A growing number of direct destinations and frequencies, combined with an improved retail offer and new products and services, positively impacted revenues for Brussels Airport in 2006. The Brussels Airport Company released its unaudited annual results, reporting 2006 revenues amounting to €347.1 million, a growth of 6.9% compared to 2005. Operating costs increased by 1%, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization increased by 12.8% amounting to €183.1 million.

The 2006 results were driven by management focus on operational efficiencies, the improved offer in shopping, car parking and Food & Drinks, as well as the record numbers of local passengers and cargo volumes (see press release January 18).

Commercial revenues benefited from increased activity in airport advertising and a better car parking product, including the opening of the all-new car park FP3. Several retail projects also contributed to this success: the refurbishment and upgrading of existing food & drinks outlets, and the opening of several new specialist outlets. They have improved the overall choice, quality and service experience for the passenger and the airport user. In 2006, investments focused on the arrivals hall and pier B. For 2007 the focus of change will be on the departures hall and the pier A shopping area. Optimization of the security screening process, resulting in less queuing, also had a favourable impact on the retail activities.

The increase in Aeronautical Revenues for 2006 reflects a healthy traffic growth and a consumer price index adjustment under the long term tariff agreement.

It should be noted that aeronautical revenues are also influenced by the way the airport accounts for the recently announced increased security costs. The security cost pass-through procedure increases both aeronautical revenues and costs.

The number of destinations served from Brussels Airport was significantly extended in 2006, including non-stop flights to Beijing, Addis Ababa, Palermo, Krakow and Durham Tees Valley. The frequency of flights to a number of existing destinations was also extended.

Wilfried Van Assche, CEO of Brussels Airport comments: “The new Brussels Airport brand we introduced last October, will help us build a stronger market position for Brussels Airport. In 2007, our key priorities for aviation are with the growth of both long haul and low cost travel. We have already announced several new daily direct long haul destinations for the summer season, and this is only the beginning of the year. Increased marketing efforts towards the airlines and passengers will secure a stronger market share in low cost, directly competing with high speed rail and low cost niche airports. As from 2007, Brussels Airport will be on the map with the widest and most attractive choice in low cost fares a Euro can buy”.