Airports in Belgium: Traveler’s Guide to Belgium’s Airports

Ever wondered how many airports in Belgium there are? Confused that there seem to be two Brussels airports? Or maybe you’re just trying to choose between the international airports in Belgium. This shortlist has all the information you need on the different airports for your flight to or from the country.

Listed below are the 8 passenger airports of Belgium.

• Brussels Airport (BRU): Brussels Airport is the largest airport in Belgium located about 12 km from central Brussels. It serves as a hub for Brussels Airlines and offers flights on major airlines to destinations across Europe and worldwide.
• Charleroi Airport (CRL): Brussels South Charleroi Airport is located about 55 km south of Brussels and is primarily used by budget airlines like Ryanair. It serves as a major base for low-cost carriers.
• Liège Airport (LGG): Liège Airport is a commercial and cargo airport located about 8 km from Liège, offering a limited number of passenger flights and extensive cargo services.
• Ostend–Bruges International Airport (OST): Ostend–Bruges Airport located near Belgium's North Sea coast provides an alternative gateway to Bruges and western Flanders, in addition to serving Ostend.
• Antwerp Airport (ANR): Antwerp Airport is a small regional facility catering mostly to leisure and some business travel with a focus on charter flights and seasonal scheduled service.
• Kortrijk–Wevelgem Airport: Kortrijk–Wevelgem Airport is a general aviation and business aviation airport located just east of Kortrijk used mostly for charter flights.
• Arlon–Sterpenich Airport: Arlon–Sterpenich Airport is a small recreational aerodrome located near Arlon that serves only small private and ultralight aircraft.
• Balen/Keiheuvel Airport: Balen/Keiheuvel Airport is a small private general aviation airfield near Balen used mainly by general aviation traffic such as private and recreational aircraft.

1. Brussels Airport (BRU)

Brussels airport is the biggest airport of Belgium. It's official name is Brussels Airport (French: Aéroport de Bruxelles, Dutch: Luchthaven Brussel). It is also known as Brussels-National Airport or Brussels Zaventem Airport. The IATA airport code for Brussels Airport is BRU and the ICAO code is EBBR. Brussels Airport is located in Zaventem, Flemish Brabant, Belgium. The address is Leopoldlaan, 1930 Zaventem, Belgium. Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is the nearest major city to Brussels Airport located about 12 km (7 miles) southwest of the airport. Brussels Airport has one passenger terminal that is divided into two piers, Pier A and Pier B. The airport operates 24 hours a day.

Transportation options to Brussels Airport include train, bus, taxi and car. The airport train station is located below the terminal and offers direct trains to Brussels city center, about a 15-25 minute journey. Buses like the Airport Line 12 provide service from the airport to downtown Brussels in around 30 minutes. Taxis can make the trip in around 20-30 minutes. Brussels Airport also offers convenient parking and car rental facilities.

Some major airlines that fly to Brussels Airport are Brussels Airlines, United Airlines, Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, British Airways, SWISS, Aer Lingus, TAP Air Portugal, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, ANA, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Ryanair, Vueling, and easyJet. In total, the airport serves flights from about 80 different airlines. Brussels Airport is a hub for Brussels Airlines and a focus city for TUIfly Belgium. Brussels Airport (BRU) is the 24th busiest airport in Europe.

 

2. Charleroi Airport (CRL)

The official name of Charleroi (CRL) is Brussels South Charleroi Airport is Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA) or Aéroport de Charleroi Bruxelles-Sud in French. It is also known as Brussels-Charleroi Airport or Charleroi Airport for short. The IATA airport code for Brussels South Charleroi Airport is CRL and its ICAO code is EBCI. Brussels South Charleroi Airport is located in Gosselies, part of the city of Charleroi in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. Its address is Rue des Frères Wright 8, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium. Charleroi city center is about 4 miles (7 km) north of the airport.The French border is just 50 km (31 miles) away.

