Brussels Airport (BRU) infrastructure: future

[HQ_BRU_Lover]

Not remarkable at all if you know the Shift 2027 after Covid. All airports, not only BRU, are going for diversification. Real Estate brings in a lot of money. With only aviation related you will not make it anymore.

Exactly! It's even a logical decision that they invest in what should bring them extra recurring revenues, even if the core business (=flights, airport operations) would do a downfall, being it extremely big like Covid or being it fluctuation of the economy which is not doing as it should. From an aviation lover point-of-view all this is not interesting of course, so I also understand that on this aviation forum people are mentioning this.

[JOVAN2]

Not remarkable at all if you know the Shift 2027 after Covid. All airports, not only BRU, are going for diversification. Real Estate brings in a lot of money. With only aviation related you will not make it anymore.

Exactly! It's even a logical decision that they invest in what should bring them extra recurring revenues, even if the core business (=flights, airport operations) would do a downfall, being it extremely big like Covid or being it fluctuation of the economy which is not doing as it should. From an aviation lover point-of-view all this is not interesting of course, so I also understand that on this aviation forum people are mentioning this.

Since about one year there is a big crisis in real estate business. Many empty or partly empty office towers all over Europe.
Partly because of Covid.

Crisis will be there for some years.

An airport should have a mix of business, but it is totally ridiculous and short sighted to invest only in non-passenger related things.
Only few parts of the airport reach European standards
Many issues remain un-resolved:
Passport control Pier B arrivals
Long waiting times luggage
Taxi area
Bus area

The lack of ambition of BRU management is striking. And unprofessional.

[Atlantis]

Not remarkable at all if you know the Shift 2027 after Covid. All airports, not only BRU, are going for diversification. Real Estate brings in a lot of money. With only aviation related you will not make it anymore.

Exactly! It's even a logical decision that they invest in what should bring them extra recurring revenues, even if the core business (=flights, airport operations) would do a downfall, being it extremely big like Covid or being it fluctuation of the economy which is not doing as it should. From an aviation lover point-of-view all this is not interesting of course, so I also understand that on this aviation forum people are mentioning this.

Since about one year there is a big crisis in real estate business. Many empty or partly empty office towers all over Europe.
Partly because of Covid.

Crisis will be there for some years.

An airport should have a mix of business, but it is totally ridiculous and short sighted to invest only in non-passenger related things.
Only few parts of the airport reach European standards
Many issues remain un-resolved:
Passport control Pier B arrivals
Long waiting times luggage
Taxi area
Bus area

The lack of ambition of BRU management is striking. And unprofessional.

Only non-pax???? May I remind you that all airbridges at the B-pier are or will be renewed by single or double bridges.

That Brucargo is full under construction to give all employees , customers and cargo airlines the best service.

That P30 will be a fresh, new, light rental car parking instead of the dark one which is now.

And many other smaller ones which I forgot

This is not related to pax? Or it's not exciting enough from aviation enthusiastic perspective?

[JOVAN2]

Exactly! It's even a logical decision that they invest in what should bring them extra recurring revenues, even if the core business (=flights, airport operations) would do a downfall, being it extremely big like Covid or being it fluctuation of the economy which is not doing as it should. From an aviation lover point-of-view all this is not interesting of course, so I also understand that on this aviation forum people are mentioning this.

Since about one year there is a big crisis in real estate business. Many empty or partly empty office towers all over Europe.
Partly because of Covid.

Crisis will be there for some years.

An airport should have a mix of business, but it is totally ridiculous and short sighted to invest only in non-passenger related things.
Only few parts of the airport reach European standards
Many issues remain un-resolved:
Passport control Pier B arrivals
Long waiting times luggage
Taxi area
Bus area

The lack of ambition of BRU management is striking. And unprofessional.

Only non-pax???? May I remind you that all airbridges at the B-pier are or will be renewed by single or double bridges.

That Brucargo is full under construction to give all employees , customers and cargo airlines the best service.

That P30 will be a fresh, new, light rental car parking instead of the dark one which is now.

And many other smaller ones which I forgot

This is not related to pax? Or it's not exciting enough from aviation enthusiastic perspective?

Cargo is non-pax. P30 is mainly for employees and little bit Rental cars. Little bit pax.
You do not remember pax-improvements.
They do not exist at BRU. Apparently. Nobody sees them.

[Atlantis]

Since about one year there is a big crisis in real estate business. Many empty or partly empty office towers all over Europe.
Partly because of Covid.

Crisis will be there for some years.

An airport should have a mix of business, but it is totally ridiculous and short sighted to invest only in non-passenger related things.
Only few parts of the airport reach European standards
Many issues remain un-resolved:
Passport control Pier B arrivals
Long waiting times luggage
Taxi area
Bus area

The lack of ambition of BRU management is striking. And unprofessional.

Only non-pax???? May I remind you that all airbridges at the B-pier are or will be renewed by single or double bridges.

That Brucargo is full under construction to give all employees , customers and cargo airlines the best service.

