Antwerp airport faces financial crisis as each passenger costs taxpayers 65 euros

Antwerp Airport Faces Financial Crisis Amid Declining Passenger Numbers

Antwerp Airport in Deurne is grappling with significant financial challenges, with taxpayers footing the bill of approximately 65 euros for each passenger, reports 24brussels.

The airport relies heavily on public funding, having received 5.4 million euros from the Flemish government and an additional 8.1 million euros from the federal government in 2024 to maintain operations. Despite this financial assistance, Antwerp Airport is facing a near-bankrupt status, recording a net loss of 658,000 euros last year and accumulating a debt of 10 million euros while exhausting its cash reserves.

Passenger numbers and flight operations have been on a downward trajectory for years, with current daily figures averaging just 570 passengers. This alarming trend has prompted the initiation of the “alarm bell procedure,” a legal framework which allows creditors to pursue the company’s dissolution.

“We have too few activities to even break even. We can’t go on like this for another ten years,” admitted CEO Nathan De Valck, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Flemish Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder maintains that regional support for Antwerp Airport remains warranted, while acknowledging the necessity of finding “synergies” to reduce dependency on subsidies. Her office is exploring potential collaborative efforts to stabilize the airport’s finances.

In response to the escalating crisis, opposition party Groen has revived calls for the Court of Audit to examine all subsidies allocated to regional airports. The initiative has garnered support from Vooruit and CD&V, both of which have raised concerns regarding the ongoing allocation of public funds.

The financial troubles faced by Antwerp Airport reflect broader challenges in the regional aviation sector, where cost-efficiency and passenger demand are increasingly scrutinized. Stakeholders will need to navigate these complex dynamics to secure the airport’s future and safeguard taxpayer interests.