Brussels Airport welcomed more than 1.6 million passengers in February 2026, an increase of 6.3% compared to February 2025. Cargo activities also continued their positive momentum, with 63,050 tonnes handled, up 6.5% year on year.
Passenger traffic boosted by the Carnival holidays
1,624,543 passengers passed through Brussels Airport in February, up 6.3% from the same month in 2025. The two-week holiday period, which fell earlier this year than in 2025, when it spanned February and March, had a positive impact on passenger traffic growth.
Passenger traffic was driven by both intra-European connections and long-haul flights outside Europe, confirming the attractiveness of Brussels Airport’s international network.
The share of transfer passengers, at 15%, remains significant, highlighting Brussels Airport’s role as a hub connecting Europe with Africa and North America.
The ten most popular destinations in February were Spain, Italy, Germany, Morocco, France, Turkey, Switzerland, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The average number of passengers per flight also continued to improve, with an average of 140 passengers per flight, compared to 138 in February 2025, reflecting a more efficient use of available capacity.
Cargo continues its growth momentum across all segments
In February 2026, total cargo volumes handled at Brussels Airport reached 63,050 tonnes, up 6.5% compared to February 2025.
Flown cargo increased by 7.2%, once again driven by growth in belly cargo (+7.8%) and strong performance in the integrator segment (+12.1%), which combines air transport with final delivery.
After a decline in January, the full-freighter segment returned to growth, recording an increase of 0.6%. Trucked cargo volumes also increased, rising by 3.3%.
This positive evolution across all cargo segments reflects the strength of Brussels Airport’s position as a leading cargo platform in Europe and beyond.
Increase in flight movements
Brussels Airport recorded 13,761 commercial flight movements in February, an increase of 4.1% compared to February 2025. Passenger flight movements rose by 5.1%, while cargo flight movements decreased by 2.7%.
