BRU Summer 2026: news, new routes, airlines

[Miqvell]

It appears that Smartwings has cancelled Prague for July and August.

[Established02]

Almost one month before Summer season 2026 will start. Time to make an overview of what we can expect.

We have been seeing and are still expecting continuous growth in air traffic.

Where does all this new traffic come from, also knowing that tickets have become more expensive?

While observing my social network I do not seem to get indications that people are travelling more. I do not seem to get indications of a strong consumer confidence in general. I would rather pick up signs of financial fear, uncertainty and doubt.

So how to explain this seemingly booming business in the airline/travel industry in a time of European near-zero growth or even decline?

[Miqvell]

Almost one month before Summer season 2026 will start. Time to make an overview of what we can expect.

So how to explain this seemingly booming business in the airline/travel industry in a time of European near-zero growth or even decline?

The airport is gaining popularity from neighboring countries, that's one thing.

[Established02]

Almost one month before Summer season 2026 will start. Time to make an overview of what we can expect.

So how to explain this seemingly booming business in the airline/travel industry in a time of European near-zero growth or even decline?

The airport is gaining popularity from neighboring countries, that's one thing.

It looks like air traffic is kind of equally increasing in neighboring countries as well.

[rwandan-flyer]

Almost one month before Summer season 2026 will start. Time to make an overview of what we can expect.

We have been seeing and are still expecting continuous growth in air traffic.

Where does all this new traffic come from, also knowing that tickets have become more expensive?

While observing my social network I do not seem to get indications that people are travelling more. I do not seem to get indications of a strong consumer confidence in general. I would rather pick up signs of financial fear, uncertainty and doubt.

So how to explain this seemingly booming business in the airline/travel industry in a time of European near-zero growth or even decline?

You have some regions that are more attractive than others. Africa, Asia-Pacific and South America are driving the growth.

Asia is the most populous continent, you have a growing middle class. Hanoi had a higher traffic than Brussels (23 600 000 pax https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_Airport) with over 30 000 000 passengers in 2024 https://www.adquick.com/airport-advertising/hanoi-han

In Africa you have a strong demand for premium leisure demand and Business tourism, mostly in Southern Africa and Eastern Africa (https://www.cnbcafrica.com/media/776889 ... d-rebounds & https://www.tourismupdate.com/article/l ... ica-surges), as well as a strong VFR demand for West Africa (https://forwardkeys.com/african-destina ... owth-mode/).

In South America, the growth is driving by Brazil, Peru and Argentina https://www.aviacionline.com/south-amer ... xico-fades

About some regions it's not only outbound demand, but also inbound demand, it's the case for Asia and it starts to be the case with South America, with Brazil.

2. How many Brazilians travel abroad each year?

It is estimated that about 8 million Brazilians travel abroad every year for various reasons, including tourism, business, seminars and academic events.

https://www.gov.br/mre/en/access-to-inf ... abroad#II1

[lumumba]

Almost one month before Summer season 2026 will start. Time to make an overview of what we can expect.

We have been seeing and are still expecting continuous growth in air traffic.

Where does all this new traffic come from, also knowing that tickets have become more expensive?

While observing my social network I do not seem to get indications that people are travelling more. I do not seem to get indications of a strong consumer confidence in general. I would rather pick up signs of financial fear, uncertainty and doubt.

So how to explain this seemingly booming business in the airline/travel industry in a time of European near-zero growth or even decline?

But Brussels isn't making much progress; we're still below the 2019 figure!
But I'm not sure that economically, people are that negative; besides, things are going very well.

Unemployment is under control, the stock markets are functioning well, and there is growth every year.

[rwandan-flyer]

In 2025, CDG Airport was still behind the 2019 figures (94,1%). It's not the case of Orly Airport (there are above), mainly due to the growth of Transavia.

However if we include both CDG and Orly:

The rate of connecting was -2,4 pts and the load factor -2,1 pts are below of 2019 figures. They have less passengers for connecting and they have less people in the planes, in the 2 Parisians airports. I guess the struggle of French domestic is the main reason.

The French domestic market (overseas dept are not included) represent 71% of the figures of 2019 is struggling.

