Brussels Airport accounts for 5.4bn euros in added value to Belgian economy
The findings of a study conducted by the University of Antwerp and UCLouvain, presented on Monday, show that Brussels Airport adds 5.41 billion euros in value and supports more than 64,000 jobs. There are also indications that the longstanding dispute between the airline and its cabin crew has been resolved.
Based on data from 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic, the study shows that Brussels Airport directly contributes 2.3 billion euros to the Belgian economy. This includes all activities directly based at the airport, from airlines to hotels and on-site shops, totalling 357 companies and 25,796 jobs.
Indirect impact
In addition, it indirectly impacts 1.62 billion euros in value-added and 19,152 jobs. The researchers considered companies that provide services at the airport but are not located there, such as taxi companies, restaurant suppliers and companies involved in runway renovation.
The study also looked at the impact of salaries paid to direct and indirect airport-related employees, which contributed an additional 1.48 billion euros in value-added and 15,615 jobs.
The report, commissioned by the airport, fills the gap left by the National Bank (NBB), which assessed airports' economic impact annually. The last NBB report, based on 2015 figures, dates back to 2017 and estimated Brussels Airport's direct and indirect added value at 3.42 billion euros.
According to the new study, which uses a broadly similar methodology, this figure increased to 3.93 billion euros in 2019. Brussels Airport CEO Arnaud Feist sees these results as proof that the airport is a "growth engine" and "an indispensable part of the Belgian economy".
© BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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