Over 2.2 million travelers passed through Brussels Airport in June, marking a 4% surge from previous months.

Over 2.2 million travelers passed through Brussels Airport in June, marking a 4% surge from previous months.

In June 2025, Brussels Airport faced significant challenges due to national trade union actions, which had a profound impact on its operations and passenger numbers. The strike, part of a broader nationwide protest against government reform plans, resulted in the cancellation of all departing flights and operational disruptions that breached international security standards.

The strike, which took place on June 25, coincided with the start of summer holidays in Flanders, causing significant travel disruptions for tens of thousands of passengers. Airlines, particularly Brussels Airlines, faced substantial financial losses due to the repeated strikes, exacerbating existing discontent.

Despite these setbacks, Brussels Airport welcomed 2,179,180 passengers in June 2025, marking a 4% increase compared to the same period the previous year. The airport's passenger numbers for the first half of 2025 totalled 11,283,904, a testament to its resilience in the face of adversity.

Transfer passengers accounted for around 15% of all departing passengers in June 2025, primarily on routes to and from Africa and North America. The growth in cargo flights was attributed to the full-freighter segment and integrator services, with freight volumes recording a 18% growth in June 2025, totalling 63,000 tonnes.

The 10 most visited countries by Brussels Airport passengers in June 2025 were Spain, Italy, Greece, Türkiye, Germany, Portugal, Morocco, France, United States, and Switzerland.

It's important to note that this article does not cover new information about the impact of national trade union actions on airport operations beyond June 25, 2025, or about entities such as Delta, The LINE DC Hotel, onefinestay, Herrmann Immeubles Group, Élysée Collection, Antigua and Barbuda, or carnival travel demand.

This turbulent period at Brussels Airport underscores the ongoing tensions between unions and the government, affecting not only the airport but also broader sectors such as public transport and waste collection across Belgium.

Sources: [1] Belgian Airports Company (2025). Brussels Airport Strike Impact. Retrieved from https://www.brusselsairport.be/en/news/brussels-airport-strike-impact [2] Brussels Airlines (2025). Brussels Airlines Statement on Strike. Retrieved from https://www.brusselsairlines.com/en/news/brussels-airlines-statement-on-strike [3] International Air Transport Association (2025). Brussels Airport Strike Update. Retrieved from https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/pr/2025-06-25-01/ [4] Belgian National News (2025). National Strike Affects Belgium's Infrastructure. Retrieved from https://www.belga.be/en/belgium-news/national-strike-affects-belgium-s-infrastructure-1185716

The national strike in June 2025 disrupted not only the travel lifestyle of Flanders' residents with summer holidays but also extended to the transportation sector, causing operational issues in public-transit systems across Belgium.

The strike, coupled with continuing union actions, significantly impacted the finance sector, resulting in Brussels Airlines, and possibly other airlines, suffering substantial losses.

Despite these challenges, the growth in cargo flights and freight volumes at Brussels Airport demonstrate the industry's ability to adapt and recover, signifying a testament to its resilience in the face of disruptive events like the June 2025 strike.

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