Brussels Airport braces for record Easter rush with 1.25 million passengers

Brussels Airport is preparing for a surge in holiday travel, with more than 1.25 million passengers expected between 3 and 19 April, a 5% increase compared with the same period last year.

The Easter getaway will begin with a busy Friday, when around 74,000 travellers are forecast to pass through the airport. Traffic is set to peak on 6 and 13 April, with roughly 80,000 passengers per day, driven largely by outbound holidaymakers.

Leisure travel continues to dominate demand, with sun destinations and European city breaks leading bookings. Popular routes include Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Malta, alongside North African destinations such as Morocco and Tunisia, as well as Turkey and Cape Verde. Airlines have added capacity on several routes, including extra flights to Moroccan cities and Spanish resorts, while a new connection to Asturias (Oviedo) has been introduced.

To mark the holiday season, the airport will deploy Easter-themed activities, including costumed staff handing out chocolate eggs to passengers in terminals. Chocolate remains a cornerstone of retail at the airport, accounting for around one-third of all sales, with volumes reaching approximately 850 tonnes annually—a figure that underscores Belgium’s global reputation for confectionery.

Airport authorities are advising passengers to arrive early—at least two hours for Schengen flights and three hours for others—and to plan ahead by checking flight details, using public transport or reserving parking in advance.

With strong demand for leisure travel and expanded flight offerings, Brussels Airport is heading into one of its busiest Easter periods on record.