Long queues at Brussels Airport have caused significant delays for arriving passengers on Friday, May 2, with some waiting over an hour to clear passport control. The delays, attributed to ongoing staffing shortages by the Federal Police, have raised concerns about the potential impact on travel over the upcoming long weekend.
According to Brussels Airport spokesperson Ihsane Chioua Lekhli, the queues began forming at around 09:30 and have steadily grown throughout the day. By 15:00, the estimated waiting time was still around an hour, although the situation remained fluid with no clear indication of when the delays would be resolved.
The increase in passenger traffic due to the long weekend in Belgium has further exacerbated the situation, but the primary cause of the delays is linked to staffing issues within the Federal Police, who are responsible for passport control. Lekhli explained that the police are doing their best to manage the flow of passengers, but the shortage of staff during this busy period has proven challenging.
“It’s difficult to say when the issue will be resolved. It also depends on the number of incoming flights,” Lekhli commented. While only arriving passengers are experiencing significant delays, passport control for outgoing flights and connecting passengers has been operating without major disruptions, she added.
Passengers waiting in the long queues were provided with water by Brussels Airport staff, as seen in a photo sent to The Brussels Times by a reader. Despite these efforts to ease the discomfort, the uncertainty surrounding the resolution of the situation has left many frustrated.
For travelers departing or connecting at the airport, the delays are not expected to cause significant issues. However, those arriving are urged to plan accordingly. Passengers with European passports are advised to make use of the eGates, which typically have shorter waiting times than the manual passport control lines.
The ongoing staffing shortage within the Federal Police has been a recurrent issue at Brussels Airport, especially during peak travel times. Lekhli noted that the impact of these staffing issues varies depending on the level of passenger traffic. During quieter times, the delays are less pronounced, but during busy periods like holidays, the situation becomes more challenging.
A spokesperson for the Federal Police stated that, during holiday periods, the Airport Police continuously adjust their deployment to match passenger flows, reinforcing control posts wherever possible and utilizing available resources to manage the queues. Despite these efforts, the situation remains difficult to predict, particularly with the influx of passengers during busy weekends.
The Brussels Times reached out to the Federal Police for additional information on the causes of the staffing shortage but had not received a response by the time of publication. Travelers are advised to remain patient and keep track of their flight statuses, as the situation could continue to affect arrivals in the coming days.
As the holiday weekend continues, both passengers and airport staff will be hoping for a swift resolution to the ongoing delays at Brussels Airport.
