Brussels Airport Boosts Economy: 64,000 Jobs and €5.4 Billion in Contributions

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

A recent study by researchers from UAntwerp and UCLouvain universities reveals that economic activities centered on Brussels Airport significantly contribute to Belgium’s gross domestic product, amounting to a net €5.4 billion. The study underscores the substantial employment generated by the airport, with 26,000 direct jobs in 2019 and an additional 3,500 jobs provided by the Airport Business District. Factoring in indirect employment, the airport ecosystem supports a total of 64,000 jobs, affirming its crucial role in sustaining livelihoods in the surrounding area.

In 2019, the airport provided direct employment for 29,500 individuals.

Previously, the National Bank conducted an annual analysis on the economic influence of airports in Belgium. The most recent assessment occurred in 2017, utilizing data from 2015. Responding to Brussels Airport’s inquiry, researchers from the University of Antwerp and UCLouvain have recently conducted a fresh examination. They scrutinized Brussels Airport’s effects on employment and added value for the year 2019. The selection of 2019 as the study year was deliberate, aimed at capturing a pre-COVID-19 scenario, which temporarily skewed economic metrics.

In the first part, Wouter Dewulf, Bart Jourquin, Sven Buyle and Jolien Pauwels looked exclusively at the activities that are directly related to Brussels Airport itself. “These include airline and air traffic control operations, on-site hotels and shops, cargo operations etc.”, explains prof. Wouter Dewulf (UAntwerp). “Together, these activities account for an added value – the net created value contribution of economic activity to society – of €2.3 billion. Spread across 357 different companies, 25,796 people work in airport-related jobs. 7,062 of direct employees (27%) are related to cargo activities, which also account for 23% of direct added value (€539 million). The logistics department therefore has great importance and added value. In addition, there are a further 3,662 employees based at the airport site who work in non-directly related sectors (e.g. at consultancy firms based at the site).” In contrast, during 2015, the National Bank computed a value added totaling €1.7 billion, with 17,767 directly employed full-time equivalents.

Total economic impact: €5.4 billion in added value.

Businesses providing services to the airport create an indirect impact. “Consider, for example, businesses that supply restaurants at Brussels Airport, firms that renovate runways or taxi companies in the airport’s vicinity.”, says prof. Bart Jourquin (UCLouvain). “Together, they account for €1.6 billion in added value. 19,152 employees earn their living from it.”

Thirdly, the airport’s induced effects are determined through the implementation of the Federal Planning Bureau’s input-output model. These effects encompass the wage expenditures within the national economy attributed to employees engaged in both directly and indirectly associated enterprises. The induced level contributes €1.5 billion in added value and sustains 15,615 jobs.

By summing up these three effects, the comprehensive economic impact of Brussels Airport is revealed. It stands at €5.4 billion in added value and supports a workforce of 64,225 individuals.

“The study of Universiteit Antwerpen and UCLouvain confirms that Brussels Airport remains the country’s second most important economic engine with 29,500 jobs on the airport site and 64,000 jobs in the country thanks to the airport activities.”, says Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport. “This study shows the importance of the airport for employment and as an economic growth engine: the economic added value generated by the airport each year has increased from 3,2 billion to no less than 5,4 billion euros in 2019. We are proud of the many airport employees working day in day out in the service of millions of passengers, thousands of companies, and the country’s three regions.”  

The airport serves as a potent driver for economic growth.

The researchers also assessed the catalytic impacts, which encompass the significant economic advantages stemming from an airport’s capacity to invigorate various sectors like trade, investment, productivity, and tourism. The airport’s presence and operations attract supplementary investments and activities, resulting in the generation of added value and employment opportunities.

As evidence, Brussels Airport generates an added value of €8.83 billion, constituting 1.85% of Belgium’s GDP in 2019. This translates to employment for 81,637 individuals.

“This research shows that Brussels Airport and its ecosystem generate high added value and employment,” concludes Jolien Pauwels (UAntwerp). “The aviation sector is labour-intensive and therefore generates a relatively high employment rate. Moreover, both the airport and the airlines are very capital-intensive, which leads to high added value.”

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