Belgium Opens New Doors to International Travel as Brussels Airport Expands Winter Network to Over a Hundred Destinations with Four New Routes and More Flights Through 2027

Belgium is expanding its international aviation network for the 2026–2027 winter season, with Brussels Airport offering 136 direct destinations, including four newly introduced routes connecting the Belgian capital with France, Spain, Finland and Norway. Announced by Brussels Airport on 15 October 2026, the winter schedule began on 25 October and includes additional services operated by easyJet, Brussels Airlines, Fly2Galicia, Transavia and Etihad Airways. New connections to Nantes, Santiago de Compostela, Kemi-Tornio and Evenes will provide further options for city breaks, pilgrimage journeys, winter sports and Northern Lights holidays. Etihad Airways is also scheduled to increase Brussels–Abu Dhabi flights from seven to eleven weekly services on 15 December, while Transavia is expanding its flights to selected European holiday destinations. The changes strengthen Belgium’s international travel offering ahead of the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Belgium Introduces Expanded Winter Aviation Network with 136 Direct Destinations

Brussels Airport has introduced its winter 2026–2027 aviation programme, providing travellers with a network of 136 direct destinations. The schedule officially began on 25 October 2026 and brings together established European holiday routes, intercontinental connections and four new destinations. The airport’s announcement reflects the different types of travel associated with the winter season, including city holidays, beach escapes, skiing and visits to northern European destinations. The expanded programme provides additional choices for passengers departing from Belgium while strengthening the airport’s role in connecting travellers with international markets. However, the 136 destinations represent the overall winter network and should not be interpreted as 136 newly launched routes.

New Brussels–Nantes Flights Add Another Direct Connection to France

One of the four newly introduced destinations is Nantes in western France. easyJet scheduled its Brussels–Nantes service to begin on 26 October 2026, operating twice weekly. The route provides another direct travel option between Belgium and France, potentially supporting short holidays, personal visits and business travel. Nantes is known for its cultural attractions and urban tourism offering, making it relevant to travellers interested in exploring destinations beyond the largest French cities. As the announced start date has already passed, the connection should be described as part of the current winter schedule rather than an upcoming December launch. Individual departure times and ticket availability remain subject to easyJet’s published timetable.

Spain’s Santiago de Compostela Joins Brussels Airport Network from 1 December

Belgium will gain a new direct connection to Santiago de Compostela in north-western Spain on 1 December 2026. Brussels Airport confirms that Fly2Galicia, identified as a new airline in its winter announcement, will operate two weekly flights to the destination. Santiago de Compostela is internationally associated with pilgrimage tourism and the Camino de Santiago, making the new route particularly relevant to religious and cultural travel. The connection will provide passengers departing from Brussels with another option for reaching Galicia. The airport has confirmed the start date and frequency but has not supplied individual departure times or passenger forecasts for the route.

Brussels Airlines Prepares New Kemi-Tornio Flights for Christmas Travel to Finland

Brussels Airlines is scheduled to introduce direct flights to Kemi-Tornio in Finland on 25 December 2026, operating twice weekly. The route will expand Belgium’s winter connections to northern Europe and offer another gateway for travellers interested in snow-covered landscapes and seasonal outdoor experiences. Brussels Airport identifies Scandinavian destinations as important to its winter travel offering, particularly among passengers seeking winter sports and northern nature experiences. The Kemi-Tornio route adds a new option to this network during the Christmas holiday period. Travellers should confirm exact operating dates, baggage arrangements and onward transport options before booking activities requiring travel beyond the arrival airport.

Norway’s Evenes Joins Brussels Airport as New Northern Lights Gateway in February 2027

Another new destination will be Evenes in Norway, with Brussels Airlines scheduled to begin one weekly flight on 6 February 2027. Brussels Airport highlights the destination’s fjords, natural landscapes and opportunities to experience the Northern Lights. The route is therefore relevant to travellers planning Arctic holidays and outdoor experiences during the later winter season. The airport’s announcement establishes a direct connection but does not guarantee Northern Lights sightings, which depend on natural conditions. Passengers planning excursions should separately confirm local transport, accommodation and activity arrangements. The service will further diversify Brussels Airport’s northern European travel options during February.

Belgium’s Four New Winter Destinations Cover Different Tourism Markets

The four new destinations offer distinct travel possibilities rather than serving a single type of holiday. Nantes adds a western French city connection, Santiago de Compostela strengthens access to a major pilgrimage destination, and Kemi-Tornio and Evenes expand the airport’s northern European winter network. The new routes also involve different operating patterns, with weekly frequencies ranging from one to two services. These differences are important for travellers organising short breaks or longer stays because the days on which flights operate can influence itinerary planning. Brussels Airport has not published projected passenger numbers for each new route, so any claimed increase in visitors to these destinations would require additional evidence.

Brussels Airport Winter Flight Expansion 2026–2027: Official Route Details

Source: Brussels Airport’s official winter network announcement, published 15 October 2026. The airport identifies Nantes, Santiago de Compostela, Kemi-Tornio and Evenes as its four new destinations. Other services represent additional winter offerings or frequency changes.

Transavia Expands Brussels Flights to Las Palmas, Reykjavík and Porto

Transavia is also increasing its presence at Brussels Airport during the winter season. The airport confirmed that the airline established a full base during summer 2026 and is providing additional services to Las Palmas, Reykjavík and Porto. Flights to Las Palmas were scheduled from 28 October with three weekly departures, while Reykjavík services began on 30 October with two weekly flights. Porto is scheduled to join the airline’s winter programme from 14 December, operating three times weekly. These services provide further options for passengers interested in sunshine holidays, island destinations and European city breaks. Brussels Airport categorises them separately from the four newly introduced destinations.

