Brussels Airlines reports €28 million Adjusted EBIT in 2025
Significant headwinds impacted the financial results
Brussels, March 6, 2026 – Brussels Airlines achieved an adjusted EBIT of 28 million euros in 2025, a 52% decrease compared to the previous year. The decline in profits is attributed to a variety of headwinds, including national manifestations in Belgium that prevented the airline from operating according to schedule. These results show the resilience of Brussels Airlines, and the airline continues to roll out targeted initiatives to increase the robustness of its operational and financial performance.
In 2025, Brussels Airlines executed 11% more flights than the year before, welcoming 9.1 million passengers on more than 68,000 flights. Revenue increased by 7% to over 1.6 billion euros.
Despite this growth, Brussels Airlines was unable to increase its profitability compared to 2024. The profit margin dropped by 2.1 percentage points to 1.7%.
Strong headwinds
National manifestations in Belgium, organized by labour unions in protest of government reforms, led to significant flight reductions during seven days of the year. Although no Brussels Airlines employees went on strike, these national manifestations prevented the airline from operating the majority of its flights on those days, resulting in an accumulated loss of €15 million.
Other disruptions, including drone sightings in Belgium, a cyberattack at Brussels Airport, and broader geopolitical instability, also contributed to higher irregularity costs, averaging more than €4 per passenger.
Brussels Airlines also experienced numerous operational challenges with its long-haul fleet, leading to prolonged aircraft groundings. A temporary wet-lease agreement maintained operational stability but incurred additional costs. The total accumulated cost of the long-haul groundings amounted to €19 million.
“2025 was a step backwards in our trajectory to the 8% margin we’re aiming for. But the goal remains unchanged and we will make sure to get back on track in 2026. I also would like to express my sincere gratitude to all Brussels Airlines employees who went above and beyond to take care of our passengers during these irregularities.”
- Nina Öwerdieck, Chief Financial Officer, Brussels Airlines
Operational reliability top priority for 2026
Irregularities place a significant burden on passenger satisfaction and incur high costs. Therefore, Brussels Airlines is implementing several initiatives to improve operational stability in 2026.
“We are rolling out several plans to tackle the most important reasons for delays and cancellations, to improve our reliability and punctuality. Although irregularities are often beyond our control, we need to make sure that we do everything in our power to get our guests where they need to be on time. The first effects of our improvement plan are starting to show, and we will work relentlessly to improve further.”
- Filip Aerts, Chief Operating Officer, Brussels Airlines
Brussels Airlines will also make significant investments in its passenger experience. The airline recently announced service enhancements across several travel classes, both on short- and long-haul flights. Earlier this year, the airline also revealed plans to roll out Wi-Fi across the fleet, and the Belgian airline is currently renovating its flagship lounge at Brussels Airport: THE LOFT. When looking at the network, Brussels Airlines will start operating a seasonal route to Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) as of 3rd June.
“Despite strong headwinds Brussels Airlines has been profitable in 2025. That is a success on our path to more stability and resilience. However, our ambition is to achieve more, to generate the funds needed to invest into fleet, customer experience and Belgium’s connectivity. I am proud of what the Brussels Airlines team has achieved and looking forward to elevating our customer offer.”
- Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO, Brussels Airlines
Outlook
With a clear strategy –improving reliability and investing in customer experience– Brussels Airlines is confident to pick up the pace on its trajectory towards a profit margin of 8% in the mid-term. The ambition for 2026 is to surpass the financial results of 2024.
Nico Cardone
