Brussels Airport (BRU) infrastructure: future

[Boavida]

Talking about the arrivals... Any plans to renew the horribly small and dated baggage reclaim area? It's always such a mess when I pass there. Way too small for the amount of passengers.

[Conti764]

Talking about the arrivals... Any plans to renew the horribly small and dated baggage reclaim area? It's always such a mess when I pass there. Way too small for the amount of passengers.

I have the impression they always group too many (big) flights at the same carousel.

[Matt]

Drop off is not like it should be and everybody is aware of that. And I also agree with you, don't have doubts about that. The same for taxis. Too far away, etc. But, instead of doing each change in parts, everything will be done in one big plan. This together with the new hotel, new tram link, busses, taxis, a new square. We saw it already more than a year ago. The green light has to be given. But, even the airport is again making some profit, it's still fragile. Cargo, the renewing of all airbridges at the B-pier, environmental initiatives taking already a big part of the current investment.

But the drop off zone and Taxi are not on Arrival level but on 0 level. Arrival is level 2.

Second, not everybody comes via the Diamant. Only those with public transport, taxi and drop off. People who are using the parking's are still using the original entrance. Maybe it could have been a good idea if you brought your colls in via the parking and showed them the real entrance.

Regarding the current drop off zone, this is federal material. We know how long everything takes there. IF it is on the table....

Don't get me wrong , I know the renewal of the airbridges is big investment (and they do look quite nice and modern, finally some double sided airbridges )

I think the "real entrance" is up for debate at the moment. what is the "real entrance" right now? I think a minority comes in via the parking to be honest. Hindsight is always 20/20 off course, I could have dropped them off in the parking, but that would have cost me 2-3 euros (I'm cheap, I know )

And is that drop off zone really federal material? Then I think it's doomed

[larsV]

The most annoying are the elevators from the drop off zone to departures level. 3 elevators of which 2 often do not work to handle everyone with luggage... Crazy.

[fcw]

The most annoying are the elevators from the drop off zone to departures level. 3 elevators of which 2 often do not work to handle everyone with luggage... Crazy.

There are 6 elevators, not 3, most of the time they are all working! They do need to be reprogrammed though, as they often stop on way up at arrivals because people press both up and down buttons .

[crew1990]

In the mean time, building 4; 5; 6; 7 being dismantle, we can't say thar BAC id beeing lazy, project are ongoing...

[Atlantis]

In the mean time, building 4; 5; 6; 7 being dismantle, we can't say thar BAC id beeing lazy, project are ongoing...

Yes, ready for new offices

[HQ_BRU_Lover]

Talking about the arrivals... Any plans to renew the horribly small and dated baggage reclaim area? It's always such a mess when I pass there. Way too small for the amount of passengers.

I have the impression they always group too many (big) flights at the same carousel.

This is often requested by airlines so pax dealing with luaguage issues are closer to the lost & found office. Seldomly this is because of an operational decision downstairs in the basement where the unload is being done.

[Boavida]

More and more (important) voices are speaking up about the state of Brussels Airport.

This is Geert Noels, one of the most important economists in Flanders/Belgium:

https://twitter.com/GeertNoels/status/1 ... 9722711547

https://twitter.com/GeertNoels/status/1 ... 7169011713

In English:

Zaventem airport @BrusselsAirport is in decline compared to Schiphol, and other foreign airports.
It is time to reinvest in it, and greatly improve services instead of letting it be the cash cow of foreign investors.

Zaventem needs a new shareholding, and a new board.

[Atlantis]

More and more (important) voices are speaking up about the state of Brussels Airport.

This is Geert Noels, one of the most important economists in Flanders/Belgium:

https://twitter.com/GeertNoels/status/1 ... 9722711547

https://twitter.com/GeertNoels/status/1 ... 7169011713

In English:

Zaventem airport @BrusselsAirport is in decline compared to Schiphol, and other foreign airports.
It is time to reinvest in it, and greatly improve services instead of letting it be the cash cow of foreign investors.

