Brussels Airport in Zaventem announced a new €500 million investment plan on Friday to accommodate the growing number of passengers.
The project includes expanding and completely redesigning the arrival and departure halls, creating a new intermodal hub, and constructing a new four-star hotel by the end of the decade.
With 24 million passengers in 2024, the airport expects a significant increase to 32 million travellers by 2032. The current terminal is designed for 28 to 30 million passengers per year, says CEO Arnaud Feist.
On busy days, the departure and arrival halls, as well as the main gateway to the train and bus stations, often become overcrowded. The Sheraton hotel is nearly fully booked for half the year.
The airport aims to address these issues and offer a completely revamped passenger experience, featuring spacious, modern, and bright areas with plenty of greenery.
Intermodality will be a key focus, with the airport enhancing its connections for smooth travel across Belgium and Europe. Improving connections between buses, trains, and taxis and creating new access to the train station are part of this plan.
The investment strategy also includes the future tram line linking the capital to Brussels Airport, with plans for a new green boulevard dedicated to this mode of transport.
The first phase of construction is expected to start at the end of 2026 and will continue until 2032.
'Astonished'
However, not everyone is pleased. Federal mediator responsible for Zaventem Airport, Philippe Touwaide, said he was "very disappointed, astonished, sceptical and surprised" by the new half-billion-euro investment plan.
He regrets that the projects unveiled do not include investments to reduce noise and pollution caused by the infrastructure.
"I am in favour of a balance between the economy, the environment and health. I have nothing against the airport, but a private company cannot, in 2025, want to develop its economic activity without making any concrete efforts to protect the environment," Philippe Touwaide said in a statement.
Picture shows trolleys on the tarmac of Brussels Aiprort and during a press conference of Brussels Airport to discuss the future development of the airport, on Friday 18 April 2025 in Zaventem. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand
"Brussels Airport Company (the company responsible for operating the airport, editor's note) has still not contributed to the environmental insulation fund since 2003 and does not want to spend a single euro that does not bring it any profit, so the noise barrier and the covered hall are not among its priorities."
The mediator refers in particular to the project for a covered hall for jet engine testing, which has been imposed since 1988 and has still not been completed to date.
Philippe Touwaide is also critical of the project, which includes the construction of a new office building.
"According to the land sale contract, any construction on the airport site must be exclusively for airport purposes, so consultancy or auditing offices have no place in airport facilities," he emphasises.
