EDGING CLOSER TO RE-OPENING – BRUSSELS AIRPORT HAS ALL HANDS ON DECK TO ACHIEVE TUESDAY DEADLINE
(Posted 28th March 2016)
Since gaining access to the airport terminal building, after a number of Belgian and international forensics experts completed their work to examine the crime scene where terrorists had set off two bombs at Zaventem airport six days ago, has the airport progressively moved towards a resumption of operations.
The airport is still keen to resume operations on Tuesday and has began to establish a revised passenger flow route into the terminal, after setting up security checkpoints before reaching the building.
It is understood from a Brussels based source that a temporary entrance will be created into the ‘Connector‘ building where check in desks will be set up and used, while reconstruction of the affected main check in area continues. No deadline has been given when that work will be completed.
From the ground floor entrance into the ‘Connector‘ building, well known of course to regular users of Brussels’ Zaventem airport, will passengers, after completing their check in formalities, then use a service staircase towards the main hand baggage and personal screening area, which had not been affected by last Tuesdays events. After that check point has been cleared will passengers then proceed to their departure gates as usual.
Arriving passengers will also follow a different route for the time being and a bus service will take them to a building where their baggage can be reclaimed after first going through immigration check points.
It is understood that once the temporary measures have been cleared under the various Belgian building codes and regulations, that a major trial run will be staged tomorrow, Tuesday, before operations are gradually resuming and moving towards all airlines using Zaventem returning to the airport.
Meanwhile is Brussels Airlines continuing to operate European flights out of Liege and Antwerp, with passengers receiving a bus service to and from Brussels. However, the airlines intercontinental flights to Africa, New York and Washington DC, for the time being, operate out of Frankfurt and Zurich while the launch of flights to Toronto has been postponed until April 02nd.
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