell by 11%, while trucked volumes were down 1.5%.
The major import regions are Asia, Africa and North America. The same ranking also applies to exports, with Asia in the lead, followed by Africa and North America.
Flight movements: up 3% compared to August 2023
The number of flight movements rose by 3% in August 2024 compared with 2023. The number of passenger flights was up by 5% compared with 2023. With an average of 151 passengers per flight, three more than in August 2023, the month of August almost reached the all-time record for passengers per flight (152), set in July this year. The number of cargo flights decreased slightly by 0.9% compared to August 2023.