Brussels South Charleroi Airport has two passenger terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The airport does not operate 24 hours a day. It is open from 5:30am to 11:30pm daily. The nearest major city is Brussels, which is about 34 miles (55 km) north of Brussels South Charleroi Airport.

Transportation options to Brussels South Charleroi Airport include shuttle buses from Brussels operated by Flibco, buses and trains from Charleroi city center, taxis, rental cars and ride sharing services.
There’s a regular shuttle bus between Charleroi Airport and Brussels leaving every 20 to 30 minutes. Tickets for the shuttle bus can be bought in advance online at cheaper price.

Charleroi Airport is not a hub so doesn’t do transfer flights. Visitors can find a small selection of restaurants and duty-free shops. Baggage trolleys are no longer provided for use at Charleroi Airport.

Major airlines operating out of Brussels South Charleroi Airport are Ryanair, TUIfly and Wizzair. Other airlines on the list include Air Corsica, Pegasus Airlines and Belavia. Low cost carriers like Ryanair use Brussels South Charleroi Airport as a major hub and base. In 2019, Brussels South Charleroi Airport handled over 8.2 million passengers and over 82,000 aircraft movements.

It is the second busiest airport in Belgium after Brussels Airport. Brussels South Charleroi Airport has undergone major expansion recently, with a new terminal opened in 2008 and a runway extension project completed in 2021 to accommodate continued growth in traffic. The airport serves as an important economic driver for the Charleroi region and all of Wallonia.

 

3. Liège Airport (LGG)

Liège Airport, officially named Liège Airport and formerly known as Liège-Bierset Airport, is located in Grâce-Hollogne, Belgium. The airport code for Liège Airport is LGG (IATA) and EBLG (ICAO). The address of Liège Airport is Rue de l'Aéroport, 4460 Grâce-Hollogne, Belgium. The nearest major city to Liège Airport is Liège, which is located approximately 5 miles (8 km) to the east. Liège Airport has one passenger terminal. The airport operates 24 hours a day.

Transportation options to Liège Airport include buses, trains, taxis, and cars. Bus route 57 provides express service between the airport and Liège-Guillemins railway station. Trains also run between Liège-Guillemins station and the airport. The airport is located close to the E42 motorway, providing access by car. Taxis are available for hire at the airport.

Airlines currently operating passenger flights from Liège Airport include TUI fly Belgium, which offers scheduled and seasonal flights to destinations such as Alicante, Gran Canaria, Kayseri, Málaga, and Tenerife. The airport also handles a significant amount of cargo traffic. Major cargo airlines operating from Liège Airport include Ethiopian Airlines Cargo, CAL Cargo Air Lines, ASL Airlines Belgium, and others.

Liège Airport is a commercial and cargo airport located in eastern Belgium near the city of Liège. It offers a limited number of passenger flights as well as extensive cargo services. The airport has a single terminal and operates 24/7. It is accessible by bus, train, car and taxi from Liège and surrounding areas.

4. Ostend–Bruges International Airport (OST)

Ostend–Bruges International Airport is located 5 km south southwest of Ostend, Belgium, near the coast and about 25 km from the city center of Bruges. Its official name is Ostend–Bruges International Airport, but it is also known as Bruges Ostend Airport or simply Ostend Airport. The IATA airport code for Ostend–Bruges International Airport is OST. The airport's address is Nieuwpoortsesteenweg 899, 8400 Oostende, Belgium.

The nearest major city is Ostend, located just 5 km north of the airport. Ostend–Bruges Airport has one passenger terminal. The airport operates daily from 6:00am to 11:00pm, though it is occasionally open later to accommodate late-arriving flights. Ground transportation options to and from Ostend–Bruges Airport include taxis, buses, trains, rental cars, and private transfers. The airport is about 25 km (15.5 miles) from Bruges city center.

