Brussels Airlines carried nearly 2 million passengers this summer
Shorter queues at check in even with strong volumes - punctuality hit by ATC strikes
Brussels, August 28, 2025 – Brussels Airlines reports a strong summer season, having transported over 1.9 million passengers on almost 13,000 flights in July and August, a 12% increase compared to 2024. The addition of more aircraft to the fleet enabled the airline to expand capacity and meet high demand.
Right before summer, Brussels Airlines doubled the capacity of the brag dop area at Brussels Airport. Due to this initiative, the airline could reduce waiting time for passengers checking in and dropping their luggage, despite higher passenger numbers. More passengers opted for self-service counters after checking in online: over 170,000 bags were checked in via this system. Record day was July 28th, with over 4,000 bags checked in via the bag drop.
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Where did Belgians travel to this summer?
Spain remained the top holiday destination, followed by Italy and Portugal. At the same time, demand for cooler destinations is growing.
Top 10 destinations for Belgian travelers in summer 2025:
- Malaga
- Barcelona
- Geneva
- Lisbon
- Porto
- Nice
- Rome
- Alicante
- Berlin
- Copenhagen
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The busiest week was between July 21st and 27th, when Brussels Airlines welcomed 235,000 passengers on over 1,500 flights, achieving an 88% load factor. The Tomorrowland festival contributed to this peak.
Punctuality under pressure
On-time performance declined this summer, largely due to factor beyond its control, such as Air Traffic Control (ATC) strikes in France and Italy. In June alone, ATC-related delays in France increased by 115% year-on-year1.
“Overall, we can look back on a very successful summer. First and foremost, I want to thank all our employees who worked hard during these busy months ensuring our passengers could enjoy their holidays. Brussels Airlines is a healthy, growing company, and we are proud of what we have accomplished together. We will debrief thoroughly with our teams to identify areas for even further improvement and continue strengthening the trust our passengers place in us.”
- Filip Aerts, Chief Operating Officer, Brussels Airlines
Nico Cardone
1 Source: A4E: https://a4e.eu/publications/french-atc-strike-needlessly-paralyses-european-skies-during-le-grand-depart/
