Record number of passengers at Brussels Airport in first half of 2019
Brussels Airport welcomed almost 12.3 million passengers in the first six months of 2019, an increase of 1.8% compared to the same period last year. During the month of June alone, the number of passengers rose, compared to last year, by 4.3%. In contrast to the growing number of passengers, the amount of cargo that was shipped via the airport in the first half of the year was 9.3% lower than the same period last year. In June, 17.0% less cargo was shipped than in the same month last year.
Passengers
During the month of June, no less than 2,412,774 passengers flew to or from Brussels Airport. That is 4.3% more than in the same period last year. Thanks to the ever-stronger position of Brussels Airport in the Star Alliance network, the number of transfer passengers in June increased by 3.6% compared to last year. Because of Ramadan, which this year took place only over a few days in June (around the time of the first weekend of the summer holidays), the local departure market saw an increase compared to the same month last year (+2.6%). Ethiopian, Etihad, Emirates, United and ANA airlines in particular enjoyed a growth in passengers, thanks to the use of larger aircraft on their long-haul flights. The short-haul airlines with the biggest increase were Brussels Airlines, Ryanair, Air Arabia, Vueling, EasyJet, Finnair, Aeroflot, Iberia and TAROM.
During the first six months of the year, Brussels Airport again welcomed a record number of passengers. In total, 12,283,184 passengers travelled via the airport, which is an increase of 1.8% compared to the first half of last year.
Cargo
The downward trend in cargo transport continued in June. We saw a considerable decline of 17.0% compared to the same month last year. In June 2018, the airport shipped more than 64,000 tonnes of cargo; this year it handled around 10,000 tonnes less. The decline can be felt in all segments and by all airlines. The trucked cargo underwent the strongest downturn: 26.6% lower than June last year. The reduction in cargo transport is also noticeable in other European airports and is due to continuing economic uncertainty.
When we compare the amount of cargo in the first half of 2019 with the first half of last year, there is a decline of 9.3%. Dedicated cargo flights experienced a strong decline of 16.2% in the first six months of the year. Although a negative trend has been identified in all European airports, Brussels Airport has fared worse than other airports in the vicinity. This can be explained by the general decline in cargo volumes in the European market and the unrest that prevailed in recent months at skeyes air traffic control and the impact this had on cargo flights.
Flights
Last month, 20,895 aircraft movements took place at Brussels Airport; that is a decrease of 0.5% compared to June last year. The strong increase in the number of passengers in June (+4.3%) but the limited increase in the number of passenger flights (+0.3%) indicates a clear increase in the number of passengers per flight. In June last year, there was an average of 128 passengers on board every flight compared to an average this month of 133 (+3.9%).
The number of flights decreased during the first half of 2019, despite the increase in the number of passengers; the total dropped from 114,112 flights to 112,535, a decrease of 1.4%. This is mainly due to the bankruptcy of fly bmi and WOW Air and the actions at skeyes. During the first six months of 2018 there was an average of 124 passengers per flight; during the first half of this year the average was 129 (+ 2.4%).