Airlines that fly to Ostend–Bruges International Airport include TUI fly Belgium, which operates year-round flights to destinations like Alicante, Malaga, Tenerife, and Antalya. Seasonal summer flights on TUI fly Belgium also serve Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Rhodes, Heraklion, and other Mediterranean leisure destinations. In addition to TUI fly Belgium, other airlines like Ryanair and Jetairfly have served Ostend–Bruges Airport in the past. The airport mainly handles passenger flights, especially holiday charters, though cargo and private business aviation services are also available. Located near Belgium's North Sea coast, Ostend–Bruges International Airport provides an alternative gateway to Bruges and western Flanders, in addition to serving Belgium's coastal city of Ostend.

 

5. Antwerp Airport (ANR)

Antwerp Airport, officially known as Antwerp International Airport and nicknamed Deurne Airport, is located in Deurne, Antwerp, Belgium. It has the IATA code ANR. The address of Antwerp Airport is Luchthavenlei 1, 2100 Deurne, Antwerp, Belgium. It is situated around 5 km or 3 miles southeast of central Antwerp. Antwerp Airport has one small terminal building with basic facilities like check-in desks, a small café, bar and restaurant. It does not operate 24 hours – the hours are limited from around 6am to 10pm local time.

Transportation options to get to Antwerp Airport include bus, train, taxi, car rental and car drop-off. Bus lines 51, 52 and 53 run between Antwerp-Berchem railway station and the airport terminal, operated by De Lijn. The train and bus station is around 8 km or 5 miles from the airport. Taxis and rental cars are available right outside the terminal. There are also car drop-off zones near the terminal entrance.

Some airlines that fly to Antwerp Airport include TUI fly Belgium, Luxair, Air Antwerp, VLM Airlines, CityJet and Jetairfly. TUI fly Belgium operates scheduled flights to popular southern European destinations like Alicante, Malaga, Murcia, Tenerife and Tangier. Luxair flies 6 times per week between Antwerp and London City Airport. Air Antwerp previously operated a route to London City but it was suspended. VLM Airlines went bankrupt in 2018 but used to fly regionally around Belgium and Europe from Antwerp Airport. Overall, Antwerp Airport is a small regional facility catering mostly to leisure and some business travel with a focus on charter flights and seasonal scheduled service to southern Europe. It handled around 240,000 passengers in 2022.

Antwerp Airport is a small regional airport located just outside the city of Antwerp in Belgium. Its official name is Antwerp International Airport but it's also known as Deurne Airport, with the code ANR. The address is Luchthavenlei 1, 2100 Deurne. It's about 5 km from central Antwerp. There is one basic terminal building. Antwerp Airport is not open 24 hours. Transportation options include bus, train, taxi and rental car. Airlines like TUI fly Belgium, Luxair and Air Antwerp fly mostly to regional destinations in Europe. The airport serves the leisure and charter travel market from the Antwerp region.

 

6. Kortrijk–Wevelgem Airport

Kortrijk–Wevelgem Airport, also known as Flanders International Airport or Internationale Luchthaven Kortrijk-Wevelgem in Dutch, is located in Wevelgem, West Flanders, Belgium. Its IATA code is KJK and its ICAO code is EBKT. The address of Kortrijk–Wevelgem Airport is Luchthavenstraat 1, 8560 Wevelgem, Belgium. The nearest major city is Kortrijk, located just 3.7 km (2.3 miles) east of the airport. Kortrijk–Wevelgem Airport has one main terminal. The airport operates daily from 6:00am to 9:00pm local time, though prior permission is required for flights outside these hours.

Transportation options to and from Kortrijk–Wevelgem Airport include both private and public transport. The airport can be easily accessed by car via the R8 ring road around Kortrijk. For public transport, Kortrijk Railway Station is located just 2.3 miles (3.7 km) from the airport. From there, bus route 40 operated by De Lijn provides service to Kortrijk–Wevelgem Airport. The bus ride takes approximately 15 minutes.

