Brussels Airport handled just under 1.1m passengers in February, a rise of 1.3% against the same month last year. However, the airport said the comparison was misleading as the mid-term break fell in February last year, whereas this year it was moved to March.

Airport management also reports that leisure traffic was also negatively affected by the troubles in Egypt and Tunisia – traditionally two popular holiday destinations in the spring.

Management added that these results were compensated by ‘a strong growth in the other passenger traffic segments such as long haul, leaving February with a positive month-end growth and the airport is hopeful it will generate more this year.

This summer no less than 80 airlines will operate direct scheduled and charter passenger services to 214 destinations which will be a record for Brussels Airport.