Each traveller at Antwerp airport costs taxpayer 65 euros

Antwerp Airport in Deurne is facing severe financial difficulties, with every passenger costing taxpayers around 65 euros, according to research by De Standaard and VRT NWS.

The airport, which relies heavily on public funding, received 5.4 million euros from the Flemish government last year and an additional 8.1 million euros from the federal government to stay afloat. Despite this support, Antwerp Airport is described as “virtually bankrupt”. It recorded a net loss of 658,000 euros in 2024, carries 10 million euros in debt, and is rapidly depleting its cash reserves.

Passenger numbers and flight movements have been falling for years, with the airport now serving only about 570 passengers a day. The situation is so serious that the “alarm bell procedure”, a legal mechanism allowing creditors to request the company’s dissolution, has been triggered.

“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.

Flemish Mobility minister Annick De Ridder, however, insists regional support for Antwerp Airport remains justified, but acknowledged the need to find “synergies” to reduce subsidies.

Opposition party Groen has renewed its call for the Court of Audit to review all subsidies to regional airports. The party is now backed by Vooruit and CD&V, who also question the continued flow of public money. 

^{#FlandersNewsService | The regional airport of Antwerp © BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS}