Brussels Prepares for 5.2 Million Summer Passengers: What Should Hungarian Travelers Watch For?

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Alisa Oberan
CEO
21.08.2026 20:48

Brussels Prepares for 5.2 Million Summer Passengers: What Should Hungarian Travelers Watch For?

Brussels Airport expects approximately 5.2 million passengers during the 2026 summer school holidays in July and August, which is 4 percent more than last summer. For Hungarian travelers, this is important not only for a Belgian city break but also because Brussels is becoming an increasingly strong European and intercontinental transfer point: higher traffic brings more options, but it can also mean longer check-in, security, and border control times.

According to a recent update from Brussels Airport on June 23, the summer travel wave could start as early as Friday, June 26, when about 82,000 passengers are expected. Based on the airport's forecast, the busiest day could be July 20, with more than 90,000 passengers. This scale is not unusual for a large European hub, but it is high enough that travelers should not treat airport arrival, baggage drop-off, or non-Schengen border control as routine tasks.

Brussels is interesting for the Hungarian market for several reasons. Firstly, it is directly accessible from Budapest and Vienna, making it a convenient destination for short city visits, business trips, EU institutional programs, and Belgian tours. Secondly, the airport's summer schedule offers 180 direct destinations, including several new or reinforced long-haul connections. This means Hungarian travelers can consider Brussels not only as a final destination but also when comparing routes to Canada, Brazil, Africa, or Asia.

What is Changing at Brussels Airport During the Summer Peak?

The most important figure is 5.2 million passengers in July and August. This traffic aligns with Belgian school holidays: holidays begin on July 1 for Dutch-speaking education and July 6 for French-speaking education, but the airport peak appears as early as the previous weekend. According to the airport, Mediterranean destinations remain exceptionally popular: Spain, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Morocco lead the list, followed by Portugal, Tunisia, Egypt, and Croatia.

For longer routes, the appearance or strengthening of São Paulo, Kilimanjaro, and Halifax is particularly noteworthy. Based on the March summer schedule announcement, the airport works with 70 airlines in 2026, and the intercontinental network includes 41 direct destinations. Brussels Airport thus serves classic European holiday traffic, business trips, mobility related to EU institutions, and increasingly important long-haul transfers simultaneously.

To manage passenger traffic, the airport and its partners are deploying extra staff in the terminal, may open pop-up check-in counters, and are expanding self-service baggage drop-off options. A new Self Bag Drop zone is operational for passengers of SAS, Finnair, KLM, and Transavia, while existing automated solutions from the Lufthansa Group and Brussels Airlines continue to be available. This may make departure more convenient, but it does not mean that arriving at the last moment is sufficient on peak days.

Why is This Important for Hungarian Travelers?

For Hungarians traveling to or through Brussels, the first practical question is the departure airport. Those departing from Budapest should check Budapest-Brussels flight options and the current departure conditions at Budapest Airport. For those from Western Hungary or seeking a more flexible schedule, the Vienna-Brussels route can also be a realistic alternative, especially if the ticket price, connection, or baggage conditions are more favorable.

The second question is whether Brussels is the final destination or a transfer point. If someone is only traveling to Belgium, then planning airport transfers, rail connections, accommodation, and city programs is the main task. However, if Brussels is part of a longer route, for example toward Canada, Africa, or South America, a comfortable buffer is more important than the minimum transfer time. During the summer peak, a late-arriving flight, a slower baggage process, or a longer-than-expected passport check can easily consume the time that seemed sufficient on paper.

The third question is the ticket type. For a connecting route within a single booking, the airline typically handles delays or rebookings better than with two separate tickets. With separate tickets, the passenger must account for the possibility of having to reclaim checked baggage and check it in again, which is a significant risk in the Brussels summer traffic. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid overly tight transfers with separate bookings.

Border Control, EES, and Non-Schengen Flights

Brussels Airport specifically highlighted the issue of border control. The introduction of the European Union Entry/Exit System, or EES, is causing longer wait times for non-European passengers at several European airports. For Hungarian and other EU citizens, this does not mean the same process as for third-country passengers, but the border processes can still affect the passenger flow of the entire terminal.

In Brussels, Belgian authorities have promised more staff for border control during the summer period, and the airport has created two additional departure border control positions and installed nearly 60 pre-registration kiosks for the EES registration of non-European passengers. These kiosks are being tested so that certain third-country passengers can use e-gates and kiosks instead of staffed counters in the future. This is a positive direction, but travelers must still account for time buffers during the summer peak.

