【Antwerp, Bel】With 570 Passengers Per Day, Antwerp Airport is in Virtual Bankruptcy: “It Will Close Before the End of This Legislative Term”

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Editor’s Note

This article examines the precarious financial state of Antwerp Airport, Belgium’s fourth-largest by passenger traffic. As reported by De Standaard and VRT, the airport faces potential closure without significant regional aid, a prospect that is now fueling political debate over the future of public subsidies for the facility.

Aéroport d'Anvers
Fourth Airport in Belgium Struggles

As Belgium’s fourth-largest airport by passenger numbers, Antwerp Airport is in deep financial trouble. According to an investigation by De Standaard and VRT, the Deurne airport is even in a state of “virtual bankruptcy.”
Without a multi-million euro financial aid package from Flanders, it will have to close its doors. However, at a time when Flanders must tighten its belt, two parties in the Flemish majority, Vooruit and CD&V, believe it is time to turn off the subsidy tap.
The reality is clear: the number of passengers and aircraft movements has been declining for several consecutive years at Deurne. On average, the airport now welcomes only 570 passengers per day (compared to 27,500 at Charleroi and nearly 65,000 at Zaventem), mainly on flights operated by Tui Fly and private jets.

“We have too little activity to at least reach the break-even point.”
Diamant.

Nathan De Valck, the CEO of Antwerp Airport

A Debt of 10 Million Euros

Last year, the net loss amounted to 658,000 euros, and the debt reached the astronomical figure of 10 million euros. The financial situation of the Antwerp airport is reportedly so dire that, under the so-called “alarm bell procedure,” any creditor can ask a judge to dissolve the company.

“We have too little activity to at least reach the break-even point,” acknowledges Nathan De Valck, the airport’s CEO. “We cannot continue like this for another ten years.”

According to VRT, in addition to 5.4 million euros in aid allocated by Flanders last year, the federal government also contributes 8.1 million euros to keep the airport operational. This represents 65 euros in public aid per passenger who lands or takes off from Deurne. This is untenable for CD&V, which believes Antwerp Airport no longer has “hardly any reason to exist.”

Jusqu’à il y a peu, 80 % des diamants bruts produits à travers le monde transitaient par Anvers.
“Flanders is subsidizing private flights with public money,” states the party. “The business model is not viable, the company is poorly managed, and its activities are harmful to the environment,” adds Flemish opposition MP Bogdan Vanden Berghe (Groen).
A Single Powerful Ally

In reality, the airport seems to have only one remaining ally, albeit a powerful one: the N-VA party. Prime Minister Bart De Wever stated last year that “as long as he still had a say in Antwerp, the airport would remain open.” From the same party, Annick De Ridder, the Flemish Minister of Mobility, is convinced that Antwerp needs its airport and refuses to end subsidies.

“De Ridder would rather cut off her own arm than close Deurne,” a source told colleagues at De Standaard.

However, the financial reality in Flanders may catch up with the N-VA politician’s ambition.

Jusqu’à il y a peu, 80 % des diamants bruts produits à travers le monde transitaient par Anvers.
“Antwerp Airport will close its doors before the end of this legislative term,” asserts a Flemish minister.
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⏰ Published on: October 13, 2025