Brussels Airport Expects 5.2 Million Passengers in July and August: How to Prepare for the Summer Peak

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Marta Skylar
Aviation News Editor
28.07.2026 02:13

Brussels Airport Expects 5.2 Million Passengers in July and August: How to Prepare for the Summer Peak

Brussels Airport is preparing for a very busy summer season: in July and August 2026, approximately 5.2 million passengers are expected to pass through the airport, which is 4% more than last year. For tourists, this means a wider choice of destinations, but also the need to more carefully plan arrival time, luggage, security checks, EES registration for non-European travelers, and the journey from the airport to Brussels or other Belgian cities.

The official announcement from Brussels Airport dated June 23 came just before the start of the peak flow: the holiday departure starts as early as Friday, June 26, when about 82,000 passengers are expected. The airport calls July 20 the busiest day of the summer holidays: on this day, over 90,000 travelers may pass through BRU. This is not an extraordinary situation, but a predicted seasonal maximum, for which the airport and its partners are preparing with additional staff, new self-service zones, and digital services.

For Ukrainian readers, this news is important for two reasons. First, Brussels Airport is a major European hub for travel to Belgium, transfers within Europe, and routes to Africa, North America, the Middle East, and Asia. Second, the summer of 2026 takes place against the backdrop of new EES border procedures in the Schengen Area, increased demand for sunny destinations, and the maintenance of classic security rules regarding liquids in carry-on luggage. In other words, the main question for the passenger is not just "whether there will be many people," but "how not to lose time at predictable stages of the journey."

What Exactly Brussels Airport Predicts

According to airport data, approximately 5.2 million passengers are expected to pass through Brussels Airport in July and August. This is 4% more than in the previous summer season. The start of school holidays in Belgium is spread out over time: in Dutch-speaking education, they start on July 1, and in French-speaking education, on July 6. This is why the load is not limited to one weekend, but is distributed in waves, starting from the last Friday of June.

The most popular summer destinations from Brussels remain the classic resort countries: Spain, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Morocco. Following in the demand list are Portugal, Tunisia, Egypt, and Croatia. For long-haul travel, the airport separately mentions direct flights to Sao Paulo, Kilimanjaro, and Halifax, as well as an expanded offering to China and Hong Kong. In a broader annual context, Brussels Airport states hundreds of destinations and dozens of airlines, but for the summer passenger, it is more practical to look not at the general map, but at their specific flight, terminal, check-in time, and airline requirements.

Importantly, Brussels Airport does not report any current impact of the unstable geopolitical situation on planned flights from BRU and, at the time of the release, sees no problems with the supply of aviation fuel for the summer season. This is not a guarantee that all schedules will remain unchanged, but it is a useful signal: the airport describes the summer peak as a manageable operational challenge, rather than a crisis scenario.

What is Changing at the Airport Before the Peak

Brussels Airport reports that additional staff will be working in the terminal to assist passengers. Additional capacity is provided for check-in: specifically, temporary check-in counters and a new Self Bag Drop zone for SAS, Finnair, KLM, and Transavia passengers. This complements the existing self-service zones for Lufthansa Group and Brussels Airlines. For the passenger, this means a simple thing: if the airline supports self-bag drop, online check-in and a properly prepared suitcase can actually reduce time in queue.

At the same time, self-service should not be seen as a universal way to "breeze through" the airport in a few minutes. On peak days, it is still necessary to allow time for the journey to BRU, finding the right zone, dropping off luggage, security checks, passport control for non-Schengen flights, and possible queues in shops or dining establishments. This especially applies to families with children, passengers with large luggage, people with transfers, and travelers flying through Brussels for the first time.

The airport advises being on site two hours before a flight within the Schengen Area and three hours before a flight outside the Schengen Area. This is a basic rule for a normal day. If the flight falls on a morning peak, July 20, or another high-load day, it is worth adding a buffer for the journey to the airport, especially if you are traveling from central Brussels, another Belgian city, or arriving by train with a transfer.

EES: Why Non-European Passengers Need to Be More Attentive

A separate part of the summer preparation concerns the Entry/Exit System, i.e., the digital registration system for entry and exit for citizens of countries outside the EU and the Schengen Area traveling for short stays. On the Brussels Airport page about EES, it is explained that the system records personal and biometric data, as well as the date and place of crossing the external border of Schengen. Over time, it is intended to replace the manual stamping of passports.

