Reopening Brussels Airport after the 22/03/2016 terror attacks

[travellover]

Yes, that's it ! Shuttles due to the emergency situation via Car Hotel or
Discount Parking or other solution ? It should be a lesser evil ! Why not ?
Being positive, yes. But nothing else to say that this way, BRU pitches nose down !

[Charlie Roy]

If they cannot make it work, they should say. And airlines shall use regional airports for a little longer.
It was proven to work good.

Indeed, it sounds like they need to scale back, and send more traffic back to the alternative airports. They clearly cannot cope with this number of flights, half of which probably have very low load factors as it is!

[Passenger]

I'm happy you made it clear andré, this is totally inacceptable indeed. Not only for travelers, but also because they are blocking half of the country !

I partially agree. They haven't blocked half of the country. The normal Monday morning traffic was heavier then usual, with lots of Brussels-based offices having a first meeting after two weeks holiday. The traffic jam caused by the safety check was added to that, and caused a much bigger problem.

If they cannot make it work, they should say. And airlines shall use regional airports for a little longer. It was proven to work good.

Disagree. The regional airport Ostend and Antwerp were above their limit, as indicated by Marcel Beulens. Maybe Liège and Charleroi could continue, but wasn't there a parking problem? And if BRU-flights are moved, who will pay for the transport to/from Brussels: will LGG and CRL offer it? Or do airlines need to pay for that transport, as they (*) did since the attack?

(*) the bona fide airlines

[ironspan]

Disagree. The regional airport Ostend and Antwerp were above their limit, as indicated by Marcel Beulens. Maybe Liège and Charleroi could continue, but wasn't there a parking problem?

Not correct: both ANR and OST have excess capacity and would for sure welcome again additional traffic(in ANR they were over their limit because of 58 flights of SN, but they could easily accommodate an extra 20 per day); apparently both Royal Air Maroc (with EMB190) and HOP! (with ATR-42) were planning to temporarily fly to ANR, but once their intentions were in the press (GVA and De Tijd), they were quickly given slots at BRU...
In any case, if this continues, pressure will increase to ease security at BRU or airline companies will look again at other options (which may include regional airports)

[flymd11]

It went very smoothly ...
06:35 Brussels Zuid
06:52 Thalys
08:24 Schiphol
10:00 take off
It was perfect.
But there where long lines for transit passagers from international flights to the Schengen flights.
I was also sad to see the 3 Jet Airways planes

I used to travel very frequently on Thalys (4-5 times/week for the best part of 2 years) and I certainly wouldn't trust them to connect to a flight from Shiphol. The ICE to Frankfurt is no better.

[convair]

Chaos this morning both on the Brussels Ring (R0) and on the highway to the airport (A201) because of police controls on cars driving to the airport. Some travellers are leaving their taxis and walk all the way from the Ring to the airport.

Bus operator De Lijn also warns of big delays on all routes serving Brussels Airport.

This is unacceptable, especially when the airport train station is still closed and travellers have no alternative. Airport management should strongly react!

I fully agree! One week of this and BRU and SN are dead!

I hope the media will widely cover that mess, to put some due pressure on those responsible for it!

[Passenger]

Not correct: both ANR and OST have excess capacity and would for sure welcome again additional traffic(in ANR they were over their limit because of 58 flights of SN, but they could easily accommodate an extra 20 per day); apparently both Royal Air Maroc (with EMB190) and HOP! (with ATR-42) were planning to temporarily fly to ANR, but once their intentions were in the press (GVA and De Tijd), they were quickly given slots at BRU...
In any case, if this continues, pressure will increase to ease security at BRU or airline companies will look again at other options (which may include regional airports)

ANR and OST cannot continue the relocation of flights at the same level.

Gazet Van Antwerpen, 30 March 2016: quote from Marcel Buelens, CEO Egis (ANR/OST): "wij draaien op dit moment in Deurne op 300% van onze capaciteit op een normale dag. In Oostende draaien we momenteel op 400% van onze normale capaciteit... We kunnen deze werkdruk deze week nog wel aan, maar veel langer moet het niet duren..." Fairly translated: we can hold this work load for another week, but then it should stop.

Ostend and Antwerp can only accept more flights when structural measures are taken: relocation of staff on all levels, new parking facilities, more public transport connections. This cannot be done in short notice (= for flights as from tomorrow).

(edited: Deurne 400% -> 300%)

[tsx]

As many others, I don't really believe in the efficiency nor effectiveness of whatever theatre is going on now and fear the impact on the airport and Brussels Airlines.

But I have not much other options that to travel to/from BRU and will have to do so again next week.

What about coming to the aiport by bike ?

I'm used to do that "at home" (GVA), but not yet done in Brussels.
Given the overall situation it may be easier if there are still no trains by that time.

I never paid attention, so are there any better roads ? places to lock one for a couple of weeks ?

[b720]

Took chalair ANR-GVA and back, fantastic.
Last week Thursday ANR - GVA 18:00 8 pax
Today departing GVA to ANR 09:55 11 pax
Will be flying them till BRU mess is over, and maybe beyond..

[ironspan]

ANR and OST cannot continue the relocation of flights at the same level.

