The operator of Antwerp and Ostend-Bruges airports, the French company Egis, is still waiting for €9.5 million in outstanding subsidies from the Flemish government. The figures were revealed by MP Bogdan Vanden Berghe (Groen). According to Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder (N-VA), the funds cannot yet be paid because the existing subsidy agreement is outdated, even though the money is considered vital for the airports’ survival. The issue will be discussed this afternoon in the Flemish Parliament.
The claim concerns rising costs for security, safety (such as runway inspections) and firefighting. Egis says it is owed €3.3 million for Antwerp Airport and €6.2 million for Ostend, for expenses made between 2020 and 2024.
De Ridder points to a 2013 subsidy agreement — expired in 2019 — which sets maximum amounts that cannot be exceeded. A new agreement has been negotiated but not finalised, so the old one remains in force.
Egis previously stated in its annual report that it expects the subsidies to be paid retroactively. Experts warn that if the funds are not granted, the airports’ assets would drop by nearly one third, raising the risk of insolvency.
This afternoon, the Flemish Parliament will hold hearings on the subsidy dispute, with the airport operator also scheduled to speak.