Brussels Airport offers surprising reach for its size, with EU-institution demand keeping business routes frequent.
Brussels Airport (BRU) serves as Belgium's main international gateway and sits 12 km northeast of the city center. Brussels Airlines, a Lufthansa subsidiary, runs a hub operation focused on central Africa (a legacy of colonial ties) and European business routes to EU capitals. This creates an unusual route map — you can fly nonstop to Kinshasa more easily than to many Southern European leisure spots.
EU institutional calendars shape fare patterns more than typical tourist seasonality. European Parliament session weeks (Monday-Thursday, roughly September through July) keep weekday business fares elevated, while Friday departures and weekends often drop 20-30%. Summer recess in August creates a notable price dip on most routes. For leisure travel, May and early June offer the best combination of mild weather and reasonable pricing.
Charleroi Airport (CRL), marketed as 'Brussels South', sits 46 km away and hosts Ryanair and Wizz Air at significantly lower base fares. The shuttle bus to Brussels city center takes about 55 minutes and costs EUR 17. Whether the savings justify the longer transfer depends on your departure time — for an early morning Ryanair flight, you might need to leave Brussels around 4 AM.
Very. Direct trains from Brussels-Central reach the airport in 17 minutes, departing every 10-15 minutes. A ticket costs about EUR 12. The airport has a single terminal divided into two piers — navigation is straightforward.
August is the cheapest month because EU Parliament recesses and business travel evaporates. May and early June are also good. Avoid September and October when institutions resume and weekday demand pushes fares up.
BRU is closer, better connected, and has more airlines. Charleroi offers Ryanair and Wizz Air at lower base fares but adds a 55-minute, EUR 17 shuttle ride. Compare total cost including transfers before deciding.