Gazet Van Antwerpen, 30 March 2016: quote from Marcel Buelens, CEO Egis (ANR/OST): "wij draaien op dit moment in Deurne op 300% van onze capaciteit op een normale dag. In Oostende draaien we momenteel op 400% van onze normale capaciteit... We kunnen deze werkdruk deze week nog wel aan, maar veel langer moet het niet duren..." Fairly translated: we can hold this work load for another week, but then it should stop.

Ostend and Antwerp can only accept more flights when structural measures are taken: relocation of staff on all levels, new parking facilities, more public transport connections. This cannot be done in short notice (= for flights as from tomorrow).

Again, I am not talking about 58 flights, another 20 will be OK. Look at Jetairfly, as from this summer schedule they also have some 8 flights/day instead of 4 last year. There is always a solution, and Brussels is not always the best option (read the comments on Chalair GVA experience!). They can hire/transfer people and there is still plenty of parking space available. It is just a matter of 'willing to re-consider this option'. Same goes for OST. Moreover, Marcel Buelens will be very happy if he could attract more flights, that is his job and that is the assignment he got from EGIS, the company who runs both airports.

[Belgaviation]

Hop restarts their flights to BRU

HOP! Air France reprend ses vols au départ de Bruxelles
Suite aux événements survenus le 22 mars en Belgique, HOP! Air France informe ses clients que son programme de vols reprend progressivement au départ et à l'arrivée de Bruxelles.
Ainsi, HOP! Air France reliera de nouveau Bruxelles à Lyon une fois par jour pour le moment en plus de son vol Bruxelles/Nantes/Bordeaux. HOP! Air France espère reprendre l’ensemble de ses activités dans les meilleurs délais.
Toutes les équipes commerciales et en escale de HOP! Air France restent mobilisées pour simplifier les voyages de leurs clients.
Les réservations peuvent être effectuées sur les sites internet de www.hop.com et www.airfrance.fr, auprès du centre d’appels HOP! au 0892 70 22 22** ou le centre d’appels Air France au 3654***, dans les points de vente Air France et les agences de voyage.

[Kris]

I flew to ZRH this morning at 9h55. Left home at 5am, normally a 1 hour drive to the airport. At 8 am I was still on the A201 in the traffic theatre. Just made it on time. From a business perspective, this is not acceptable.
This was my last time flying from BRU for the time being as long as this circus continues.
All of my and my colleagues flights for coming weeks are booked out of DUS.
What a shame actually ...

[webstermc]

I was talking to a colleague today, and het told me the traffic jams of this morning were NOT there because of the passengers who are coming by car to the airport.

In fact, it is the first exit (to the roundabout) which is causing the traffic jam. Because every vehicle who is entering the airport to the ringlaan is being checked, there is a jam till the roundabout, and from the roundabout to the A201 and the Brussels Ring.

My colleague, who was coming from Ghent, took the flyover, he went through the police control without stopping. then he turned just before the airport (by using the bridge that strart at jetairport) and then went back to the roundabout. Just ad the roundabout, he had to wait 10 minutes to get on.

So apparantly, the traffic jam is caused byt people going to the ringlaan, and thus no passengers. Can anyone confirm this?

[Passenger]

Please don't blame Brussels Airport for a failure of the State's security services: police and army, checking vehicles on a public road. And doing so, apparently, without understanding what chaos they create.

[webstermc]

I do not blame BRU for this. I only blame the politicians...

[flymd11]

BRU airport management are not children. They are highly paid experience managers who perhaps should be doing a slightly better job at negotiating the case with the politicians and state security services...

We are seeing ridiculous situations like passengers being told to get to the airport at least 3 hours before departure, but then being left to wait outside the second control (before check-in) and cause further congestion because they arrived "too early".

[telspace2005]

I re-booked all my flights to/from LUX. As I live near Marche-en-Famenne, a special bus (every two hours), puts
you right at the Findel Airport. 19 Euros.
Hassle free. BRU never more.

[dna]

Why is there still no communication from anyone (BAC, NMBS/SNCB) regarding the train station and when rail services will resume. Or an explanation as to why rail services are not operating at present. Airport communication really has been lacking, as I stated previously.

[convair]

Why is there still no communication from anyone (BAC, NMBS/SNCB) regarding the train station and when rail services will resume. Or an explanation as to why rail services are not operating at present. Airport communication really has been lacking, as I stated previously.

Exactly, it is high time we hear something from BRU regarding that mess, even if it is not (entirely at least) their doing!

[RTM]

I was talking to a colleague today, and het told me the traffic jams of this morning were NOT there because of the passengers who are coming by car to the airport.

In fact, it is the first exit (to the roundabout) which is causing the traffic jam. Because every vehicle who is entering the airport to the ringlaan is being checked, there is a jam till the roundabout, and from the roundabout to the A201 and the Brussels Ring.

My colleague, who was coming from Ghent, took the flyover, he went through the police control without stopping. then he turned just before the airport (by using the bridge that strart at jetairport) and then went back to the roundabout. Just ad the roundabout, he had to wait 10 minutes to get on.

So apparantly, the traffic jam is caused byt people going to the ringlaan, and thus no passengers. Can anyone confirm this?

Yes, I noticed it this morning, when leaving the airport, that the flyover towards the police checkpoint was allmost completely empty, and that the traffic jam was entirely taking the offramp to the Zaventem centrum roundabout. That was at 6 am, I don't know how it progressed after that...