Brussels Airport is making significant strides in its effort to restart direct flights between the Belgian capital and India’s major cities, Delhi and Mumbai.
The airport’s aviation development director is currently in India on an economic mission aimed at rekindling the once-thriving connections between the two nations, engaging directly with Indian carriers such as Air India and IndiGo to establish a renewed air link.
Historically, flights connecting Belgium and India were operated by Jet Airways until 2016 and Brussels Airlines until 2018.
However, in the absence of direct services since, the demand for such connections has only grown, fueled by the rapidly expanding Indian economy and its population of 1.4 billion people.
India now stands as the world’s most populous country, making it an increasingly valuable market for Belgium, which sees this reestablishment as a key economic and cultural opportunity.
India, despite its size and economic prominence, remains one of the largest underserved Asian markets for Belgium, with flights between the two countries limited and in high demand from both Belgian and Indian companies.
Among the most vocal advocates for a direct route are Belgium’s diamond industry, based in Antwerp, and the large Indian expatriate community living in the country.
The demand for such a route has been especially pressing from these sectors, which rely on frequent travel between the two nations.
Brussels Airport, in its ongoing efforts to bolster its intercontinental network, has been working closely with both Air India and IndiGo.
The airport sees the airlines as ideal partners for the resumption of services, and these discussions have been a core part of this week’s mission.
Air India, recognized as the largest airline in India, and IndiGo, which has ambitious expansion plans in Europe through a crew lease agreement with Norse Atlantic, are both being courted to help facilitate the flight routes.
A direct flight between Brussels and India, according to officials at the airport, would significantly increase traffic for business, leisure, and family travel.
Brussels Airport officials further highlighted the considerable cargo potential such flights would bring, especially in pharmaceuticals—a sector where India plays a leading role in the global production of generic drugs.
This added focus on cargo would complement the passenger service and enhance the overall commercial viability of the route.
In 2024, approximately 150,000 passengers flew between Belgium and India, indicating a strong base of demand. Last year, Brussels Airport itself saw 23.6 million passengers pass through its terminals, in addition to handling 700,000 tonnes of cargo.
A direct route to India, the airport believes, would not only facilitate easier travel but also unlock new opportunities for trade and tourism between the two countries.
As the negotiations continue, the Belgian government and Brussels Airport remain hopeful that this mission will lead to the formalization of the flight routes, allowing both Belgium and India to reap the benefits of more robust connections in the years ahead.
