Brussels Airport opens new reception hall for dignitaries

Brussels Airport this week opened a new reception hall for dignitaries, such as members of royal families and government leaders. For a certain fee, the terminal will also be available to other travellers by the end of this year, reports De Standaard.

The extra services for dignitaries at Brussels Airport are frequently used, thanks in part to the presence of the European institutions and NATO in Brussels. The previous building last year welcomed as many as 25,000 travellers, which makes it “the most visited terminal for dignitaries in Europe," said Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport, at the opening of the new building.

The dignitaries usually come in waves, such as for an EU or NATO summit, or war ceremony event, for example. There is expected to be another wave of visitors using the terminal in the coming days in connection with the commemoration of the Battle of Waterloo.

"Given the increasing number of visitors and the pressure to provide more services, a new building was needed," says Feist. The new 714-square-metre building is called 'Protocol', and includes private lounges, meeting rooms, a press room and a royal salon. Baggage screening, check-in and passport control happen on the spot, after which guests are brought to the aircraft in limousines.

"Protocol is the first place that visitors discover upon their arrival in Belgium," Feist explains. "So they must be given a dignified reception with quality service."