Zaventem, Belgium — June 18, 2025 — Brussels Airport is taking decisive steps to ease passenger congestion this summer, as passport control queues have stretched beyond two hours in recent months, sparking growing frustration among travellers.
In response, Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin unveiled a comprehensive “summer plan” on Monday, aimed at significantly reducing wait times at border control by boosting staffing levels during peak travel periods.
The plan, coordinated in partnership with the federal police and reported by Belga News Agency, includes the temporary deployment of additional officers to the airport’s passport control desks.
On designated ‘orange days’ — typically days with moderate travel surges — the staffing capacity will be raised by 30%, while on the busiest ‘red days’, it will be increased by 40%.
“These reinforcements are necessary and urgent,” said Quintin. “It’s no secret that airport police, like many other services, are facing a staff shortage. At Brussels Airport, we are currently short by 23%. That’s why finalising the summer plan was essential.”
To bridge the gap in the short term, officers will be reassigned from other departments. However, the minister emphasised that a long-term solution will involve targeted recruitment and comprehensive training to structurally bolster the airport’s police force.
Wald Thielemans, Director General of the Administrative Police, added that the redeployment of officers was done carefully to minimise disruptions elsewhere.
“The reinforcements have been spread out as much as possible. The impact on the original posts will not be too great,” he said.
In a further move to improve efficiency, a sixth passport control booth will be installed in the coming weeks, with all six counters to be operational during peak periods to accelerate passenger processing.
The changes are seen as crucial not only for passenger satisfaction and airport functionality but also for national prestige. “Our national airport is a calling card for Brussels and Belgium,” Quintin told reporters.
“With over 60,000 employees, it is the country’s second largest employer. Zaventem plays a vital role in our economy and our global image.”
He also highlighted the government’s broader priorities, underlining that border security and the fight against illegal immigration remain key elements of the ‘Arizona’ coalition agreement.
Notably, since April, Belgian authorities have authorised agents from Frontex — the EU’s border and coast guard agency — to operate on Belgian territory to strengthen external border checks.
Brussels Airport CEO Arnaud Feist welcomed the government’s intervention. “We, and certainly our passengers, appreciate this. Border control is an essential part of our operation, and the police are a crucial link. A smooth process is not just important for safety, but also for Belgium’s international image,” Feist said.
With over 5 million travellers expected to pass through the airport over the next two months and daily peaks reaching 90,000 passengers, airport officials are hoping the summer plan will ensure smoother operations.
The urgency is heightened as Brussels Airlines prepares to expand its Africa routes by 10% with the arrival of a new Airbus later this summer.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