For citizens of countries using EES, as well as for Cyprus and Ireland, nothing changes. Registration is required for non-European travelers arriving at Brussels Airport for a short stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period or leaving the Schengen Area via BRU. Usually, the procedure includes scanning the passport, facial photography, fingerprints, and entering contact details; children under 12 are exempt from fingerprints.

Brussels Airport notes that EES is already creating longer wait times for non-European passengers in many European airports. To reduce delays, the airport is working with federal services, the Ministry of the Interior, migration services, and the Federal Police. For the summer, increased staffing at border control is planned, additional positions for officers on departure, and about 60 pre-registration kiosks being tested for some passengers from third countries. The practical conclusion is simple: if you are not a citizen of an EU or Schengen country, check if EES applies to you and do not plan tight connections.

Liquids, Laptops, and Carry-on Luggage: Old Rules Still Apply

Despite news about future modern scanners, classic security control rules still apply to passengers at Brussels Airport in the summer of 2026. Liquids, pastes, and gels in carry-on luggage must be in containers up to 100 ml and fit into a transparent bag with a total volume of 1 liter. Phones, tablets, laptops, and large batteries must be taken out of the bag and placed separately in the tray. New scanners, which are expected to simplify the procedure, are only expected from 2028, so this summer it is better to pack things according to current rules, rather than future promises.

This point is especially important for tourists flying to a beach holiday or returning from resorts. Sunscreens, cosmetics, perfumes, pastes, gels, drinks, sauces, and some souvenirs can create a problem at control if they are in larger packaging in carry-on luggage. If an item is not needed during the flight, it is safer to put it in checked luggage. If there is doubt, it is worth checking the rules in advance on the website or in the Brussels Airport app, rather than arguing at the control belt.

How This Will Affect Travelers

For passengers, the news about 5.2 million travelers does not mean that one should not fly via BRU. On the contrary, high demand usually supports a larger choice of flights, more active service operation, and better competition between destinations. But the summer peak makes planning mistakes more expensive. Missing a train to the airport, the wrong size of liquid in carry-on luggage, ignorance of EES, or too short a connection can turn a normal flight into a stressful one.

If you are flying via Brussels, it is worth starting with basic information about Brussels Airport BRU: location, flights, departure and arrival zones. For early flights or late arrivals, it is useful to evaluate hotels near Brussels Airport in advance, as staying overnight near the terminal is sometimes cheaper than the risk of missing an early flight. If you need to get to the center, exhibition complex, office, or another city quickly after arrival, it makes sense to check transfers and taxis from BRU. And for trips around Belgium, Flanders, Wallonia, or neighboring countries, car rental at Brussels Airport may be appropriate if the route indeed involves several stops outside the city.

Separately, it is worth using the airport's digital channels. Brussels Airport reminds about the app and the BRUce chatbot, through which passengers can receive updates on flights, boarding gates, carry-on luggage issues, and other stages of the journey. In a season when the support service responds to hundreds of requests daily, automatic notifications often provide a faster answer than waiting in a general queue.

Practical Checklist Before Departure via BRU

  • Check the flight status, terminal, check-in opening time, and luggage rules of your specific airline.
  • Arrive at least two hours before a flight within Schengen and three hours before a flight outside Schengen; add a buffer on peak days.
  • Complete online check-in in advance and use Self Bag Drop if the airline supports it.
  • For carry-on luggage, keep liquids only in containers up to 100 ml in a transparent bag up to 1 liter.
  • If you are not a citizen of an EU or Schengen country, check EES requirements and do not plan too short a connection.
  • Plan your journey to the airport, overnight stay, or transfer after arrival in advance, especially for early and late flights.

Conclusion

The summer forecast for Brussels Airport shows that demand for air travel via Brussels remains strong, and the airport is entering the season with prepared operational measures. The most important thing for passengers is not to panic over the figure of 5.2 million, but to turn it into a signal for better planning. In 2026, a comfortable journey via BRU will depend on a few simple actions: arriving on time, packing carry-on luggage correctly, understanding whether EES applies to you, monitoring flight updates, and deciding on a hotel, transfer, or car rental in advance. These small preparatory steps are the best protection against queues, haste, and unnecessary expenses in the height of the summer season.