That P30 will be a fresh, new, light rental car parking instead of the dark one which is now.

And many other smaller ones which I forgot

This is not related to pax? Or it's not exciting enough from aviation enthusiastic perspective?

Cargo is non-pax. P30 is mainly for employees and little bit Rental cars. Little bit pax.
You do not remember pax-improvements.
They do not exist at BRU. Apparently. Nobody sees them.

Typical troll.

Cargo is as important as pax. Cargo was the main life line during covid for BRU. It generated a lot of money when there were even no pax flights possible.

Maybe think first

[lumumba]

They are expanding the passport control area at the arrivals of the non-Schengen terminal.

[sn26567]

They are expanding the passport control area at the arrivals of the non-Schengen terminal.

It's nice to extend that area, but it would be even nicer to increase the number of police officers manning the area during the peak hours.

[lumumba]

They are expanding the passport control area at the arrivals of the non-Schengen terminal.

It's nice to extend that area, but it would be even nicer to increase the number of police officers manning the area during the peak hours.

Who is taking this decision the Police or the Airport authority?

[Conti764]

They are expanding the passport control area at the arrivals of the non-Schengen terminal.

It's nice to extend that area, but it would be even nicer to increase the number of police officers manning the area during the peak hours.

Who is taking this decision the Police or the Airport authority?

About staffing? Airport police. But there's not much of a decision to make. They just don't have enough officers

Another pressing issue is the lack op space at departures. All boxes are often manned, but there are just too few...

[lumumba]

It's nice to extend that area, but it would be even nicer to increase the number of police officers manning the area during the peak hours.

Who is taking this decision the Police or the Airport authority?

About staffing? Airport police. But there's not much of a decision to make. They just don't have enough officers

Another pressing issue is the lack op space at departures. All boxes are often manned, but there are just too few...

So there is no solution?
Maybe it's beter to refuse some new non Schengen airlines for the moment to improve the service?

[longwings]

Maybe it's beter to refuse some new non Schengen airlines for the moment to improve the service?

Aviation is complicated. Short answer is, unless the airport is out of gates - including gates for remote stands - when an airline wants to operate, denying them access is fraught with risks. It doesn't matter if police control is a choke point.

Denying access to EU airlines when a gate is available is an infringement of the single European aviation market. The airline could sue the airport operator to force the issue.

For non-EU airlines, their access is usually guaranteed by bilateral treaty - whether between Belgium and another country, or the EU and another country. Treaty infractions typically are met with reprisals, which can take just about any form. Example, if BRU were to deny an additional Chinese passenger flight, there's nothing stopping CAAC from curtailing or stopping ASL Belgium or FedEx flights from LGG in retaliation. The Chinese government could even retaliate in ways that have nothing to do with aviation.

A government edict to cap flights across the board might work, or not. The Dutch government gave up its earlier attempts to impose a lower cap on AMS when the US Dept. of Transportation warned them KLM would lose traffic rights for every US airline flight canceled as a result of the new cap.

[Conti764]

Who is taking this decision the Police or the Airport authority?

About staffing? Airport police. But there's not much of a decision to make. They just don't have enough officers

Another pressing issue is the lack op space at departures. All boxes are often manned, but there are just too few...

So there is no solution?

Hire more police officers for the airport but there is an overall shortage in police officers all over the country.

They sometimes send in new recruits but those often young officers choose to join a local police force as soon as possible.

The only way you can expand the numbers of officers working at BRU is by offering them an allowance. But allowances are heavily reduced by the police, the government is debt burden and even if BAC would want to pay (part of) such allowance, I doubt it would be allowed legally...

[lumumba]

About staffing? Airport police. But there's not much of a decision to make. They just don't have enough officers

Another pressing issue is the lack op space at departures. All boxes are often manned, but there are just too few...

So there is no solution?

Hire more police officers for the airport but there is an overall shortage in police officers all over the country.

They sometimes send in new recruits but those often young officers choose to join a local police force as soon as possible.

The only way you can expand the numbers of officers working at BRU is by offering them an allowance. But allowances are heavily reduced by the police, the government is debt burden and even if BAC would want to pay (part of) such allowance, I doubt it would be allowed legally...

So anyway if I understood we'll there is no solution and this problem will occur more and more...

[Atlantis]

New tender released to update and renew the baggage system.

After installation of the security check for luggage to the current standards, it's time to renew the baggage system. From new supported with IT, luggage loaders, ergonomic aid system, bigger storage, etc will be all in the tender. First modules to roll out in 2026 and full system operational in 2028

[HQ_BRU_Lover]

New tender released to update and renew the baggage system.

After installation of the security check for luggage to the current standards, it's time to renew the baggage system. From new supported with IT, luggage loaders, ergonomic aid system, bigger storage, etc will be all in the tender. First modules to roll out in 2026 and full system operational in 2028

So this will add another 4 years to the non-exhaustive list of failures of this system from the middle ages. Poor BRU.

