As airports worldwide look to bounce back from the challenges of the last few years, figures from 2019 have been a useful yardstick in this recovery. After all, that was the last full year of pre-pandemic 'normality,' and, as such, exceeding its numbers marks impressive growth. This is what happened in Ostend last month.

Better than ever before

Located on the coast in northwestern Belgium, Ostend-Bruges International (OST) is a key cargo hub. This aspect of the airport's operations thrived in the deepest, darkest months of the pandemic, but now it is the turn of passenger flights to take center stage. These have become increasingly important, as the latest figures show.

Indeed, as announced in a statement published by the airport yesterday, the 41,682 passengers that passed through Ostend-Bruges International in May represented the facility's highest-ever monthly total. This marked a 30% increase compared to May 2022, but, most notably, the figure also exceeded that of May 2019 by 1.2%.

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The vast majority of these passengers were using flights operated by TUI, with the leisure carrier's Belgian division accounting for more than 39,500 of Ostend-Bruges International Airport's guests last month. The number of TUI passengers at Ostend-Bruges has seen even larger growth, rising 32% vs 2022 and 13% vs 2019.

Convenience and location play key roles

Despite being a relatively small airport, Ostend-Bruges International has leveraged its location to foster the aforementioned year-on-year growth. CEO Eric Dumas credits this aspect, along with the general convenience of the facilities at the airport itself, as being key to the facility's ongoing success. Specifically, he states:

"This demonstrates the dynamism of the airport's catchment area, which continues to grow, and whose population has a high propensity to travel. Travelers are increasingly seeking alternatives to busy airports, and Ostend-Bruges Airport can ensure its passengers of a stress-free departure."

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TUI Aircraft On The Ground At Ostend Airport
Photo: Yves Engels/Ostend-Bruges International Airport

Smaller airports often provide a more relaxed atmosphere compared to larger (and subsequently busier) hubs. Being a more compact facility, Ostend-Bruges International is able to offer its passengers "short walking distances, nearby parking, and short waiting times," all of which make for a calmer start to any journey.

Carefully-selected routes

With TUI being by far the dominant airline at Ostend-Bruges International, it is unsurprising to see that the airport's routes have a strong emphasis on leisure destinations. However, while Europe is full of short-haul holiday hotspots, the airport has concentrated on operating fewer routes to ensure higher loads.

This worked to great effect last month, when, as Dumas explains, the airport "served 12 routes and over 90% of all seats were occupied." Of particular note in this regard was the return of flights to Antalya Airport (AYT) in Turkey, which operated for the first time since 2019. This is a seasonal service, but TUI does also operate year-round flights from Ostend to Alicante, Gran Canaria, Málaga, and Tenerife.

What do you make of Ostend-Bruges International's performance last month? Did you fly to or from this Belgian airport in May 2023? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!