Brussels Airport (BRU) infrastructure: future

[RoMax]

Just this week Schiphol announced a new bus station, and Eindhoven a nice terminal expansion project.

Meanwhile at BRU... a new footpath at the taxi stand....

The new bus station at Schiphol was already much earlier announced. Aviation24 was weeks behind it with an article.

I'm sorry but that seems hardly adding anything to the real discussion here. It's now 8 years since the 22/3 attacks. It's also 8 years without a proper 'point of entry' to the BRU terminal. The redesigned former car/taxi drop-off at departures level? Sorry but it's the "super light of the most light of all" options that I've seen as when I had a bit of a privileged position back in 2016 to see concept designs of this space. The first year on a sunny day you were completely blinded by the white paint used and today it still looks like 'there was a road here - but we put some plants, so it's nice, right?!'- please...
Then the the car drop-off and bus station? It's not worthy for the volume of people entries it handles for an airport the size of BRU! Yes we all know it's temporary until a state of the art intermobility hub will be constructed (which, no sarcasm, will be GREAT for the airport) - but it's now also 8 years being one of the biggest point of entries to the BRU terminal - yet one of the most miserable in Europe looking at equally sized airports.

I'm the first to defend BRU as an airport and as a hub to whoever I speak to, but denying some of these basics is really poor... And the worst part of it all, BAC has the money to invest in those things. They just don't want to because it's not delivering a clear and direct return on their investment.

You're definitely there to raise concerns (and very often you're totally right too) on e.g. SN's moves at BRU and how it doesn't help for how BRU wants to develop. Yeah sure - but that's a discussion that really 100% goes both ways!

[Atlantis]

Just this week Schiphol announced a new bus station, and Eindhoven a nice terminal expansion project.

Meanwhile at BRU... a new footpath at the taxi stand....

The new bus station at Schiphol was already much earlier announced. Aviation24 was weeks behind it with an article.

I'm sorry but that seems hardly adding anything to the real discussion here. It's now 8 years since the 22/3 attacks. It's also 8 years without a proper 'point of entry' to the BRU terminal. The redesigned former car/taxi drop-off at departures level? Sorry but it's the "super light of the most light of all" options that I've seen as when I had a bit of a privileged position back in 2016 to see concept designs of this space. The first year on a sunny day you were completely blinded by the white paint used and today it still looks like 'there was a road here - but we put some plants, so it's nice, right?!'- please...
Then the the car drop-off and bus station? It's not worthy for the volume of people entries it handles for an airport the size of BRU! Yes we all know it's temporary until a state of the art intermobility hub will be constructed (which, no sarcasm, will be GREAT for the airport) - but it's now also 8 years being one of the biggest point of entries to the BRU terminal - yet one of the most miserable in Europe looking at equally sized airports.

I'm the first to defend BRU as an airport and as a hub to whoever I speak to, but denying some of these basics is really poor... And the worst part of it all, BAC has the money to invest in those things. They just don't want to because it's not delivering a clear and direct return on their investment.

You're definitely there to raise concerns (and very often you're totally right too) on e.g. SN's moves at BRU and how it doesn't help for how BRU wants to develop. Yeah sure - but that's a discussion that really 100% goes both ways!

This is true of course. Everything takes time, but too long. The plans are there, we saw them. But no clue why it is not presented yet, why the tenders are not going out. Everything is ready.

There is 600 million euro to be used before the end of this year for investments. And that money is only for investments.

But the local, Flemish and federal government are also not very helpful by being slow bcs BRU want but needs approval from them to even do something. Probably it has also to do if the new permit will be granted or not. This we will know next week.

I agree with all issues which were said before, let's hope that it will change soon.

[Established02]

Looks like building 6 and 7 are ready to be hammered soon. These are the old buildings between the hangar of Flying Group and the hangar of Sabena Technics.

[Miqvell]

Looks like building 6 and 7 are ready to be hammered soon. These are the old buildings between the hangar of Flying Group and the hangar of Sabena Technics.

