Brussels Airport is providing a much-needed boost for the local economy – while its second most popular long-haul airline is doing the same for the travelling public.
Both the airport and Emirates are celebrating “success stories” – particularly welcome as the post-pandemic recovery continues.
According to a new study, the airport remains one of the largest and most attractive employers in the country.
The labour market study by HIVA-KU Leuven is the first post-Covid trend analysis of the airport and reveals there are nearly 30,000 direct jobs in and around the airport, with 335 companies operating across 3 clusters and 18 sectors.
Additionally, the airport generates 55,000 indirect jobs, making it, says the study, not only a “unique employment hub but also a powerful catalyst for the Belgian economy, serving as the country’s second largest economic growth engine.”
The airport, popular among the tens of thousands of British expats living and working in Belgium, recruits nationwide and has seen a significant increase in employees from the Brussels-Capital Region, rising to 20% compared to 16% in 2017. Furthermore, 11% of the workforce comes from the Walloon Region whereas the Flemish average is 59%.
Meanwhile, Emirates is celebrating the tenth anniversary of being based at Brussels. It is now, after American operator United, the second most popular long-haul airline out of Brussels.
It has marked the occasion by unveiling its first refurbished Boeing 777 aircraft to Brussels.
I was among a small group of Brussels-based journalists invited to take a sneak preview of the new-look aircraft.
The aircraft is one of less than a handful that, so far, have received the full makeover.
However, the airline has earmarked 191 aircraft for a full revamp which is thought to be the biggest of its kind in aviation industry.
The whole refit is costing some US€3 billion.
Once you step aboard the sleek aircraft you get a taste as to where some of that vast sum of money has gone.
The retrofitted four-class aircraft features the highly lauded Premium Economy cabin. There are 24 of these and each seat fully declines and now has a 14-inch pitch, allowing for that all-important improved leg room. The newly-introduced seats, which also come with new interior, increase from three to four the number of classes on the aircraft.
Prices for premium economy seats start from a cool €1,500 but passengers can also now expect a few extra special touches, such as a welcome drink and new-designed food menu.
The aircraft now, for the first time, boasts the company’s next generation business class seats, set in a more passenger-friendly/comfortable 1-2-1 configuration.
There are 38 of these plush seats, which come with an improved and extended entertainment system (including live TV), and the retrofit has meant a small reduction in the number of economy seats.
Rebecca, one of the air stewards on board, told me: “I have worked for the company for 17 years and I can tell you the improvements I have seen have been vast over the years and this new refit of the aircraft continues that trend.”
Soon after we disembarked the plane, Rebecca and her colleagues welcomed on board passengers departing on a 6.5 hour flight to Dubai, the company’s hub.
The company has two Brussels-Dubai flights daily and its second daily service will, from early October, also soon be operated by a newly refurbished B777.
Brussels airport was one of the first routes for the company’s refurbished Boeing 777 “Game-Changer” first class private suites in 2018 and is now also one of the first routes to welcome the refurbished four-class Boeing 777 aircraft.
Speaking at a news conference at the airport to announce the refit, Jean-Pierre Martin, Emirates Country Manager in Belgium, commented: “We’re thrilled to be marking 10 years of operations to Belgium.The country has and will always be an integral part of our global network.”
He added, “As we enter the next decade of operations, we’re proud to be elevating the travel experience for Belgian customers with our premium signature travel touches across all cabins.”
Leon Verhallen, director of aviation development at the airport, told reporters, “We are delighted to be part of these celebrations today. Emirates is the eighth ranked airline for passenger numbers at this airport which, in just 10 years, is some achievement. It is also the second most popular for long haul destinations, again a very impressive milestone.”
Since the inaugural flight in September 2014, Emirates has carried more than 2.41 million passengers to/from Brussels, operating 9,917 flights. Emirates SkyCargo, the airline’s air freight division, offers cargo capacity to customers in Belgium on 14 weekly flights.