UPDATE - 23 March, 7:45 p.m.
Cargo flights from Brussels Airport can be resumed, since the BRUcargo zone has been cleared airside as well as landside. Only flights from and to apron 9, close to the cargo zone, are allowed. There is no night curfew in place.
The cargo zone BRUcargo, located at 2 km from the passenger terminal, was not hit by the terrorist attacks. Following a ‘Notice to Airmen’ given by the aviation authority to the air traffic
controllers, only repositioning flights had until now been granted take-off. One of the companies seizing this opportunity, was Qatar Cargo which was able to send an - empty - passenger aircraft
back to Doha. The full-cargo flight scheduled for today, was diverted to Amsterdam.
Singapore Airlines, a one-time impressive player at Brussels Airport but now among the more modest, has also opted for Amsterdam. Brussels Airlines has sent a few planes, also empty, to
Africa ro pick up stranded passengers. Sources at Brussels Airport have testified to a great of support and understanding in the international aviation community.
DHL Express has said that in most cases Leipzig was the first choice for rerouting the Brussels flights. Depending on origin, destination, timings and airlines, other airports in Europe were also
an option, as was road feedering.
Marcel Schoeters in Brussels
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