Brussels Airport in Zaventem is heading into one of its most dynamic years in recent memory. As first revealed by Thibault Lapers on his Mobilithib blog, Belgium’s main airport expects a busy 2026 summer season with more than 4,000 weekly flights, underpinned by a wave of new routes, new airlines and long-haul expansion.

According to figures compiled by Mobilithib, Brussels Airport is forecasting around 4,024 weekly flights for summer 2026, making it once again the peak season for Zaventem. In total, 12 new destinations will be launched during the year, including several long-haul routes and the arrival of four new airlines: GP Aviation, Air China, Volotea and LATAM Airlines.

Not all developments are positive, however, with several routes and carriers exiting the market. Despite this, Brussels Airport Company remains confident. In a recent interview with newspaper L’Écho, CEO Arnaud Feist stressed that the airport’s ambitions remain firmly intact.

Further route announcements may still follow before December 2026, which could lead to additional updates.

Beyond new destinations, several airlines will also increase capacity. Additional frequencies are planned by Air Algérie, Air Transat, Transavia and Pegasus Airlines. 

Transavia, in particular, is strengthening its presence by opening a dedicated base at Brussels, complete with locally stationed staff. Up to four aircraft will be based there, enabling as many as 56 weekly flights.

Spain back in focus

Short- and medium-haul growth will begin as early as late March. Vueling will reopen the Brussels to Palma de Mallorca route on 24 March 2026, marking its seventh destination from Brussels. The Spanish carrier will operate the route up to six times per week, with double daily frequencies on peak days.

The connection previously existed as a seasonal service between 2014 and 2017, but this time competition will be fierce. Brussels Airlines, Ryanair and TUI Fly Belgium are all set to operate the route as well. Altogether, Brussels Airport will see around 24 weekly flights to Palma, complemented by up to 14 Ryanair flights from Charleroi.

Vueling has also added Florence to its Brussels network this year, launching the route on 1 April with Airbus A319 aircraft.

Another Spanish first for Brussels will follow shortly after. Volotea will open a new route to Oviedo, in Spain’s Asturias region, on 30 March. Operating three times per week, the service will be Volotea’s debut at Brussels Airport. Ryanair already serves Oviedo from Charleroi, while Air Nostrum previously linked the city with Brussels between 2004 and 2010.

Eastern Europe and Scandinavia expand

Further east, GP Aviation will launch a Brussels to Pristina route on 30 March using Boeing 737-400 aircraft. Operating twice weekly, the service will compete with TUI Fy Belgium, which already serves Kosovo year-round. GP Aviation will also introduce flights to Salzburg, Vienna, Bergamo and Bremen from its base.

Poland will return to Brussels Airport’s route map with the launch of LOT Polish Airlines’ new Brussels to Gdańsk service on 29 April 2026. Four weekly flights will be operated with Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, adding to LOT’s extensive Warsaw schedule. Gdańsk has not been served from Brussels since the early 2010s.

TUI Fly Belgium will also introduce a new Turkish destination, Kayseri, transferring the route from Liège to Brussels from 19 June. Meanwhile, Finnair will strengthen the winter offering with a new seasonal link to Kittilä in Finnish Lapland from December 2026.

Long-haul growth returns to Zaventem

The most significant developments, however, are on the intercontinental front. Brussels Airport will welcome two major long-haul newcomers in 2026.

Air China will begin operations on 24 March with flights to Beijing, initially three times per week before ramping up to daily service. 

At the same time, a new route to Chengdu (also sometimes called Gaydu) will be launched, creating up to 30 weekly connections between Brussels and the People’s Republic of China. Competition will exist on Beijing, but Chengdu will be served exclusively by Air China.

In June, LATAM Airlines will re-establish a direct link between Belgium and Brazil, launching a Brussels to São Paulo route on 1 June 2026. The service will operate three times per week with Boeing 787-9 aircraft, ending a 26-year absence of nonstop flights between the two countries.

Brussels Airlines will also expand its African network with a new route to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, from 3 June. The service will operate twice weekly, with a technical stop in Nairobi on the return leg.

Air Canada will add a seasonal Brussels–Halifax service for summer 2026, operating three times per week. If successful, the route could be upgraded with A321neo XLR aircraft in future seasons.

According to L’Écho, long-haul flights will account for around 260 weekly services in 2026—more than 11% above pre-pandemic levels. While European traffic has largely recovered, long-haul remains the airport’s key strategic growth engine. 

As Arnaud Feist has pointed out, these routes are vital not only for passenger connectivity but also for cargo volumes and premium-class revenues.

Routes lost and airlines to watch

The expansion comes alongside several notable exits. Icelandic airline PLAY has ceased operations at Brussels, Delta Air Lines ended its long-standing Brussels to New York route earlier this year, and Air Albania has withdrawn from Tirana. TUI fly has also scaled back its long-haul operations.

Looking ahead, Ryanair plans to reduce its Brussels network further in response to Belgium’s federal aviation tax, having already removed its aircraft base from Zaventem.

Despite this, new opportunities remain. Slot requests suggest possible future flights from Riyadh, while African carriers continue to show interest. Air Sénégal has already entered the market, and Air Côte d’Ivoire and Air Congo are both being closely watched. Seasonal charter flights to the Caribbean are also under consideration.

Beyond 2026, Brussels Airport Company continues to target new long-haul destinations, including additional destinations in the United States, South America, Asia and Africa, reinforcing Zaventem’s ambition to strengthen its global reach.

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