Brussels Airport offers advice for travelers
As we approach the one-month mark after the March 22 terrorist attack on Brussels Airport and a Brussels metro station that killed 32 people, airlines serving Brussels and a variety of tourism entities have issued a joint statement updating the world on efforts to return Brussels Airport to the “comfortable, convenient and, most importantly, safe travel hub they’ve come to rely on.”
“Rest assured that we will do everything in our power to once again deliver the smooth and seamless travel experience that all of our passengers deserve and expect of us,” reads the statement signed by Brussels Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Air Canada, Jetairfly and business and tourism organizations, including visit.brussels.
The statement notes that Brussels Airlines (which is 45% owned by Lufthansa) as well as all American carriers flying non-stop to the city have gradually resumed their scheduled flights to Brussels and that Brussels Airport plans to be back to full capacity soon.
There is also some useful and reassuring advice for passengers flying to — or debating whether or not to travel to or through — Brussels Airport.
While arriving passengers and those transferring at Brussels Airport will not notice any changes, the statement says departing passengers will still find a temporary departure area with advanced security screening and check-in areas.
According to the Brussels Airport website, additional controls in place include the screening of cars on the access road and, in the temporary departure halls (now only accessible by ticketed passengers), additional police control and ID and boarding pass checks.
Within a few weeks the regular departure area of the airport should be open again, with advanced security screening permanently in place.
More information about the status of operations at Brussels Airport, including a map of the temporary route for departing passengers, is on the Brussels Airport website.
Harriet Baskas is a Seattle-based airports and aviation writer and Paste BN Travel's "At the Airport" columnist. She occasionally contributes to Ben Mutzabaugh's Today in the Sky blog. Follow her at twitter.com/hbaskas.