[Atlantis]

New tender released to update and renew the baggage system.

After installation of the security check for luggage to the current standards, it's time to renew the baggage system. From new supported with IT, luggage loaders, ergonomic aid system, bigger storage, etc will be all in the tender. First modules to roll out in 2026 and full system operational in 2028

So this will add another 4 years to the non-exhaustive list of failures of this system from the middle ages. Poor BRU.

Before you bash at the airport, even when good things are happening, inform yourself first.

To renew a full baggage system is a very complex thing. I'm even not talking about the tender. But your current system cannot be interrupted. It goes part by part. Also the whole IT system will be renewed and for the first time automated heavy lifters will be installed. On this way it will be easier for the baggage people. The whole system also needs to be tested. At BRU we have 20 km!!!!! Of baggage belts. You know this or not????
To give you an example of a near neighbour who did the same, Dublin. It took them 3 to 4 years also to finish 14 km of baggage belts. They are poor too???

Please, before you talk rubbish

[JOVAN2]

New tender released to update and renew the baggage system.

After installation of the security check for luggage to the current standards, it's time to renew the baggage system. From new supported with IT, luggage loaders, ergonomic aid system, bigger storage, etc will be all in the tender. First modules to roll out in 2026 and full system operational in 2028

So this will add another 4 years to the non-exhaustive list of f upailures of this system from the middle ages. Poor BRU.

Ok
Let us hope they do not change their mind as they did for Pier A west and Vision 2040. etc etc..

[Matt]

New tender released to update and renew the baggage system.

After installation of the security check for luggage to the current standards, it's time to renew the baggage system. From new supported with IT, luggage loaders, ergonomic aid system, bigger storage, etc will be all in the tender. First modules to roll out in 2026 and full system operational in 2028

So this will add another 4 years to the non-exhaustive list of failures of this system from the middle ages. Poor BRU.

Before you bash at the airport, even when good things are happening, inform yourself first.

To renew a full baggage system is a very complex thing.
Please, before you talk rubbish

The luggage system is indeed quite complex to change.

But I think No-one here can deny the biggest monstrosity at BRU airport which should be addressed ASAP:

The drop off zone and the Taxi zone @ Arrivals level. In 2016, right after the terrorist attacks, it was okay-ish. However, 8 years has passed...

I think no-one here can deny this. I was dropping off some American colleagues the other day and, they are right... The entrance looks like a 3rd world country airport... (the terminal and gates are fine tough)

What are the long term plans for this anyway? Leave as is and everyone comes in through the "Diamant"? God I miss the old drop off right before the terminal.

[lumumba]

New tender released to update and renew the baggage system.

After installation of the security check for luggage to the current standards, it's time to renew the baggage system. From new supported with IT, luggage loaders, ergonomic aid system, bigger storage, etc will be all in the tender. First modules to roll out in 2026 and full system operational in 2028

So this will add another 4 years to the non-exhaustive list of f upailures of this system from the middle ages. Poor BRU.

Ok
Let us hope they do not change their mind as they did for Pier A west and Vision 2040. etc etc..

But there is no need to expand the airport at the moment.
There are things that need to be improved, but these are small things, such as the drop off area also the Passport control on international arrivals( it's actually been done)but if I understood correctly it doesn't really solve the problem anyway there aren't enough police officers so this will be a problem even in the future.

[Atlantis]

So this will add another 4 years to the non-exhaustive list of failures of this system from the middle ages. Poor BRU.

Before you bash at the airport, even when good things are happening, inform yourself first.

To renew a full baggage system is a very complex thing.
Please, before you talk rubbish

The luggage system is indeed quite complex to change.

But I think No-one here can deny the biggest monstrosity at BRU airport which should be addressed ASAP:

The drop off zone and the Taxi zone @ Arrivals level. In 2016, right after the terrorist attacks, it was okay-ish. However, 8 years has passed...

I think no-one here can deny this. I was dropping off some American colleagues the other day and, they are right... The entrance looks like a 3rd world country airport... (the terminal and gates are fine tough)

What are the long term plans for this anyway? Leave as is and everyone comes in through the "Diamant"? God I miss the old drop off right before the terminal.

Drop off is not like it should be and everybody is aware of that. And I also agree with you, don't have doubts about that. The same for taxis. Too far away, etc. But, instead of doing each change in parts, everything will be done in one big plan. This together with the new hotel, new tram link, busses, taxis, a new square. We saw it already more than a year ago. The green light has to be given. But, even the airport is again making some profit, it's still fragile. Cargo, the renewing of all airbridges at the B-pier, environmental initiatives taking already a big part of the current investment.

But the drop off zone and Taxi are not on Arrival level but on 0 level. Arrival is level 2.

Second, not everybody comes via the Diamant. Only those with public transport, taxi and drop off. People who are using the parking's are still using the original entrance. Maybe it could have been a good idea if you brought your colls in via the parking and showed them the real entrance.

Regarding the current drop off zone, this is federal material. We know how long everything takes there. IF it is on the table....