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Busy autumn ahead for Brussels Airport
Brussels Airport is expecting more than 1.7 million passengers during the autumn holidays, which span several weeks due to the difference in the school calendars between the French-speaking and Dutch-speaking communities.
“Traditional winter destinations remain very popular, but passengers are also clearly looking for sunny beach vacations during the cold winter months,” the airport said, noting that this year’s projected figures cannot easily be compared to previous seasons.
“As the holidays in both language communities do not coincide this year, unlike last year, it’s difficult to make a comparison with 2025,” the airport said.
In the French-speaking education system, the holidays are scheduled from Monday 19 October to Sunday 1 November. In the Dutch-speaking education system, the holidays will run from Monday 2 to Sunday 8 November.
Friday 16 October was the busiest day of the period, with an estimated 82,000 passengers. Top destinations include Spain, Morocco and the Canary Islands.
The Scandinavian region, meanwhile, remains very popular with winter sports enthusiasts.
Brussels Airport has struggled this year with implementing the new European Entry/Exit System (EES), resulting in hours-long waits for non-European passengers at times.
It therefore urges travellers to plan well for the busy autumn season.
“The airport recommends that passengers arrive two hours ahead of their scheduled departure time for flights within the Schengen area and three hours for non-Schengen flights,” it said.
“Brussels Airport is easily accessible by public transport, but those coming by car can reserve a parking space online in advance.
"Finally, travellers are advised to review all hand luggage rules before they leave for the airport so that the security screening process can run efficiently."
Comments
I wonder if any readers have questioned the need for all these time consuming entry/exit checks. VRT had an article on the same subject: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/en/2026/10/13/eu-commissioner-wants-to-see-the...
The article quoted European Commissioner for Migration Herr Brunner, here he is warbling away: "The entry and exit system has recorded nearly 230 million entries and exits via around 1,500 border crossings. The authorities have refused entry to around 80,000 people, including 2,000 who were considered a security risk due to links to activities such as terrorism or organised crime.”
The system that Herr Brunner is so keen on refused entry to 0.08% of people trying to get into the EU (a trivial percentage whilst causing delays of up to 5 hrs to EU citizens and others. This is an example of the utopian rules and regulations emanating from the European Commission which impact & inconvenience EU citizens (they have no impact on Brunner he is a VIP with special channel at Zaventum).The riots taking place across the EU are a symptom of an EU citizenry fed up with stupid, utopian rules & regulations coupled to the growing failure of the “EU project” (remind me how de-industrialisation is going). A couple of thousand “illegals” are trivial compared to the on-going drug wars in Brussels and other cities caused by the out-of-control import of drugs via ports such as Antwerp, Rotterdam and Hamburg amongst others. All caused by globalisation, which the inhabitants of the Berlaymont are very very keen on. just like they think that taking all EU citizens face and finger prints makes the EU safer. Pathetic. The Commission out of touch and increasingly out of its mind. Nobody voted for this.