Brussels Airlines – Belgium’s flag carrier and the primary feeder airline for scores of multinational companies headquartered in the capital – published its third-quarter results on 30 October 2025, reporting an Adjusted EBIT of €68 million. Although the figure is 14 percent lower than in the same quarter last year, the airline carried nearly 2.8 million passengers on close to 20,000 flights, a 12 percent jump in volume year-on-year.
Corporate travel demand rebounded strongly on the European network in July and August, boosted by pent-up conference activity and an exceptionally busy EU institutional calendar in Brussels. Load-factors on key business routes such as Brussels–Frankfurt and Brussels–London City regularly exceeded 80 percent, underpinning premium-cabin yields despite a softer pricing environment in leisure markets.
The carrier’s African division – critical for Belgian mining, engineering and NGO traffic – dragged on earnings after a wave of flight cancellations linked to regional unrest and crew quarantine rules. In September, further pressure came from a cyberattack against Collins Aerospace that paralysed self-check-in kiosks at several European airports, including Brussels, forcing manual processing and dozens of flight cancellations.
Labour unrest has also weighed on performance. Six national strike days so far in 2025 – the most recent on 14 October – have affected more than 100,000 Brussels Airlines passengers and cost roughly €14 million. Management warned that additional industrial action planned for November could jeopardise the carrier’s traditionally strong fourth quarter unless a social-dialogue breakthrough is achieved.
Nevertheless, CFO Nina Öwerdieck struck an upbeat tone, citing healthy forward bookings, continued fleet renewal with fuel-efficient A320neos, and an improving cargo mix. For mobility managers the message is clear: capacity to and from Brussels is growing, but short-notice schedule changes remain a risk. Companies with critical travel to sub-Saharan Africa should keep contingency routings in place and monitor union negotiations through November.
Corporate travel demand rebounded strongly on the European network in July and August, boosted by pent-up conference activity and an exceptionally busy EU institutional calendar in Brussels. Load-factors on key business routes such as Brussels–Frankfurt and Brussels–London City regularly exceeded 80 percent, underpinning premium-cabin yields despite a softer pricing environment in leisure markets.
The carrier’s African division – critical for Belgian mining, engineering and NGO traffic – dragged on earnings after a wave of flight cancellations linked to regional unrest and crew quarantine rules. In September, further pressure came from a cyberattack against Collins Aerospace that paralysed self-check-in kiosks at several European airports, including Brussels, forcing manual processing and dozens of flight cancellations.
Labour unrest has also weighed on performance. Six national strike days so far in 2025 – the most recent on 14 October – have affected more than 100,000 Brussels Airlines passengers and cost roughly €14 million. Management warned that additional industrial action planned for November could jeopardise the carrier’s traditionally strong fourth quarter unless a social-dialogue breakthrough is achieved.
Nevertheless, CFO Nina Öwerdieck struck an upbeat tone, citing healthy forward bookings, continued fleet renewal with fuel-efficient A320neos, and an improving cargo mix. For mobility managers the message is clear: capacity to and from Brussels is growing, but short-notice schedule changes remain a risk. Companies with critical travel to sub-Saharan Africa should keep contingency routings in place and monitor union negotiations through November.
