Brussels Airlines reports small profit for 2025, yet below Lufthansa Group average

Brussels Airlines reported a modest profit for 2025, but its financial performance remained well below the average of parent company Lufthansa Group, which earlier announced record revenues and stronger profitability.

The Belgian carrier achieved an adjusted EBIT of €28 million for the year, representing a decline of 52 percent compared to 2024. Revenue nevertheless increased by 7 percent to more than €1.6 billion, while the airline carried 9.1 million passengers across more than 68,000 flights, an increase of 11 percent year-on-year.

Despite the growth in activity, profitability weakened significantly. Brussels Airlines reported a profit margin of 1.7 percent, far below the 4.9 percent operating margin achieved by the Lufthansa Group as a whole in 2025. The group generated €39.6 billion in revenue and an adjusted EBIT of €2 billion.

According to the airline, a series of disruptions weighed heavily on its financial results. National demonstrations in Belgium led to seven days of major operational disruption, costing the airline an estimated €15 million, even though Brussels Airlines staff did not participate in strike action. Additional irregularities, including drone sightings, a cyberattack at Brussels Airport and geopolitical instability, further increased operational costs.

The airline also faced technical issues with parts of its long-haul fleet, forcing it to temporarily wet-lease aircraft to maintain operations. These groundings resulted in additional costs of around €19 million.

Despite the setback, Brussels Airlines remained profitable and continues to target a medium-term operating margin of around 8 percent. The airline plans to focus on improving operational reliability and enhancing the passenger experience, while aiming to surpass its 2024 financial performance in 2026.