Meet The Winners: Brussels Airport

Brussels Airport (BRU) has been named the winner of the 17.5-30 Million Passengers category at the Routes World Awards 2026, recognizing the airport's success in expanding connectivity, strengthening airline partnerships and delivering sustained post-pandemic growth. 

In 2025, Brussels Airport surpassed 25 million passengers, marking its highest annual total since the pandemic. Growth has continued into 2026, supported by the addition of nine new airline partners and 19 new destinations across its network. 

A significant driver of that growth has been the airport's increasing connectivity to Asia. BRU now serves six destinations in China, reflecting rising demand and growing airline confidence in the market. 

Among the recent additions, Air China launched a 3X-weekly service to Chengdu alongside daily flights to Beijing in March. China Central Airlines entered the market with 3X-weekly services to Shanghai in September, while Cathay Pacific returned to Brussels in August with 4X-weekly flights to Hong Kong. All Nippon Airways (ANA) also strengthened ties between Belgium and Japan by increasing frequencies to Tokyo. 

Speaking during Routes World 2026, Leon Verhallen, Director of Aviation Development at BRU, said the airport continues to identify opportunities: “Asia is successful, but we still have two key markets missing: India and Korea.” 

Growth has also extended across the Atlantic. Air Canada launched a 3X-weekly service to Halifax and LATAM Airlines Brasil commenced 6X-weekly flights to São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU), both beginning in June. Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines increased its Atlanta service to daily operations during the summer season. 

Looking ahead, Verhallen said the airport sees further opportunities across North and South America. Destinations including Boston, Philadelphia, Houston and California are among potential targets in the United States while, in Latin America, Bogotá remains a key market of interest. 

The airport's home carrier, Brussels Airlines, is also playing an important role in future growth plans. The airline is scheduled to launch a 5X-weekly service to Cairo from March 2027 and increase frequencies on its Kilimanjaro route, alongside enhancements across several European markets. 

The airport's latest Routes Award marks another success in a competition where BRU has consistently demonstrated strong performance. Verhallen credited the achievement to the team's relentless focus on airline relationships and collaborative growth. 

"We were extremely pleased to be the winner of the category," he said. "A lot of work has been put into the relationships and the submission. The key thing is to get the appreciation from the airlines." 

He added: "This award is a sign that relationships are key in the route development world." 

According to Verhallen, the airport's route development strategy is captured by a simple principle: "Have seats, will travel." This approach focuses on creating compelling reasons for passengers to travel while ensuring airlines have the commercial support, market intelligence and promotional opportunities necessary to succeed.  

Routes World 2026 also marked a personal milestone for Verhallen, who attended his final Routes event representing BRU after two decades in the role. Reflecting on the value of the event, he said: "Routes events are the key highlight every year. Routes World literally brings the whole aviation industry together. In the three days, you see so much business going on, but in a very encouraging, lively atmosphere. That's why I have been an ambassador of Routes for so many years." 

As a Routes 360 member, Brussels Airport maintains year-round engagement with airlines, using the platform to promote unserved opportunities, communicate market developments and strengthen relationships across the route development community.