Zaventem needs a new shareholding, and a new board.

I would for sure not call it a milk cow bcs the investors didn't get paid a dividend since years.

On the other side they are also not too easy to release their money.

I can give you some inside regarding the new hotel, office building, new square and the intermodal hub. They are searching for investors for this huge project.

On the other side it's not Brussels airport alone. The airport is a reflection of the current state of the whole country. Look around, Belgium lost the way. Everything starts to look shabby in Belgium, infrastructure, cities, public transport. I can tell you that Centeal and East European countries are looking much better.

The other fact is that a lot of foreign companies are hesitating to invest in Belgium bcs of the political uncertainty.

This has an influence too on the airport. To be honest, does it look normal that the board is not full/appointed like it should be?

There is still 600 mln Eur available only for investments. That amount is now prolonged till 2028 with max 2 years extra after it. For some reason they don't release it

[Boavida]

The airport is a reflection of the current state of the whole country. Look around, Belgium lost the way. Everything starts to look shabby in Belgium, infrastructure, cities, public transport.

I have to disagree.

Politically, yes, Belgium is a mess. Certainly on the federal level, where much needed reforms (fiscal, pensions,...) are no longer possible.

But there are strong regional differences. I don't agree Flemish cities look 'shabby' today. On the contrary, infrastructure-wise they never looked better! When you compare the state of the cities in the 90's/early 2000's to today, the difference is night-and-day. Just take Antwerp as example: Eilandje, South district, Leien, river banks, area around the central station, Keyserlei, Oosterweel, high-quality bike lanes everywhere, the new 'central park' (Zuidpark) where there was a huge parking before,... the list is endless. The city is today even debt-free, imagine! So renewal, modern infrastructure and efficient governance is possible in Belgium.

But for some reason the airport lags (far) behind. It looks as they're completely stuck. Nothing moves, nothing happens. As Noels suggested, a new board/structure and CEO is needed. Because the current leadership is clearly not up for the job.

[Atlantis]

The airport is a reflection of the current state of the whole country. Look around, Belgium lost the way. Everything starts to look shabby in Belgium, infrastructure, cities, public transport.

I have to disagree.

Politically, yes, Belgium is a mess. Certainly on the federal level, where much needed reforms (fiscal, pensions,...) are no longer possible.

But there are strong regional differences. I don't agree Flemish cities look 'shabby' today. On the contrary, infrastructure-wise they never looked better! When you compare the state of the cities in the 90's/early 2000's to today, the difference is night-and-day. Just take Antwerp as example: Eilandje, South district, Leien, river banks, area around the central station, Keyserlei, Oosterweel, high-quality bike lanes everywhere, the new 'central park' (Zuidpark) where there was a huge parking before,... the list is endless. The city is today even debt-free, imagine! So renewal, modern infrastructure and efficient governance is possible in Belgium.

But for some reason the airport lags (far) behind. It looks as they're completely stuck. Nothing moves, nothing happens. As Noels suggested, a new board/structure and CEO is needed. Because the current leadership is clearly not up for the job.

Look just after Antwerp, Borgerhout, Turnhout. Long streets with abandoned shops. Safety is far away. Suburbs of Brussels the same, Aalst. The list is endless. The "kassa" of many cities and towns is empty.

[Atlantis]

The airport is a reflection of the current state of the whole country. Look around, Belgium lost the way. Everything starts to look shabby in Belgium, infrastructure, cities, public transport.

I have to disagree.

Politically, yes, Belgium is a mess. Certainly on the federal level, where much needed reforms (fiscal, pensions,...) are no longer possible.