From late March 2026, AF will close all its domestic services expect for Corsica flights which PSO routes (Public Service Operations), including Reunion, Guadeloupe and Martinique. Transavia has replaced or will replace AF only to Marseille (only 2 flights a day vs dozens before covid with AF), Montpellier, Nice, Toulouse, Biarritz, Toulon and Perpignan. Services from Orly to Nantes, Bordeaux, Clermont Ferrand, Agen, Lyons, Basel Mulhouse, Brest have ended during the covid. Volotea, Amelia and Chalair have replaced AF from Limoges, Rodez, Lourdes, Castres Tarbes, Pau, Aurillac. Most of these routes are PSO routes.

You have to imagine that cities like Bordeaux or Clermont Ferrand were linked to Paris Orly since 1960s with Air Inter, then Air France.

Believe me it was a scandal in France with several local elected officials angry with these decisions. They have put the pressure on the French Gov for that AF comes back to its decision to close all its routes.

AF has decided to focus its domestic flights to CDG : better yield, main AF HUB, less competition with the TGV (high speed French train) vs Orly on the point to point (pax traveling only between Paris and French Province). About French Overseas Dept, AF targets European tourist which spend holidays on boat cruises.

So even in a big airport, things are not always green (only in French) : https://www.parisaeroport.fr/docs/defau ... 9ff4a5bd_2

[Atlantis]

Almost one month before Summer season 2026 will start. Time to make an overview of what we can expect.

We have been seeing and are still expecting continuous growth in air traffic.

Where does all this new traffic come from, also knowing that tickets have become more expensive?

While observing my social network I do not seem to get indications that people are travelling more. I do not seem to get indications of a strong consumer confidence in general. I would rather pick up signs of financial fear, uncertainty and doubt.

So how to explain this seemingly booming business in the airline/travel industry in a time of European near-zero growth or even decline?

Regarding intra-European destinations, new destinations, extra frequencies, this we still can explain bcs Belgians like to travel in Europe. They discover now the Nordics, see how much flights per day are there.
Belgians don't want to give up on their holidays. Still 2 or 3 times they need to go.

Extra-European flights is something else. We had still so many black spots on the map. Understandable when you are surrounded by the big 4 or 5. But in China they take the opportunity now that Europe has a ban over Russia and China not. Second, the middle class is becoming bigger. Suddenly we have more than 1 flight a day to Beijing. Who could have believed that a few years ago?

And business of course. The trade missions helped in this. There was one to South America and we have now a direct connection. There was one to India, let's see what this will bring.

[lumumba]

In 2025, CDG Airport was still behind the 2019 figures (94,1%). It's not the case of Orly Airport (there are above), mainly due to the growth of Transavia.

However if we include both CDG and Orly:

The rate of connecting was -2,4 pts and the load factor -2,1 pts are below of 2019 figures. They have less passengers for connecting and they have less people in the planes, in the 2 Parisians airports. I guess the struggle of French domestic is the main reason.

The French domestic market (overseas dept are not included) represent 71% of the figures of 2019 is struggling.

From late March 2026, AF will close all its domestic services expect for Corsica flights which PSO routes (Public Service Operations), including Reunion, Guadeloupe and Martinique. Transavia has replaced or will replace AF only to Marseille (only 2 flights a day vs dozens before covid with AF), Montpellier, Nice, Toulouse, Biarritz, Toulon and Perpignan. Services from Orly to Nantes, Bordeaux, Clermont Ferrand, Agen, Lyons, Basel Mulhouse, Brest have ended during the covid. Volotea, Amelia and Chalair have replaced AF from Limoges, Rodez, Lourdes, Castres Tarbes, Pau, Aurillac. Most of these routes are PSO routes.

You have to imagine that cities like Bordeaux or Clermont Ferrand were linked to Paris Orly since 1960s with Air Inter, then Air France.

Believe me it was a scandal in France with several local elected officials angry with these decisions. They have put the pressure on the French Gov for that AF comes back to its decision to close all its routes.

AF has decided to focus its domestic flights to CDG : better yield, main AF HUB, less competition with the TGV (high speed French train) vs Orly on the point to point (pax traveling only between Paris and French Province). About French Overseas Dept, AF targets European tourist which spend holidays on boat cruises.

