Diamond building at the departures hall of Brussels Airport entirely reopened

The departures hall at Brussels Airport is all set for the start of the summer season. Work in the area adjacent to the Diamond building in the departures hall is finished and the area was reopened Friday afternoon. The reopening allows for a larger and smoother passage from the check-in desks to security screening and towards the lower levels, including the arrivals hall, the bus station and the train station.

The departures hall at Brussels Airport is ready for the summer rush. Since a few weeks, all airlines are back in the departures hall and the major repair works in the Diamond building have been completed. The construction site walls at the Diamond building were removed, allowing for a larger and smoother passage from the check-in desks to the security screening platform.

The area that has now been reopened was badly damaged by the 22 March attacks at the airport. In memory of the victims, Brussels Airport Company has put up a commemorative plaque in this area. Before the construction site walls were removed, airport staff were given the opportunity to visit the renovated area accompanied by psychologists.

The area near the Diamond building looks a bit different now. The Brussels Airlines ticketing desk has not been rebuilt yet and “Flight in mind” the monumental work of art by Olivier Strebelle was removed because it was damaged during the attacks. In consultation with the artist it was decided not to repair the work of art. It will become a commemorative monument and will be given a new location at the airport.

Passengers will be happy to rediscover familiar elements such as the “Scimitar”, a work by Belgian artist Panamarenko that decorates the ceiling of the Diamond building.