As part of the application for a new environmental permit for Brussels Airport in Zaventem, an increased offering of trains and buses to the airport at night and in the early hours is being investigated.
Brussels Airport's current environmental permit for operating the airport expires in July 2024. In July this year, an application was submitted to the Flemish Government for the renewal of the permit, this time for an unlimited period. Part of the procedure is a public enquiry, which has been launched and is ongoing until 8 January.
The application is about "renewing the existing licence to operate the airport within the current premises and infrastructure and under the current conditions".
Simply put: the airport is not requesting any expansion of infrastructure such as runways, nor is it asking for changed conditions such as additional night flights.
More flexible transport
An improved mobility plan around the airport is also reflected in the plans of the application, including public transport to and from the airport. These include the ring tram bus and the planned airport tram from the capital.
However, the plans also detail that Flemish public transport operator De Lijn is looking into running a night bus from Brussels city centre to the airport via Rogier to serve employees and passengers for early shifts and flights. A similar initiative to deploy early trains from next summer is underway with railway company SNCB.
A feasibility study is also underway on the possibility of a high-speed train stopping at the airport train station. The need for this type of connection has been highlighted following the "boarding tax" for short-haul flights, introduced last year to deter people from opting to fly for distances that can be covered by alternative means of transport.
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Finally, the abolition of the Diabolo tax – a surcharge of €5,70 that makes the train journey to the airport more expensive – is also discussed in the application to encourage more people to travel to the airport by train.
Brussels Airport also stressed it is committed to sustainable mobility, among other things. The plans also includes bicycle paths, more bicycle parking spaces, lockers and showers, for example, should make passengers and staff choose to cycle instead of driving.
A digital information session will take place on 14 December as part of the public enquiry.