Do we know what's coming there ?

[Atlantis]

Looks like building 6 and 7 are ready to be hammered soon. These are the old buildings between the hangar of Flying Group and the hangar of Sabena Technics.

Do we know what's coming there ?

For the moment not or nothing in near future.
There are more places in that area where buildings were demolished and was just used as parking for staff afterwards.

[Miqvell]

Looks like building 6 and 7 are ready to be hammered soon. These are the old buildings between the hangar of Flying Group and the hangar of Sabena Technics.

Do we know what's coming there ?

For the moment not or nothing in near future.
There are more places in that area where buildings were demolished and was just used as parking for staff afterwards.

Thanks for the info. Are there other buildings that will also be demolished ?
Great to see Soviet buildings disappear.

[Atlantis]

Do we know what's coming there ?

For the moment not or nothing in near future.
There are more places in that area where buildings were demolished and was just used as parking for staff afterwards.

Thanks for the info. Are there other buildings that will also be demolished ?
Great to see Soviet buildings disappear.

Building 4, 5, 6 and 7 are all connected. If they demolish one, the others has to follow. Those were the previous EAT buildings. In very bad shape, even when they were in use.

That's a very big area.

Building 8 of Sabena Engineering is another huge one and the last one in use for technical aspects in that area. This one is more difficult to replace. All other very old technical buildings, tires repair, engines, between the buildings 4 -8 and the Shell gaz station are all gone.

But on the airside of Building 8 they will build the new hangar for engine tests.

[Kapitein]

Looks like building 6 and 7 are ready to be hammered soon. These are the old buildings between the hangar of Flying Group and the hangar of Sabena Technics.

Do we know what's coming there ?

New "building" for Sabena Engineering. They will move from H117 (Lufthansa Technic) to that site.

[Atlantis]

Looks like building 6 and 7 are ready to be hammered soon. These are the old buildings between the hangar of Flying Group and the hangar of Sabena Technics.

Do we know what's coming there ?

New "building" for Sabena Engineering. They will move from H117 (Lufthansa Technic) to that site.

Didn't knew that info. Thanks. So it seems that they put more technics on the West side. Previous plan was to have technics at Brucargo side and South

[Boavida]

Do we know what's coming there ?

For the moment not or nothing in near future.
There are more places in that area where buildings were demolished and was just used as parking for staff afterwards.

Thanks for the info. Are there other buildings that will also be demolished ?
Great to see Soviet buildings disappear.

This whole street is FULL of ulgy, old, Soviet-style buildings. And most buses, taxis,... pass through this street to get to the airport. Not good for the image of the airport...

Some examples:

- https://www.google.com/maps/@50.8950337 ... ?entry=ttu

- https://www.google.com/maps/@50.8951757 ... ?entry=ttu

- https://www.google.com/maps/@50.8955963 ... ?entry=ttu

- https://www.google.com/maps/@50.8961209 ... ?entry=ttu

Actually the whole area around Brussels Airport is pretty ugly, old and badly maintained.... And these are the first impressions many people get of Belgium

[jan_olieslagers]

Image? IMAGE, you said? Really? Who has any budget for "image"?
If the required functionality is available, it is already a very good thing.

[Miqvell]

For the moment not or nothing in near future.
There are more places in that area where buildings were demolished and was just used as parking for staff afterwards.

Thanks for the info. Are there other buildings that will also be demolished ?
Great to see Soviet buildings disappear.

This whole street is FULL of ulgy, old, Soviet-style buildings. And most buses, taxis,... pass through this street to get to the airport. Not good for the image of the airport...