Las Palmas Flights Offer More Winter Travel Options to the Canary Islands

Transavia’s three weekly flights to Las Palmas expand the winter holiday options available through Brussels Airport. The Canary Islands are among the destinations traditionally associated with travel away from Belgium’s colder winter weather. Brussels Airport specifically identifies Spain, Morocco and the Canary Islands as popular choices for passengers seeking sunshine and beach holidays during this period. The Las Palmas service therefore contributes to the airport’s established winter leisure network. The announced frequency provides an additional scheduling option, although the airport has not published specific passenger demand forecasts or guaranteed holiday package availability connected with the flights.

Reykjavík and Porto Services Strengthen Leisure Travel Connections

Transavia’s Reykjavík and Porto services provide two different international travel options. Reykjavík offers access to Iceland, a destination associated with nature-focused travel and winter experiences, while Porto provides a Portuguese city connection with cultural and urban attractions. The Reykjavík service was scheduled to begin on 30 October, while Porto flights are planned to start on 14 December. Their inclusion in the winter timetable broadens the choice of destinations available to passengers departing from Brussels. The airport has not announced additional details concerning individual flight numbers, promotional fares or special travel packages, and these should not be assumed from the network announcement.

Brussels Airlines and Finnair Strengthen Finland’s Winter Sports Connections

Finland is receiving additional attention in Brussels Airport’s winter programme beyond the new Kemi-Tornio route. The airport confirms that both Brussels Airlines and Finnair will serve Kittilä during the winter season. Kittilä provides an important northern destination for travellers interested in Finnish winter landscapes and skiing holidays. Its inclusion alongside Kemi-Tornio highlights the airport’s approach to serving different northern European travel markets. While the announcement confirms that both carriers will operate services to Kittilä, it does not provide a new launch date or weekly frequency for either airline. Travellers should therefore consult the relevant carrier’s timetable when planning their journeys.

Etihad Airways Increases Brussels–Abu Dhabi Flights to Eleven Weekly Services

One of the most important developments outside the European network concerns Etihad Airways. Brussels Airport confirms that the airline is scheduled to increase its Brussels–Abu Dhabi service from seven to eleven weekly flights beginning on 15 December 2026. This represents four additional weekly services, equivalent to a frequency increase of approximately 57%. The change strengthens an existing international route rather than introducing a new destination. Additional departures could provide greater flexibility for passengers travelling between Belgium and the UAE, including those considering onward international connections. However, the announcement does not specify new departure times, additional passenger capacity or expected visitor numbers.

Brussels Airport Maintains Forty Nonstop Intercontinental Destinations

The winter schedule includes a substantial long-haul component alongside European services. According to Brussels Airport, passengers will have access to 40 nonstop intercontinental destinations during the season. This network supports travel beyond Europe and provides options for business passengers, international holidaymakers and people visiting family or friends. The increase in Etihad’s Abu Dhabi frequency complements these existing international connections. The airport’s announcement does not describe all 40 destinations individually or confirm that each one has gained additional flights. The figure should therefore be treated as the size of the published intercontinental network, not as the number of newly established long-haul services.

Brussels Airport Forecast More Than 1.7 Million Autumn Holiday Passengers

The October announcement also provided passenger forecasts for Belgium’s autumn holiday period. Brussels Airport expected more than 1.7 million travellers across the school holiday periods of the country’s French-speaking and Dutch-speaking communities. The airport identified Friday, 16 October, as the expected busiest day, with approximately 82,000 passengers. Because the school holidays did not coincide in 2026, unlike the previous year, the airport stated that direct comparisons with 2025 would be difficult. These were forecasts published before the holiday period, not confirmed passenger totals. They provide context for the scale of airport activity preceding the winter season but do not establish demand for individual new routes.

Belgium’s Winter Flight Network Creates Additional Options for Different Travellers

The new winter programme combines cultural destinations, pilgrimage travel, winter sports opportunities, sunshine holidays and international connections. For travellers departing from Belgium, the introduction of four new destinations may reduce the need to use alternative departure airports or connecting itineraries for certain journeys. Additional services to existing destinations also provide more flight options on selected routes. These are potential passenger benefits rather than guarantees of lower fares or shorter overall journey times. Actual convenience will depend on airline schedules, available seats, travel dates and onward transport arrangements. The published programme establishes the range of services planned for winter 2026–2027 without providing forecasts for their individual economic effects.

Brussels Airport Advises Travellers to Arrive Early During the Winter Season

Brussels Airport has also issued practical guidance for passengers using its winter network. The airport recommends arriving two hours before scheduled departure for flights within the Schengen Area and three hours before flights outside Schengen. Travellers are encouraged to review hand luggage rules before arriving to help the security screening process operate efficiently. The airport also highlights its public transport connections and advises passengers travelling by car that parking can be reserved online in advance. These recommendations are relevant to both existing routes and newly introduced destinations, particularly for passengers unfamiliar with the airport’s departure procedures.

Belgium’s Winter Aviation Expansion Strengthens International Travel Choices Through 2027

Brussels Airport’s winter 2026–2027 programme provides a network of 136 direct destinations, including four new connections to Nantes, Santiago de Compostela, Kemi-Tornio and Evenes. Additional Transavia services to Las Palmas, Reykjavík and Porto, together with winter flights to Kittilä and increased Etihad frequencies to Abu Dhabi, broaden the available international travel options. The programme combines established leisure destinations with northern European winter experiences and intercontinental connections. Although some services began in October, several important launches remain scheduled for December and February. The expansion provides additional opportunities for international travel, while passengers should continue checking airline timetables and booking conditions before making arrangements.

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