In the year 2022, approximately 72% of all flight operations registered at Antwerp Airport were domestic flights, as revealed by data requested by the Flemish Green Party (Groen) in
parliament. The airport attributes this trend to the significant pilot training programs conducted in Antwerp.
The majority of domestic flights using Antwerp Airport function as both departure and arrival points, occasionally involving connections with other Belgian airports. Groen's report indicates a total of 30,000 domestic flights at Antwerp in 2022.
Groen has criticized the allocation of taxpayers' money by the Flemish government into an airport that operates at a loss and predominantly caters to domestic air traffic. They advocate for a ban on domestic flights, a sentiment shared by federal Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet of Ecolo. "The Flemish government is wasting our tax money," Groen stated. "Antwerp is not only running at a loss, but it also serves as a hub for domestic flights, not transport flights. It is absurd to fly from Antwerp to Brussels or within Antwerp purely for leisure."
Antwerp Airport emphasizes the significance of its pilot training programs. A spokesperson notes, "Our pilot training initiatives align with the vision of the Flemish government. We are training future pilots. Antwerp hosts several pilot schools, equipped with necessary resources like navigation systems and simulators."
Wouter Dewulf, an aviation economist at UAntwerp, points out that the majority of passenger flights are international, including those operated by tour company TUI. He explains, "Training flights mainly involve takeoffs and landings. These training flights are conducted without passengers and employ propeller-driven aircraft that consume less fuel."
Private jets have also played a role at Antwerp Airport and other local airports. Belgium experienced a record year in 2022 with 10,618 private flights, a 52% increase from 2021. While the most popular route was between Brussels and London, there was also significant private traffic between Brussels and Antwerp.
The Flemish government's decision at the end of 2022 to extend the operations of regional airports like Antwerp, Ostend-Bruges, and Kortrijk-Wevelgem until 2040 has sparked controversy. These airports rely on substantial financial support from the Flemish government to remain operational. Mobility expert Dirk Lauwers of UAntwerp criticized this decision, stating, "The Flemish government appears to disregard the climate crisis," in an interview with Knack magazine. Photo by Ad Meskens, Wikimedia commons.