Brussels Airport border-control chaos sparks federal–regional row over staffing and infrastructure

Long immigration queues at Brussels Airport have boiled over into a political dispute between Belgium’s federal government and the Flemish Region, which became the airport’s majority shareholder last year. Interior Minister Bernard Quintin (MR) acknowledged on Monday, 18 May, that the airport’s border police remain understaffed—even after 10 new officers were hired and 60 more entered training—but he insisted that outdated facilities and frequently broken e-gates are equally to blame for the bottlenecks. Quintin pointed out that Arrivals has space for just six staffed booths, even though the layout could house twelve. During recent peak periods non-EU passengers waited up to four hours to clear passport control, with some missing onward flights. Brussels Airport’s chief executive Arnaud Feist warned that, without urgent action, the summer high season could descend into “total chaos”, damaging Belgium’s reputation as a business hub. Because the federal police are responsible for Schengen border checks, Flanders has long argued that the solution lies in hiring more officers. The minister countered that the region, which is about to receive its first dividend in seven years from the airport, should reinvest some of those earnings into enlarging the immigration hall, upgrading power and network cabling for biometric kiosks, and replacing ageing e-gates that are “out of service more often than not”. Business-travel specialists say prolonged delays threaten corporate schedules and could push companies to rout travellers through Amsterdam or Paris instead of Brussels. Mobility managers are therefore advising executives to factor in an extra two to three hours when connecting in Zaventem and to consider applying for the Belgian Fast-Lane programme—open to EU Blue Card and long-term-residence holders—which allows prescreened travellers to use dedicated lanes.



For travellers who still need to secure the correct paperwork, VisaHQ offers a convenient online service that can expedite Belgian and Schengen visa applications before departure; its country-specific page (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) provides requirements, digital forms and courier options that help minimise the risk of facing additional delays once you reach Brussels Airport.

They are also urging companies to monitor the consultative committee meeting later this week, where the federal and regional governments are expected to decide whether emergency budget transfers can be freed up before July. For expatriate families and assignees arriving this summer, relocation firms recommend scheduling biometric registration and local-municipality appointments at least a day after arrival to allow for possible flight or border delays. Airlines, meanwhile, are lobbying for a temporary “wing-in-terminal” solution—similar to those used at London Heathrow during major refurbishments—to add mobile passport booths during the peak morning arrival wave.