Brussels Airport Company published its October traffic report on 14 November, showing that the hub handled 2.23 million passengers—up 6 % year-on-year—despite losing an entire operational day to the 14 October national strike. The airport attributed the growth to strong demand during the mid-term school holidays in both Flanders and Wallonia, when 1.2 million travellers passed through its two terminals.
Cargo volumes were even more robust, rising 25 % to 80,638 tonnes. Belly-hold freight on long-haul passenger aircraft surged 53 % thanks to route expansions by Emirates, Hainan Airlines and Air Canada, while integrator traffic grew 24 % as DHL added more Asia-Europe sectors. Full-freighter movements increased 7 %, offsetting a 28 % decline in trucked cargo.
![Brussels Airport Reports 6 % Passenger Growth in October Despite Strike Disruptions]()
Operational resilience is noteworthy: six strike days so far in 2025 have disrupted around 250,000 passengers, yet average load factors remain high at 151 passengers per movement. Brussels Airport Company estimates direct economic losses from strike-related cancellations at €150 million but says its crisis-management plan has kept knock-on effects to a minimum.
Looking ahead, the airport is preparing for the 24–26 November strike by coordinating with ground-handlers and airlines to implement a reduced schedule and stagger passenger arrivals. Companies shipping time-critical goods such as pharmaceuticals are being advised to secure priority slots or divert through Liège and Amsterdam.
For mobility professionals, the data underscore Brussels’ importance as both a passenger gateway and a cargo corridor—particularly for EU headquarters staff, NATO personnel and life-science firms clustered around Leuven and Wallonia. While strikes remain a risk factor, the airport’s underlying traffic momentum suggests that contingency planning, rather than wholesale relocation of flights, is the most pragmatic response.
Cargo volumes were even more robust, rising 25 % to 80,638 tonnes. Belly-hold freight on long-haul passenger aircraft surged 53 % thanks to route expansions by Emirates, Hainan Airlines and Air Canada, while integrator traffic grew 24 % as DHL added more Asia-Europe sectors. Full-freighter movements increased 7 %, offsetting a 28 % decline in trucked cargo.
Operational resilience is noteworthy: six strike days so far in 2025 have disrupted around 250,000 passengers, yet average load factors remain high at 151 passengers per movement. Brussels Airport Company estimates direct economic losses from strike-related cancellations at €150 million but says its crisis-management plan has kept knock-on effects to a minimum.
Looking ahead, the airport is preparing for the 24–26 November strike by coordinating with ground-handlers and airlines to implement a reduced schedule and stagger passenger arrivals. Companies shipping time-critical goods such as pharmaceuticals are being advised to secure priority slots or divert through Liège and Amsterdam.
For mobility professionals, the data underscore Brussels’ importance as both a passenger gateway and a cargo corridor—particularly for EU headquarters staff, NATO personnel and life-science firms clustered around Leuven and Wallonia. While strikes remain a risk factor, the airport’s underlying traffic momentum suggests that contingency planning, rather than wholesale relocation of flights, is the most pragmatic response.
