Interior minister criticises airport queues, calling them “damaging to Brussels and Belgium’s image”
Interior minister criticises airport queues, calling them “damaging to Brussels and Belgium’s image”

Interior minister criticises airport queues, calling them “damaging to Brussels and Belgium’s image”

3 weeks ago

After a site visit, Belgian Interior minister Bernard Quintin (MR) condemned the long passport control queues at Brussels Airport, calling the situation unacceptable. He urged the federal police to take swift action.

“Zaventem is an international showcase for our country,” said Quintin. “Two-hour queues or longer are not only frustrating for travellers; they also damage the image of Brussels and Belgium. This must be addressed.” 

The minister is primarily placing responsibility on the airport police, who are part of the federal force, to take immediate action. He expects to see a marked improvement before the busy summer holiday season begins.

Frontex

Quintin had previously signed a royal decree permitting Frontex officers, who are responsible for guarding the EU’s external borders, to be deployed at the airport. His office also suggests that scheduling intercontinental flights more evenly could ease the strain on border control during peak hours.

Long queues are a long-standing issue, with both the police and airport officials citing chronic understaffing as the cause. ‘We need 28 officers for the morning shift. Getting to 20 is a success,” officers told De Standaard. Staff are now so stretched that border checks are diverting resources away from other key duties, such as tackling undocumented migration and drug trafficking.

The Federal Police say they are working on a summer plan, which will see officers who don’t usually perform border checks assisting with staffing control points. This is intended to improve management of peak periods when multiple non-Schengen flights land simultaneously.

Don't Miss

Brussels has second-highest number of working students in Belgium

Brussels has second-highest number of working students in Belgium

The sun is starting to peak through the clouds more often and
Brussels public transport reached over one million daily users in 2024

Brussels public transport reached over one million daily users in 2024

In 2024, Brussels’ public transport operator STIB-MIVB recorded more than one million