Hundreds of guests this evening at the inauguration of the “Connector”, the new building between the departure hall and Pier A. Besides His Majesty King Philip of Belgium, I recognised Prime Minister Charles Michel, Federal Ministers De Croo and Galant, Minister President of the Brussels Region Vervoort, Secretary of State Fransen, Flemish Parliament President Peumans, the mayors of Zaventem and Steenokkerzeel (the connector is on both communes) Charleroi Airport CEO Cloquet, financial magnate Baron Albert Frère (his company owns the tax free shops) and many others.
As soon as I entered into the airport, a large screen was displaying the new Connector.
- Already when arriving at the airport, the Connector is advertised on the giant publicity screens
Instead of turning right to take the stairs to the former tunnel, I continued straight ahead to the Connector. And immediately there is the ticket control to let you in and the 15 brand new hand baggage screening lines.
- Ticket control at the entrance of the Connector
- Fifteen hand baggage screening lines
- … and they were in function for screening all the guests of the inauguration
- First drink for the guests immediately after screening
- The new departure screens were already functioning
- A nice memory of the first airport of Brussels in Haren
The guests were already busy drinking a welcome cocktail.
- Among the guests, Minister of Mobility Jacqueline Galant discussing with Charleroi Airport CEO Jean-Jacques Cloquet
- Charleroi Airport CEO Jean-Jacques Cloquet had some health problems but was happy to wish success to Brussels Airport
- Left, Albert Frère (who owns the Tax Free Shops of Brussels Airport)
And soon the arrival of His Majesty King Philip of Belgium was announced and shown with beamers on the curtains hiding the interior the new building.
- Beamers on the curtains showing the arrival of the Royal motorcade on the tarmac
- The arrival of H. M. the King
- The Ministers waiting to welcome the King
- The Prime Minister salutes King Philip
And finally the King enters into the building, still hidden by curtains.
- H. M. the King enters into the hall hidden by provisional curtains
- H. M. King Philip is welcomed by Brussels Airport CEO Arnaud Feist
Time for the speeches. Each one of the speakers asked to remember the 150 victims of the crash of the Germainwings Airbus A320 that occurred the same morning. A minute of silence was observed.
- Introduction of the speakers by a spokeswoman for Brussels Airport
- Speech of Marc Descheemaeker, President of Brussels Airport
- King Philip and Arnaud Feist during the speech of Marc Descheemaeker
- Speech of Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport
- Speech of Prime Minister Charles Michel
The King, the President and the CEO of Brussels Airport pressed a button to start the inauguration show.
- An aerial show by acrobats to celebrate the inauguration
- … and then the curtains fell, revealing the new shopping area of the Connector
Royal visit to the new premises and reception
- After the Tintin submarine on a Brussels Airlines plane, the Tintin rocket to the Moon
- King Philip and Baron Albert Frère
- Chocolate tasting
- Chocolate tasting
- Musical entertainment during the reception
- King Philip with Minister Alexander De Croo
- The people of Moulinsart in front of the Tintin rocket
The Connector promises to offer nice views on the tarmac
- Nice view of the tarmac from the Connector
Opening to travellers Thursday morning at three in the morning! They will enjoy a lot of very nice shops and restaurants.
Copyright (text and photographs) André Orban
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