Our Review of Brussels Airport (BRU)

Our Review of Brussels Airport (BRU)

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Pros and Cons of Brussels Airport (BRU)

PROS

Location: Brussels Airport is located in Zaventem, Flemish Brabant, 12 km (7.5 miles) northeast of Brussels, making it easily accessible from the city center and surrounding areas via various transportation options, including trains and buses.

Modern Facilities: Modern amenities found at Brussels Airport include a large assortment of stores, dining establishments, and cozy lounges. The airport is well-designed to accommodate visitors on business and vacation.

Strong European Connectivity: The airport serves as a hub for several airlines, offering a robust range of domestic and international flights, especially within Europe. It has good connections to major cities across the continent.

Hub: Brussels Airport is a hub for Brussels Airlines, Air Belgium and Singapore Airlines Cargo. It is also a focus city for TUI fly Belgium.

Accessibility for All: The airport provides excellent facilities for passengers with reduced mobility, including designated services, ramps, and wheelchair access throughout the terminal.

Wide Range of Services: The airport provides a range of services, including as free Wi-Fi, currency exchange, and business facilities, in addition to food and retail options.

 

CONS

Airport Layout Can Cause Confusion: It might be difficult for foreign visitors who are not familiar with the airport to understand the arrangement of the terminals and the signs. It could be challenging for certain travelers to navigate.

Crowded During Peak Times: Brussels Airport can become congested, particularly during holiday seasons and major events, leading to longer wait times at security and check-in counters.

Dining Options: The variety of restaurants and cafes, especially in certain areas (like the non-Schengen area post-security), can be somewhat limited. Passengers might find fewer choices compared to other major airports.

Immigration Delays: Brussels can experience extended waiting times at immigration during busy travel periods, which can be frustrating for passengers arriving from outside the Schengen area.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Terminals: There is just one terminal at Brussels Airport, which is split into Concourse A (Pier) and Concourse B (Pier). Concourse A handles Schengen flights and certain non-Schengen flights to Africa and New York. Concourse B is only used for non-Schengen flights.

Transport to and from Brussels: Brussels Airport (BRU) is well-connected to the city center. A number of bus routes also serve the airport, and trains to Brussels Central Station arrive every 20 minutes. Private transportation can be scheduled, and taxis are accessible outside the terminal.

Check-in Areas: The check-in area of single terminal building is located in level 3 along with Access to both Concourses A and B.

Dining and Shopping: There are several places to eat at Brussels Airport, including cafés, restaurants, and pubs. Passengers can discover that the choices are restricted in some locations, despite the availability of several regional Belgian delicacies. In addition, the airport is home to a large number of businesses, including duty-free shops where visitors can buy presents or mementos.

Family-Friendly Facilities: The airport is equipped with family-friendly amenities, including play areas for children, changing facilities, and dedicated family lanes at security, making it easier for families traveling with kids.

Lounges: There are several lounges available for travelers seeking a more comfortable waiting experience. These lounges provide food, refreshments, and quiet seating areas.

Additional Tips:

• Be mindful of peak travel periods, as the airport can become busy, particularly during holidays and events.
• Check your flight status regularly for any updates, as gate changes can happen.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

• On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
• Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
• Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
• Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
• Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation

Some Stats

Airlines with more flight operations (last 3 months)

Airlines with best on-time performance at Brussels Airport (last 3 months)

Routes with more flights from Brussels Airport (last month)