Brussels Airport (IATA: BRU, ICAO: EBBR) serves Zaventem, BE. It has 430 scheduled routes to 206 destinations in 76 countries, operated by 114 airlines.
- Helpful Staff (for those with special needs): One traveler with a foot injury reported incredibly helpful staff from Delta Airlines and the airport, who provided a wheelchair and assistance through security and to their next destination.
- Duty-Free Shopping: Some travelers found the prices at Duty-Free shops to be surprisingly reasonable.
- Train Connections to City Center: The train service from the airport to Central Brussels is described as super convenient.
- Quick Immigration (in some instances): One traveler experienced surprisingly fast immigration, clearing passport control in three minutes, though this was attributed to deserted lines and machines being off.
- Excessive Security and Passport Control Wait Times: This is by far the most frequent and severe complaint, with wait times often exceeding an hour, even in fast-track lanes. Travelers report two-hour waits for security and passport control, particularly for non-EU passport holders, leading to missed flights, arguments, and panic attacks. Technical malfunctions with e-gates have also caused significant delays for non-Schengen arrivals.
- Unfriendly and Overwhelmed Staff: Many reviews describe staff as unfriendly, demotivated, scruffy, and overwhelmed, with some instances of staff chatting and drinking coffee while long queues form.
- Poor Terminal Facilities and Cleanliness: Travelers report dirty and tiny toilets, a lack of comfortable or quiet seating options, and limited, poor-quality food options beyond beer and fries. The overall appearance is described as a "mishmash of horrid, unkempt spaces" with litter everywhere.
- Lack of Clear Signage: First-time visitors have reported zero signage to guide them, contributing to confusion and frustration.
- Expensive and Inefficient Parking: Parking is noted as being more expensive than Zaventem itself.
- Baggage Claim Delays: Some travelers experienced waits of over 30 minutes to retrieve their baggage.
- Sources researched: trustpilot.com, yandex.com, yelp.com, liveandletsfly.com, aviation.direct*
Bottom line: Brussels Airport receives overwhelmingly negative reviews, with many travelers advising against its use due to consistently long wait times, particularly at security and passport control, coupled with poor facilities and staff issues. Travelers, especially non-EU passport holders or those with young children, are strongly advised to consider alternative airports or allow significant extra time.
New & changed departures
25 changes to BRU's schedule in the last 90 days.
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206 nonstop destinations · 114 airlines.
Showing the top 200 destinations by frequency.
Airlines at BRU
114 carriers operate scheduled departures.
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Airport routes
Brussels Airport (BRU) offers 430 flight routes operated by 114 airlines. Major carriers include Brussels Airlines, TUI Fly, Air Baltic and others. Popular destinations from Zaventem include Amsterdam Schiphol, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport, Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport.
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Common questions about BRU
Quick answers, straight from the schedule data.
How many destinations have nonstop flights from BRU?
Brussels Airport has 430 scheduled routes to 206 destinations in 76 countries, operated by 114 airlines.
Which airlines fly from Brussels Airport?
114 carriers operate scheduled departures, including Brussels Airlines, TUI Fly, Air Baltic.
Where is Brussels Airport located?
Brussels Airport is located in Zaventem, BE, at an elevation of 175 ft. Its IATA code is BRU and ICAO code is EBBR.