There are currently no scheduled passenger flights operating out of Kortrijk–Wevelgem Airport. The airport is mainly used for general aviation purposes, including business aviation, flight training, private flights, and medical evacuations. Major aviation companies with aircraft based at Kortrijk–Wevelgem Airport include Abelag Aviation, ASL Aviation Group, Luxaviation Belgium, and Belgian operator Flying Group. These companies operate fleets of light business jets and turboprops, such as the Cessna Citation, out of Kortrijk–Wevelgem for on-demand charter flights across Europe. The airport is also home to flight schools Ghent Aviation and Walair Aviation, which conduct flight training in small piston aircraft.

Kortrijk–Wevelgem Airport is a general aviation and business aviation airport located in West Flanders, Belgium, just east of the city of Kortrijk. It has one main terminal and operates daily from 6am to 9pm, though prior permission is required for flights outside these hours. The nearest major city is Kortrijk, just 2.3 miles away, which can be accessed via local bus route 40 from Kortrijk Railway Station. Major operators at the airport include charter companies operating Cessna Citations and other light business jets. The airport is also used for flight training, private flights, and medical evacuations.

7. Arlon–Sterpenich Airport

Arlon–Sterpenich Airport is a small recreational aerodrome located 3.75 miles east of Arlon, in the province of Luxembourg, Wallonia region of Belgium. The airport's official name is Arlon-Sterpenich ULM Airfield. It is also known as ArelAir Field. The ICAO code for Arlon-Sterpenich Airport is EBAR. The airport is located at Rue de la Croix Rouge, 6700 Arlon, Belgium. The nearest major city is Arlon, located 3.75 miles west of the airport. Arlon-Sterpenich Airport has no terminals. It is an uncontrolled airport without a control tower, so it does not have specific open hours but operates during daylight. There is no public transportation to the airport. The nearest major airport is Luxembourg Airport, located about 24 miles northeast. Arlon-Sterpenich serves only small private and ultralight aircraft. No major commercial airlines fly to Arlon-Sterpenich Airport.

8. Balen / Keiheuvel Airport

Balen/Keiheuvel Airport is a small private general aviation airfield located in Keiheuvel-Balen, a municipality in the province of Antwerp, Belgium. The official name of the airport is Balen-Keiheuvel Aerodrome. It does not have any alternative names or nicknames. The IATA code for Balen/Keiheuvel Airport is EBKH. The address of Balen/Keiheuvel Airport is 17de Esc. Lichtevliegwezenlaan 8, 2490 Balen, Belgium. The nearest city to Balen/Keiheuvel Airport is Balen, which is about 2.5 miles (4 km) away. Balen/Keiheuvel Airport has no terminals. It operates during daylight hours, but has no set open hours and operations depend on the weather conditions and demand. There is no public transportation to Balen/Keiheuvel Airport. The nearest bus stop is Wezel Nethehof, which is about 0.6 miles (1 km) away. Visitors would need private transportation to reach the airport. Balen/Keiheuvel Airport has a single grass runway designated 07/25. It does not handle commercial airline flights. The airport is mainly used by general aviation traffic such as private and recreational aircraft. Gliders also operate from Balen/Keiheuvel Airport.

What is the biggest and busiest airport in Belgium?

The biggest and busiest airport in Belgium is Brussels Airport (BRU). Brussels Airport is located in the municipality of Zaventem, about 12 km northeast of central Brussels. In 2019, Brussels Airport served over 26 million passengers, making it the 24th busiest airport in Europe that year. Over 70 airlines operate out of Brussels Airport, serving about 200 destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and North America. Some major airlines include Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways, KLM, Air France, United Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Delta. Brussels Airport has one main passenger terminal with two piers (A and B). There are three runways and capacity for around 230 aircraft parking stands. The airport also has extensive cargo handling facilities. The airport is well connected to Brussels city center and other parts of Belgium by train, bus, taxi and car. There is a train station beneath the terminal building with frequent trains to Brussels and other cities.

Which airport near Brussels is served mainly by low-cost carriers?