So even in a big airport, things are not always green (only in French) : https://www.parisaeroport.fr/docs/defau ... 9ff4a5bd_2

I didn't know the where closing Reunion, Guadeloupe and Martinique I thought they had transferred this flights to CDG!!!!
That's big news indeed.

[rwandan-flyer]

Yep B Smith is an anglophone man with this pragmatic culture. The French Gov has given its OK to name a foreigner CEO at Air France. It was the 1st time in the history of AF. Unions were against.

Air France: Benjamin Smith, persona non grata for the unions https://www.tourmag.com/Air-France-Benj ... 94563.html

I guess with a French CEO, Air France would never ended domestic flights from Paris Orly.

Back to Brussels Airport. Don't forget that you don't have domestic network. Even if in some countries in Europe, the domestic market is struggling, it's a good source of traffic to feed an airline hub.

Don't forget also that BRU Airport has probably one of biggest intercontinental network in its history. I don't include Sabena.

3 North American Airlines : Air Canada (3 dest), Delta (1 dest), United (3 dest)
1 South American Airlines : LATAM (1 dest)
6 Middle East Airlines : Emirates (1 dest), MEA (1 dest), Etihad (1 dest), Qatar Airways (1 dest), FlyNas (1 dest), Royal Jordanian (1 dest)
7 Asian Airlines : Air China (2 dest), ANA (1 dest), Hainan (4 dest), Cathay (1 dest), Singapore Airlines (1 dest), Thai Airways (1 dest), Juneyao Air (1 dest)
3 African Airlines : RwandAir (1 dest), Ethiopian (1 dest), Air Senegal (1 dest)

Dublin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin_Airport), Oslo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo_Airport,_Gardermoen), Stockholm (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_Arlanda_Airport) , Helsinki, don't have a such diversity (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helsinki_Airport). Yes they have more pax than BRU, but they rely mainly on the national flag carrier on niche market (USA for Dublin and Asia for Finnair) and for some airports, they are helped by a strong domestic network. If you have lots of intercontinental airlines, it means that you market is attractive and you offer more choice for the passengers and thus with affordable prices.

Someone who wants to fly from Brussels to Sydney will have 9 choices with only one stop : Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Singapore, Air China, Hainan, Cathay, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways.

Same thing if you want to go East Africa or Southern Africa: Etihad, Emirates, Qatar, Ethiopian, RwandAir.

Don't forget also that almost 6 years ago, almost all planes in the world were grounded due to the covid and no one knew how many times this pandemic would last. We've come a long way.

[lumumba]

Yep B Smith is an anglophone man with this pragmatic culture. The French Gov has given its OK to name a foreigner CEO at Air France. It was the 1st time in the history of AF. Unions were against.

Air France: Benjamin Smith, persona non grata for the unions https://www.tourmag.com/Air-France-Benj ... 94563.html

I guess with a French CEO, Air France would never ended domestic flights from Paris Orly.

Back to Brussels Airport. Don't forget that you don't have domestic network. Even if in some countries in Europe, the domestic market is struggling, it's a good source of traffic to feed an airline hub.

Don't forget also that BRU Airport has probably one of biggest intercontinental network in its history. I don't include Sabena.

3 North American Airlines : Air Canada (3 dest), Delta (1 dest), United (3 dest)
1 South American Airlines : LATAM (1 dest)
6 Middle East Airlines : Emirates (1 dest), MEA (1 dest), Etihad (1 dest), Qatar Airways (1 dest), FlyNas (1 dest), Royal Jordanian (1 dest)
7 Asian Airlines : Air China (2 dest), ANA (1 dest), Hainan (4 dest), Cathay (1 dest), Singapore Airlines (1 dest), Thai Airways (1 dest), Juneyao Air (1 dest)
3 African Airlines : RwandAir (1 dest), Ethiopian (1 dest), Air Senegal (1 dest)

Dublin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin_Airport), Oslo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo_Airport,_Gardermoen), Stockholm (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_Arlanda_Airport) , Helsinki, don't have a such diversity (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helsinki_Airport). Yes they have more pax than BRU, but they rely mainly on the national flag carrier on niche market (USA for Dublin and Asia for Finnair) and for some airports, they are helped by a strong domestic network. If you have lots of intercontinental airlines, it means that you market is attractive and you offer more choice for the passengers and thus with affordable prices.

