Charleroi airport busier in 2022 than pre-pandemic period

The number of passengers and flights at Charleroi airport in 2022 was higher than in the past four years, Walloon airports manager Adrien Dolimont told Belga news agency, reports RTBF.

Attendance at Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA) exceeded figures for 2019, before coronavirus abruptly and dramatically slowed down the airline sector.

Although date for passengers and flights is progressing at both Brussels and Liège airports, it’s unable to match 2019 figures.

Last year, Charleroi airport welcomed almost 8.3 million travellers, slightly surpassing its 2019 attendance (8.2 million). Some 64% of trips were for holiday or leisure, 21% family visits and 15% for business. The five top destinations were Italy, Spain, France, Morocco and Portugal.

In comparison, 19 million passengers travelled through Brussels-National airport in Zaventem. With just under 167,000 users, Liège airport has largely exceeded its performance for 2021 (nearly 76,500) and 2020 (nearly 44,500), and is approaching 2019 figures (just under 171,000). Its flights are mainly carried out by charter companies to holiday destinations.

Charleroi airport recorded approximately 83,500 aircraft movements last year, which was higher than in 2021 (just under 66,000) and in 2020 (nearly 45,500), when the airport had to close its doors for long periods due to the pandemic. But the 2022 figure was above that of 2019 (around 82,000).