Some examples:

- https://www.google.com/maps/@50.8950337 ... ?entry=ttu

- https://www.google.com/maps/@50.8951757 ... ?entry=ttu

- https://www.google.com/maps/@50.8955963 ... ?entry=ttu

- https://www.google.com/maps/@50.8961209 ... ?entry=ttu

Actually the whole area around Brussels Airport is pretty ugly, old and badly maintained.... And these are the first impressions many people get of Belgium

Thanks to the conversation above :

1st example (B8) is difficult to replace, but a new engine test hangar will be built on the airside.
2nd and 3rd have been demolished.
4th (B4-5-6-7) will be demolished to make way for a new Sabena Engineering hangar.

It's a matter of time.

[lumumba]

For the moment not or nothing in near future.
There are more places in that area where buildings were demolished and was just used as parking for staff afterwards.

Thanks for the info. Are there other buildings that will also be demolished ?
Great to see Soviet buildings disappear.

This whole street is FULL of ulgy, old, Soviet-style buildings. And most buses, taxis,... pass through this street to get to the airport. Not good for the image of the airport...

Some examples:

- https://www.google.com/maps/@50.8950337 ... ?entry=ttu

- https://www.google.com/maps/@50.8951757 ... ?entry=ttu

- https://www.google.com/maps/@50.8955963 ... ?entry=ttu

- https://www.google.com/maps/@50.8961209 ... ?entry=ttu

Actually the whole area around Brussels Airport is pretty ugly, old and badly maintained.... And these are the first impressions many people get of Belgium

But that's not used bu PAX so what's the problem?

[TimTam]

I have not been to all airports in Europe (let alone in the world), but comparing BRU to many European airports brings me to the conclusion that BRU is certainly more than OK.

As far as I know, BRU is one of the few European airrports that has made a major investment to offer free tap water after security if you bring your own (empty) bottle...

If some find the baggage reclaim area inadequate, imho, seriously this time, it is OK, not fantastic but objectively still OK.

However,
1. The taxi stand outside the arrivals hall ;
2. The drop off areas for private cars and taxis ;
3 and the bus station
make me think of airports in the poorest countries in the world (and there, even some do better)

[TimTam]

And btw, to hide the ugly spots one has to drive by when nearing the airport building, an easy solution would be to plant hedges to create a green environment-friendly screen from the historical buildings.
But who would have the power to allow this ? And if allowed, who will pay for this "huge" investment with no financial return on investment ?

[Conti764]

For the moment not or nothing in near future.
There are more places in that area where buildings were demolished and was just used as parking for staff afterwards.

Thanks for the info. Are there other buildings that will also be demolished ?
Great to see Soviet buildings disappear.

This whole street is FULL of ulgy, old, Soviet-style buildings. And most buses, taxis,... pass through this street to get to the airport. Not good for the image of the airport...

Some examples:

- https://www.google.com/maps/@50.8950337 ... ?entry=ttu

- https://www.google.com/maps/@50.8951757 ... ?entry=ttu

- https://www.google.com/maps/@50.8955963 ... ?entry=ttu

- https://www.google.com/maps/@50.8961209 ... ?entry=ttu

Actually the whole area around Brussels Airport is pretty ugly, old and badly maintained.... And these are the first impressions many people get of Belgium

I think you overestimate this effect on the average passenger. We are aviation enthousiasts so we look at it from another perspective, but I doubt your average traveler even pays attention to it.

[sn26567]

The new bus station at Schiphol was already much earlier announced. Aviation24 was weeks behind it with an article.

Royal Schiphol announced the renovation of the Schiphol bus station on 18 March!

[Atlantis]

The new bus station at Schiphol was already much earlier announced. Aviation24 was weeks behind it with an article.

Royal Schiphol announced the renovation of the Schiphol bus station on 18 March!

It was already known before with the same renders

[Atlantis]

By the EWD tomorrow we know if the permit will be prolonged and which will be the extra conditions.

[Conti764]

By the EWD tomorrow we know if the permit will be prolonged and which will be the extra conditions.

EWD?

And that permit is a certainty. The Flemish government will not block the second economic pool of our country, esp. minister Demir and her party.

My guess that - if their are any - extra conditions these will be very lenient towards the airport.