Someone who wants to fly from Brussels to Sydney will have 9 choices with only one stop : Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Singapore, Air China, Hainan, Cathay, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways.

Same thing if you want to go East Africa or Southern Africa: Etihad, Emirates, Qatar, Ethiopian, RwandAir.

Don't forget also that almost 6 years ago, almost all planes in the planes were grounded due to the covid and no one knew how many times this pandemic would last. We've come a long way.

If I look to the timetable of AF this summer they still fly to Reunion, Guadeloupe and Martinique so your information is not correct !?

[rwandan-flyer]

Not from Orly.

Air France's departure from (bad translation, the real word would ''at'') Charles de Gaulle should "offer an opening to Europe for passengers from France's overseas territories," according to the airline.

On March 29, Air France will permanently leave Orly Airport. This change of airport should offer new travel opportunities for passengers from France's overseas territories, particularly to Europe.

https://la1ere-franceinfo-fr.translate. ... r_pto=wapp

[Miqvell]

New airline and destination
"The Montenegrin government yesterday adopted a decision to designate six Public Service Obligation (PSO) routes from Podgorica Airport. PSOs enable the allocation of state funds to support unprofitable air services deemed essential for the economic development and connectivity of the regions they serve. The designated year-round routes include Brussels National, Amsterdam, Zagreb and Bari, while services to Paris Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt will operate on a seasonal winter basis. A public tender for the selection of operating carrier(s) is expected to be launched shortly. The PSO services are scheduled to commence on June 1 this year and will run for a four-year period, until May 31, 2030. Air Montenegro is widely expected to operate the majority of the PSO routes, if not all six."

Source : EX-YU Aviation News

[brabel]

On the following website I see that Hainan would offer 10 weekly flights from Beijing to Brussels.
On Monday, Thursday and Saturday there would be a flight at 9am and one at 1.20pm.
Is this information correct?

That would mean that Bejing would be served 17 times a week, with Air China starting daily flights end of March.

https://www.flightsfrom.com/BRU-PEK

[nordikcam]

On the following website I see that Hainan would offer 10 weekly flights from Beijing to Brussels.
On Monday, Thursday and Saturday there would be a flight at 9am and one at 1.20pm.
Is this information correct?

That would mean that Bejing would be served 17 times a week, with Air China starting daily flights end of March.

https://www.flightsfrom.com/BRU-PEK

Could it be the current Boston flight ? PEK BOS BRU PEK ? Three times a week exactly at 9am departure time @ BRU !

[brabel]

On the following website I see that Hainan would offer 10 weekly flights from Beijing to Brussels.
On Monday, Thursday and Saturday there would be a flight at 9am and one at 1.20pm.
Is this information correct?

That would mean that Bejing would be served 17 times a week, with Air China starting daily flights end of March.

https://www.flightsfrom.com/BRU-PEK

Could it be the current Boston flight ? PEK BOS BRU PEK ? Three times a week exactly at 9am departure time @ BRU !

Ahhh. I didn't think of that. Could be it! Thanks!

[Atlantis]

Almost one month before Summer season 2026 will start. Time to make an overview of what we can expect.

Short and medium haul:

Transavia: opening a crew base in Brussels and adding a fourth plane in BRU.

Brussels Airlines: Copenhagen: 5 extra flights. Praque: 4 extra weekly flights. Budapest: 2 extra weekly flights and 17 extra flights to Spain and Portugal (Barcelona, Malaga, Porto and Alicante).

SAS: Copenhagen: 5 times a day. Stockholm: 2 times a day. Oslo: 2 times a day.

GP Aviation: route to Pristina on 30th March with 2 weekly flights with the B734.

LOT Polish Airlines: new flight to Gdansk from 29th April with 4 weekly flights. Aircraft with be the B737Max.

TUI: new flight to Kayseri as from 19th June with 2 weekly flights.

