What does TUI leaving Antwerp Airport say about Belgium's regional airport model?
TUI fly will leave Antwerp Airport and concentrate Belgian departures at Brussels and Oostende, according to De Morgen, a decision that removes Antwerp's main holiday-flight operator from a small airport already far below its 2019 passenger level.
In 30 seconds
- De Morgen reports that TUI fly will leave Antwerp Airport and fly only from Brussels and Oostende in Belgium.
- Antwerp Airport recorded 208,845 passengers in 2024, compared with 259,764 in 2023 and 306,330 in 2019.
- Oostende-Brugge Airport reported 404,076 passengers in 2025, up from 352,662 in 2024.
- TUI fly's own fleet page describes a shared Benelux fleet and lists Brussels, Antwerp and Ostend as Belgian departure airports.
Key fact
586 jobs Antwerp Airport says the site has two gates, eight check-in desks and .
The subject is TUI fly's reported withdrawal from Antwerp Airport and the resulting business impact on Belgium's regional airport network. The named entities are TUI fly Belgium, Antwerp Airport, Brussels Airport, Oostende-Brugge Airport, Egis and the Flemish government.
Background
Antwerp Airport has a long aviation history, with scheduled Sabena services noted by the airport from 1924 and TUI's predecessor Jetairfly beginning Antwerp operations in 2015. Its passenger traffic has remained below the 2019 level in recent published airport figures.
What to do
Travellers planning from Antwerpen should check departure airports carefully, especially for package holidays, and factor in extra transport time and cost if flights are moved to Brussels or Oostende.
Impact
Regional — The direct impact is in Flanders, especially Antwerp and the wider catchment around Antwerpen, Mechelen and parts of Limburg. Oostende may benefit if some leisure capacity and passengers shift west.
EvidenceWell established · 1 primary source + 4 official documentsExplore evidence →Hide evidence ↑
- Published:
- 7 Jul 2026, 02:00
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- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 7 Jul 2026
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- Retrieved by ODIN:
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This story was assembled from verified evidence, with its sources and reasoning recorded as it was written.