Brussels Airlines' Africa flights depart in pier A

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Since Wednesday morning 15 October, the Africa flights operated by Brussels Airlines depart from the T area in pier A. This move leads to a major comfort improvement for Brussels Airlines Transfer passengers.

In the morning the furthest part of pier A will be reserved for the non-Schengen departures to Africa. For the purpose of these flights the area between gates A61 to A72 will be referred to as the T area and will be closed to Schengen passengers.

The operational startup of these changes was very succesful. This change also enables Brussels Airport to relieve the often busy pier B on peak hours and allows a more flexible use of the airport infrastructure. Near gate A61 a border checkpoint is put up that will only be used during these Africa-operations. For the purpose of the Africa flights gate numbers A61 to A72 are renamed T61-T72. The same name will be used on boarding passes and signage.

Due to these changes, most Brussels Airlines flights now operate from the A- and T- gate areas, allowing a more efficient transfer between European and African flights, with more passenger comfort. The thousands of passengers who monthly transfer from France, Scandinavia or Germany through Brussels Airport to Africa, will now enjoy swifter transfer opportunities. During the past few months, Brussels Airport and Brussels Airlines have closely worked together to guarantee the best passenger comfort level in this new T-zone. This operational change does not affect Schengen traffic in pier A, which will use gates A30 to A60.

Local passengers who check in at Brussels Airport will use the tunnel and the Topaz to proceed to the T area in pier A. Transfer passengers arriving in pier A, can travel on to their final destination in Africa via the same pier. With the "one stop security" principle no additional security screening is required for flights from Europe to Africa.

Transfer passengers arriving from a non-Schengen airport, will be screened in pier B and will then follow the T signage in order to be taken to the T area by shuttle bus.

Inbound passengers from Africa will arrive in pier B as usual. Only after all passengers have disembarked the aircraft will be moved to pier A for its next flight to Africa. This situation will only apply in the morning. After the long-haul planes have departed, pier A will be entirely available to Schengen traffic again.

Brussels Airport Company news release, 16/10/2008