Brussels Airport has begun a €25 million project to refurbish all 33 passenger boarding bridges in Pier A, with the work scheduled to be completed by 2031.

The boarding bridges, which connect aircraft directly to the terminal gates, are being upgraded in phases to minimise disruption to passengers and airport operations. The oldest bridges date from 2002, when Pier A opened, meaning some have now been in service for almost 25 years.

Each bridge is being assessed individually, with components refurbished or replaced where necessary. The work includes installing new control systems and additional sensors, as well as renewing floors, windows and other technical and structural components.

The new control systems are intended to make the bridges easier and more efficient for ground-handling teams to operate. Once refurbished, the bridges are expected to be ready for at least another 15 years of service while continuing to meet current safety and operational standards.

Brussels Airport is limiting the number of bridges taken out of service at the same time. No more than three will be under renovation simultaneously, while during the busy summer season this will be reduced to two.

The movable sections of the bridges will be detached from the terminal and transported to the manufacturer for refurbishment using specialised transport. Depending on the work required, each bridge will spend several months away from the airport before being returned and reinstalled.

The phased programme is expected to run until 2031. Brussels Airport says the investment is part of its wider efforts to maintain the infrastructure used by its around 25 million annual passengers.

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