2015 off to a flying start

The number of passengers handled at Brussels Airport has grown by 13.5% in the first month of the year compared with January last year. Cargo transport also shows significant growth of 37,869 tonnes (+9.4%) transported in January 2015.

Passengers

Brussels Airport is off to a good start this year. Compared with January last year, the number of passengers has increased by 13.5 per cent to 1,378,449. The most significant growth is accounted for by the low-cost airlines, Brussels Airlines and the long-haul flights – for both departing passengers and transfer passengers.

Cargo

Cargo transport too shows strong growth of 9.4 per cent in January 2015 compared with January last year. The growth is seen in every segment: belly transport (+4%), integrator (+18.3%) and for the first in a very long time also in the full freighter segment (+3.8%).

This growth is owing to a more extensive network and service range at Brussels Airport, thanks to the arrival of Ethiopian Cargo as a new cargo operator from mid-January, and Qatar Airways which now flies several new routes. In addition, DHL showed strong growth again in January. Brussels Airport continues to focus on the transport of food products and pharmaceuticals.

Movements

The number of flights handled at Brussels Airport has risen by 8%, due to the increase in passenger flights (+9.3%) and cargo flights (+10.3%). Thanks to bigger planes and the rise in passenger numbers, the average number of passengers per flight also rose from 90 in January 2014 to 94 passengers per flight in January 2015.