Starting March 29, 2026, Brussels Airport is rolling out one of its biggest summer schedules yet: 180 direct destinations served by 70 airlines, with five fresh carriers joining the lineup. This isn't just incremental growth. The airport is opening genuine pathways to places that have been unreachable, or barely reachable, from Belgium.
The headline move is São Paulo. LATAM Airlines launches three weekly flights from June 2, marking the first regular passenger service between Brussels and South America in over a quarter century. That's genuinely significant for anyone dreaming of Brazilian culture, food, and business opportunities. You're no longer tacking on six-hour layovers through Paris or Amsterdam.
Africa and Asia are getting closer
On the African side, Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania now has a twice-weekly Brussels Airlines connection (via Nairobi). If you've been fantasizing about summiting Africa's highest peak or doing a safari circuit, the logistics just became considerably more straightforward. Combining mountain trekking with game drives in nearby wildlife parks is now a simpler route to arrange.
Asia expansion includes Air China launching flights to Chengdu starting March 26, tapping into one of China's major cities. Chengdu has the panda sanctuaries and layered history that draw culture-focused travelers, so this route fills a genuine gap in the Brussels-to-Asia network alongside existing Tokyo, Beijing, and Singapore service.
North America gets a surprising addition
Air Canada is introducing three weekly flights to Halifax on the Boeing 737 MAX 8, a narrow-body aircraft. This might sound like an odd choice for a transatlantic route, but it's actually clever. Halifax is a smaller market than New York, Toronto, or Atlanta. Its harbor, historic waterfront, and laid-back East Coast vibe don't generate the volume that justifies a massive wide-body jet. The 737 MAX 8 is fuel-efficient, cheaper to operate, and makes direct service viable without a larger plane.
This reflects a broader shift in how airlines approach transatlantic connectivity. The Airbus A321neo and 737 MAX 8 are opening doors for smaller city pairs that would otherwise require connections. More diverse European cities can now offer nonstop Atlantic crossings, which means less hassle and lower fares for travelers hunting routes that aren't on the New York-London-Paris carousel.
Europe gets richer too
Within Europe, LOT Polish Airlines is adding four weekly flights to Gdańsk, a Baltic coastal gem with a rebuilt old town and serious maritime history. Volotea is introducing seasonal service to Asturias in northern Spain, a region known for green mountains, beaches, and local cuisine that serious foodies should circle on their map. These routes work perfectly for long weekends or cultural breaks.
Established carriers aren't sitting still either. Transavia and Vueling are pumping more flights into Mediterranean staples like Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Alicante, and Málaga. TUI fly is expanding too, adding Turkish destinations like Kayseri. Delta has upped its Atlanta service to daily flights, making it far easier to connect onward to the southern and western United States.
What this means for your travel plans
By this summer, Brussels Airport will be directly connected to 41 long-haul cities across North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and the Gulf. That's more choice for nearly every style of traveler: city explorers, beach hunters, adventure seekers, and business travelers juggling intercontinental schedules. The airport has quietly positioned itself as a genuine alternative to the typical London-Paris-Frankfurt mega-hubs, with routes that often have less competition and more reasonable pricing.
For travelers based in Belgium, the Netherlands, or northern France, Brussels is suddenly a lot more interesting. And for airlines, the expanded network signals confidence in European travel demand bouncing back with real momentum.