The basic rule recommended by the airport is clear: it is advisable to be at the airport two hours before Schengen flights and three hours before non-Schengen flights. This is especially important for Hungarian travelers if they are continuing from Brussels to the United Kingdom, North America, Africa, the Middle East, or Asia. In such cases, border control, security checks, and higher terminal traffic together determine the realistic time requirement.

Baggage, Security Checks, and Carry-on Rules

Regarding security checks, one should not plan as if completely new rules for liquids were already in effect in Brussels. According to the airport's announcement, the introduction of new CT scanners begins in 2028, and full operation is expected by 2029. Therefore, in the summer of 2026, the usual rule remains in effect: liquids, gels, and pastes may be carried in carry-on baggage in containers of up to 100 milliliters, in a transparent bag totaling 1 liter.

This is important because many passengers mistakenly assume, based on developments at other European airports, that liquid rules have already been relaxed everywhere. Those departing from Brussels should not rely on previous travel experiences but check the current BRU rules. Especially for family travel, medicines, cosmetics, and gifts, it is advisable to organize carry-on baggage in advance, as repacking in the security line slows down the passenger and those waiting behind them.

In the days before departure, using the Brussels Airport App or the BRUce chatbot is useful, as according to the airport, most questions relate to flight status, departure gate, check-in time, carry-on baggage, and lost items. The airport's customer service handles up to 300 passenger queries per day before the summer period, which shows that the need for information grows along with traffic.

Brussels as a City Break and as a Transfer Gateway

For many Hungarian travelers, Brussels is not a classic holiday destination but a destination for a short city visit, business trip, or EU program. However, summer traffic still affects them: more expensive accommodation, saturated transfer capacity, and slower city transport during morning or evening peak hours can affect the total travel cost and comfort. Those departing on an early morning flight should consider accommodation near Brussels Airport, especially if arriving with family, lots of luggage, or after a long intercontinental flight.

It is also advisable to decide in advance on getting into the city. Public transport is often fast and rational, but for late evening arrivals, multiple suitcases, small children, or tight schedules, Brussels airport transfer and taxi may be more convenient. If the traveler wishes to visit several locations within Belgium or surrounding regions, car rental at Brussels Airport may also be an option, but city parking fees and traffic rules must be factored in beforehand.

As a transfer point, Brussels can be particularly interesting if a route is not directly available from Budapest or Vienna, or if the Brussels long-haul schedule offers better value for money. However, not every route assembled from two tickets at a favorable price is a good decision. During the summer peak, the cheapest combination can easily become more expensive if a new ticket, accommodation, or urgent transfer must be paid for due to a missed second flight.

Practical Checklist Before Departure

  • Check your flight on the day before departure and on the morning of travel, especially on peak days.
  • Arrive at the airport at least two hours before Schengen flights and at least three hours before non-Schengen flights.
  • For transfers with separate tickets, leave a generous buffer for baggage collection, new check-in, and security checks.
  • Do not count on relaxed liquid rules: the 100 milliliter carry-on limit remains in effect in Brussels.
  • Use the airport app or flight information interfaces, especially if you expect gate changes or delays.
  • If you have a morning flight or arrive from a long journey, consider accommodation near the airport.

What Does All This Mean for the Summer Travel Market?

The Brussels figures fit into a broader European trend: traffic at large airports is growing, the desire for summer travel is strong, Mediterranean destinations continue to dominate, while long-haul networks are being rebuilt and expanded. This is good news for travelers because it brings more routes, more transfer options, and often stronger competition. At the same time, it is increasingly difficult for airports to simultaneously manage crowds, security processes, new border technologies, labor needs, and operational risks arising from geopolitical uncertainties.

For Hungarian travelers, the most important conclusion is not that Brussels should be avoided. On the contrary: the airport's summer offering is strong, and Brussels Airport can be a real alternative for many routes. The lesson is rather that in the 2026 summer peak, a good trip depends not only on a favorable ticket price, but on timing, baggage strategy, transfer buffers, and how closely the passenger monitors current airport information.

Those heading to Brussels should plan earlier, check airport processes, and not leave the transfer or baggage drop-off until the last hour. Those traveling through Brussels should treat the airport as a serious European hub: it offers many opportunities, but in the summer crowds, it only works comfortably if there is enough buffer in the route.