Flanders plans to cut subsidies for regional airports

The Flemish government plans to reduce financial support for the regional airports of Antwerp, Ostend and Kortrijk, according to reports in Belgian business newspaper De Tijd.

Flemish Mobility minister Annick De Ridder is preparing new funding agreements and wants the three airports to become less dependent on government money. However, questions remain about how they can become financially sustainable.

The airports received around €13 million in operating subsidies in 2024, in addition to investment funding. Despite this support, Antwerp and Kortrijk recorded losses that year. Ostend reported a profit only because of a one-off income boost.

A government document suggests measures such as developing unused land, increasing passenger numbers, improving bus connections and installing solar panels. Critics say these ideas do not address the main problem: a lack of passengers and cargo traffic.

A 2022 cost-benefit study concluded that closing the Antwerp and Kortrijk airports would be the most economically beneficial option. However, De Ridder has ruled out closures, arguing that Antwerp Airport is important for the city’s port and diamond industries.

The debate comes as opposition parties also criticise the Flemish government’s investment in Brussels Airport. They argue that dividend payments from the airport do not cover the interest costs of the investment, effectively creating a hidden subsidy. The government rejects that claim and says the investment remains financially justified.

The future of the three regional airports remains uncertain, and coalition partners are reportedly unconvinced by the government’s current plans to make them profitable.

^{#FlandersNewsService | Deurne airport © BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS}