Brussels Airport Launches “Summer Plan” to Tackle Long Passport Control Queues

Belgium’s Interior Minister Bernard Quintin has unveiled a comprehensive “summer
plan” aimed at reducing lengthy waiting times at Brussels Airport, one of Europe’s
busiest hubs during the holiday season.

The plan comes as the airport gears up for its peak summer rush, with daily passenger
numbers expected to reach up to 90,000, over five million travelers expected to pass
through its terminals in July and August alone.

Brussels Airport, located in Zaventem just outside the capital, is a major international
gateway and transit point for travelers across Europe and beyond. Known for serving
over 200 destinations worldwide, the airport becomes particularly congested in summer
as tourists flock to and from popular European holiday spots. However, recent years
have exposed chronic staffing shortages, especially in airport police and passport
control, leading to frustrating delays.

To address this, Quintin announced that additional staff will be deployed at passport
control during critical periods. On so-called “orange” days, typically associated with
moderate peaks, capacity will rise by 30%. On the most demanding “red” days, staffing
will increase by 40%.

“In the short term, we’ll deploy reinforcements from other areas of the airport. But we’re
also working on a structural solution, as police forces, including the airport unit, face
serious staffing shortages, currently around 23%,” said Quintin.

Wald Thielemans, director-general of the administrative police, confirmed that the
reinforcements have been distributed as evenly as possible to minimize the strain on
other posts. In addition, a sixth passport control booth will be installed, and all six
cubicles will be manned during the busiest travel days.

Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport, praised the government’s swift response. “This
is a welcome move. A smooth border control process is essential not just for safety and
logistics but also for Belgium’s reputation. The police are a vital link in that chain.”
With summer travel surging back to near pre-pandemic levels and millions preparing for
holidays, authorities are hoping the plan will restore efficiency and some peace of mind
to one of Europe’s top travel crossroads.