Volotea: new airline and destination: Asturia on 31st March, 3 weekly flights with the A320.

Air Serbia: increase on the Belgrade route from 3 to 5 weekly flights.

Vueling: new flight to Palma on 26st March with 4 weekly flights and up to 6 weekly flights before the Summer season.
Many increases from them on several routes.

Royal Air Maroc: flight to Tetouanon 27th March with 2 weekly flights with the E190.

KM Malta: adding an extra early departure. 8 weekly flights.



Long haul:

Air Canada: YYZ 4 times a week with the B789

Air Canada: bigger aircraft on the YUL route: B77W as from 1st June

Air Canada: new flight from Halifax on 19th June. 3 weekly flights with the B737Max.

Delta Airlines: Flight to Atlanta as from 9th March with daily flights.

ANA: increase to 3 weekly flights

Brussels Airlines: as of 3rd June, new flight to Kilimanjaro with 2 weekly flights.

Brussels Airlines: from 31st March till 31st May, only 4 times a week to IAD instead of 5 times a week.

LATAM: New airline and destination as from 1st June 2026 to Sao Paulo with the B789. 3 Times a week

Air Transat: increase from 4 to 5 weekly flights with the A321LR to YUL.

Air Senegal: flights to Dakar. Continuation from Winter 2025-2026.

Air China: daily to Beijing with the A332 as from 24th March.

Air China: flights to Chengdu: 3 times weekly with the A333 as from 26th March

A bit more details:

The extra early departure flight, Tuesday morning, of KM Malta Airlines is as from end of March.

The extra flights of Air Serbia are on Tuesday as from 30th March and on Thursday as from May.

[rwandan-flyer]

It will be interesting to see how Middle East carriers will serve BRU, if the war continues in the summer. BRU is quite well served and depending the situation some carries will probably operate less flights.

Emirates (2 flights a day), Etihad (1 flight a day), Qatar Airways (up to 2 flights a day), FlyNas (5 flights a week), MEA (3 flights a week), Royal Jordanian (3 flights a week). Based on BRU Airport as of 14Mar26.

The impact at Paris CDG for the first week was of 7% of the traffic and 1% at Paris Orly.

In Paris, "we can clearly see that traffic has been impacted by 7% in terms of passenger numbers at CDG (Charles de Gaulle), and 1% at Orly. Basically, that means 300 flights will be cancelled between now and the end of the week if events continue. This weekend, 130 flights were cancelled for 35,000 passengers," the executive added.

https://www-bfmtv-com.translate.goog/ec ... r_pto=wapp

[DannyVDB]

If the Brussels Airport website is right, Emirates will come back with one flight per day.

Also some flights to Doha would restart. Many are still canceled (second to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, ...)

However, even with flights restored, I think many people will avoid the Middle East anyway, so few passengers I assume.

People that have to go beyond the ME will rather go through Istanbul, or fly Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok to go to e.g. Australia or New Zealand.

Also flights to China and Japan would do well, no?

There were some interesting articles about the shift of tourists from ME (and beyond) to Europe.

Also African flights might do better since the other way around people will avoid going through the ME to go there as well ...

What do you think?

Regards,
Danny

[Miqvell]

If the Brussels Airport website is right, Emirates will come back with one flight per day.

Also some flights to Doha would restart. Many are still canceled (second to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, ...)

However, even with flights restored, I think many people will avoid the Middle East anyway, so few passengers I assume.

People that have to go beyond the ME will rather go through Istanbul, or fly Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok to go to e.g. Australia or New Zealand.

Also flights to China and Japan would do well, no?

There were some interesting articles about the shift of tourists from ME (and beyond) to Europe.

Also African flights might do better since the other way around people will avoid going through the ME to go there as well ...

What do you think?

Regards,
Danny

Here is the current situation for the ME3 :
Emirates : resumed on March 9 and double daily as of March 29
Etihad : to resume on March 21 and daily as of April 2
Qatar: to resume on March 29

By the way, I found the recent load factors for BRU-CKG, there's a nice increase :
The week the conflict started : 67% / 76% / 78%
The week after : 87% / 91% / 78%
This is the first time it has exceeded 90% since its launch in November.

Source : CAAC