The airport near Brussels that is mainly served by low-cost carriers like Ryanair and Wizz Air is Charleroi Airport. Charleroi Airport, also known as Brussels South Charleroi Airport, is located about 55 km south of Brussels in Charleroi, Belgium. Unlike Brussels Airport which is the main international airport serving Brussels, Charleroi Airport is primarily used by low-cost carriers like Ryanair and Wizz Air.

Charleroi Airport has become a major hub for budget airlines looking to provide cheap flights to and from destinations across Europe. The airport is flourishing thanks to low-cost carriers who utilize it as their base of operations for serving passengers who want affordable air travel. Companies like Ryanair especially have made Charleroi Airport their main airport for flights to and from the Brussels area.

What is the transportation option to get from Brussels Airport to the city center?

There are several convenient options to get from Brussels Airport to the city center:

• Train. There is a train station located right at the airport. Trains to Brussels Central Station run very frequently and take about 15-20 minutes. Tickets cost around 9 EUR one-way. Train is typically the fastest and most convenient option.
• Airport Express Bus. The Brussels City Shuttle bus leaves from the airport to Brussels North Station every 30 minutes. The trip takes around 30 minutes and costs about 8 EUR one-way.
• Taxi. Taxis are available right outside the arrivals area. The fare to the city center is around 45-50 EUR and the trip takes 20-30 minutes depending on traffic. Taxis are more expensive but very convenient if you have a lot of luggage.
• Rental Car. You can find car rental desks for major companies like Avis, Hertz, etc. in the arrivals hall. Driving to the city center takes 20-30 minutes in normal traffic. Having a rental car allows you to easily explore other areas outside Brussels.
• Public Bus. There are also regular public buses like the De Lijn buses 12 and 21 that go to Brussels, but they take longer (around 45 mins) and involve transfers.

I'd recommend the train or airport shuttle bus for the fastest and most straightforward trip to central Brussels from the airport. The trains run very frequently so you won't have to wait long. Just be sure to purchase your ticket before boarding.

What should someone know before visiting Belgium?

Listed below are the important facts to know before visiting Belgium.

• Language: Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French and German. While English is widely spoken, especially in tourist areas, it's always helpful to learn a few basic phrases in the local language.
• Opening Hours: Many shops and businesses in Belgium close on Sundays, so it's important to plan accordingly. Additionally, some museums and attractions may have specific closing days or limited hours, so it's advisable to check their schedules in advance.
• Safety: Belgium is generally a safe country to visit, but it's always wise to take common precautions. Keep an eye on your belongings, especially in crowded areas and be aware of your surroundings.
• Tipping: In Belgium, tipping is not mandatory, but it's customary to round up the bill or leave a small tip as a gesture of appreciation for good service.
• Currency: The currency used in Belgium is the Euro (€). It's a good idea to have some cash on hand, as not all places accept credit cards, especially in smaller towns or rural areas.

These are just a few popular facts about Belgium. It's always a good idea to do some research and plan ahead to make the most of your trip.

What are the best activities in Belgium?

Listed below are the best things to do in Belgium.

• Rafting or Kayaking in the Ardennes. Navigate the rivers of the Ardennes, especially the Lesse, Ourthe and Semois. Experience diverse terrains, from calm waters to challenging rapids.
• Attend a music festival. Attend in Belgium's vibrant festival scene. Events include the world-famous Tomorrowland, historical Gentse Feesten and diverse Dour Festival.
• Ghent boat trip. Experience Ghent from its canals. Tours reveal historical sights like the Gravensteen and Old Butcher’s Hall, mainly from Graslei and Korenlei harbors.
• Durbuy Labyrinth. Navigate a massive maze in Barvaux near Durbuy, with varied annual themes and added attractions, including eco-gardens and wooden labyrinths.
• Chocolate-making Workshop in Brussels. Dive into Belgium's chocolate culture. Workshops in Brussels teach the art of chocolate-making, producing mendiants and pralines.

 

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