Brussels Airport posts strong October: 2.2 million passengers and 25% cargo surge despite strike impact

Brussels Airport handled 2.23 million passengers in October 2025, a 6% increase compared with October 2024, driven primarily by the busy mid-term school holidays in both French- and Dutch-speaking regions. Roughly 1.2 million travellers passed through the airport during the break alone.

However, growth was limited by the national strike on 14 October, which forced the cancellation of all departing flights and about half of all arrivals.

Six strike days so far in 2025 have disrupted around 250,000 passengers and cost the Belgian economy an estimated €150 million. Further coordinated union actions are expected in late November.

Passenger Traffic

• 2,228,691 passengers (+6% vs. Oct 2024)
• Transfer passengers: 13% (stable year-on-year)
• Top destinations: Spain, Italy, Germany, Türkiye, Morocco, Portugal, Greece, France, USA, Switzerland
• Passenger flights: +3.3%
• Average passengers per flight: 151 (+3%)

Cargo Volumes

Cargo performance remained robust:

• Total cargo: 80,638 tonnes (+25%)
• Flown cargo: 66,954 tonnes (+24%)
  • Full freighters: +7%
  • Belly cargo: +53% (boosted by long-haul expansion)
  • Integrator services: +24%
• Trucked cargo: –28%
• Top regions:
  • Imports: Asia, Africa, North America
  • Exports: Asia, North America, Africa

Flight Movements

• Total movements: +3% vs. October 2024
• Passenger flights: +3.3%
• Cargo flights: –1%