But there are strong regional differences. I don't agree Flemish cities look 'shabby' today. On the contrary, infrastructure-wise they never looked better! When you compare the state of the cities in the 90's/early 2000's to today, the difference is night-and-day. Just take Antwerp as example: Eilandje, South district, Leien, river banks, area around the central station, Keyserlei, Oosterweel, high-quality bike lanes everywhere, the new 'central park' (Zuidpark) where there was a huge parking before,... the list is endless. The city is today even debt-free, imagine! So renewal, modern infrastructure and efficient governance is possible in Belgium.

But for some reason the airport lags (far) behind. It looks as they're completely stuck. Nothing moves, nothing happens. As Noels suggested, a new board/structure and CEO is needed. Because the current leadership is clearly not up for the job.

Look just after Antwerp, Borgerhout, Turnhout. Long streets with abandoned shops. Safety is far away. Suburbs of Brussels the same, Aalst. The list is endless. The "kassa" of many cities and towns is empty.

That nothing moves is also not correct. Look at the old DHL/EAT buildings who are demolished or will be demolished.

[JOVAN2]

The airport is a reflection of the current state of the whole country. Look around, Belgium lost the way. Everything starts to look shabby in Belgium, infrastructure, cities, public transport.

I have to disagree.

Politically, yes, Belgium is a mess. Certainly on the federal level, where much needed reforms (fiscal, pensions,...) are no longer possible.

But there are strong regional differences. I don't agree Flemish cities look 'shabby' today. On the contrary, infrastructure-wise they never looked better! When you compare the state of the cities in the 90's/early 2000's to today, the difference is night-and-day. Just take Antwerp as example: Eilandje, South district, Leien, river banks, area around the central station, Keyserlei, Oosterweel, high-quality bike lanes everywhere, the new 'central park' (Zuidpark) where there was a huge parking before,... the list is endless. The city is today even debt-free, imagine! So renewal, modern infrastructure and efficient governance is possible in Belgium.

But for some reason the airport lags (far) behind. It looks as they're completely stuck. Nothing moves, nothing happens. As Noels suggested, a new board/structure and CEO is needed. Because the current leadership is clearly not up for the job.

Look just after Antwerp, Borgerhout, Turnhout. Long streets with abandoned shops. Safety is far away. Suburbs of Brussels the same, Aalst. The list is endless. The "kassa" of many cities and towns is empty.

Antwerp is blessed most of all with the biggest share of Flemish subsidies.
For being the self-proclaimed motor of Belgian industry, it is more than underperforming.
The term big-neck is still a correct description of the Antwerp mentality.
A guy had to come from Ieper to save their main football tea. From bankrupcy. Thair Bosuil stadium was a big shame until the Ieper guy changed it. Deurne airfield is also an example of no-we-cannot

[lumumba]

This conversation has nothing to do with aviation go to another site for this let's discuss topics on aviation here.

[sn26567]

This conversation has nothing to do with aviation go to another site for this let's discuss topics on aviation here.

I couldn't have said it better.

[Matthias]

In other news, the Flemish Government gave the official kick-off for the redevelopment of the Ring and Leopold III Avenue junction (the main access road to the airport). Project will cost 350 million and will take around 3,5 years to complete.

https://www.bruzz.be/actua/mobiliteit/n ... en-ring-en
https://www.werkenaandering.be/en/readi ... e-junction

[OO-ITR]

In the mean time, building 4; 5; 6; 7 being dismantle, we can't say thar BAC id beeing lazy, project are ongoing...

anyone an idea why these building are being demolished and what will be built on that spot?

EDIT : ok just read Atlantis reply ...new offices

[Boavida]

In the mean time, building 4; 5; 6; 7 being dismantle, we can't say thar BAC id beeing lazy, project are ongoing...

Any plans to demolish building 8? It's the most horribly outdated of them all...

This one: https://www.google.com/maps/@50.8955257 ... FQAw%3D%3D

I can't believe a company like Sabena Engineering (or BAC) doesn't understand how this Soviet-'infrastructure' reflects on their image....

[Stij]

I like it! A bit retro! But then again... I preferred the 737-200 over everything that came later...