Brussels National Airport has reopened to commercial traffic twelve days after Islamist terrorists attacked the facility killing sixteen in the passenger check-in area.
Local airline Brussels Airlines (SN, Brussels National) operated the airfield's first three flights on Sunday, April 3 serving Faro, Turin Caselle, and Athens.
From Monday, April 4, the carrier will gradually expand its Brussels Airport operations with the addition of more regional European flights and long-haul services but warns that infrastructural limitations will see some regional flights remain at Liège and Antwerp while some longhaul services will continue to be operated from Frankfurt International and Zurich.
"In the following days, the number of flights will gradually be increased to the maximum capacity of the temporary structures, that is 800 departing passengers per hour," the airport said in a statement. "Other airlines, besides Brussels Airlines, will also recommence their operations at Brussels Airport in the days ahead."
To avoid a repeat of the events of March 22, passengers are now screened on an approach road and again before check-in. Those travelling are advised to arrive at least two hours before departure for Schengen destinations and three for non-Schengen treaty areas.
Brussels Airport says it will now undertake repairs to the terminal with demolition work to remove all damaged elements in the departure hall having already started. Overall, it hopes to have the terminal back to full operational capacity by the start of the summer holidays at the end of June/early July.
Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) has meanwhile announced it will temporarily suspend its daily Atlanta-Brussels service for at least one year as a result of an expected decrease in leisure demand following the attacks. It will however retain its daily B767-300 service from New York JFK which is more "business oriented".
