Brussels Airport terminal reopens Sunday

The Brussels Airport terminal where suicide bombers killed 16 travelers will partially reopen Sunday, restoring about 80% of its capacity as part of the city’s recovery from the traumatic attacks, airport officials said Friday.

After the March 22 bombing by the Islamic State, a few flights resumed April 3 with travelers passing through temporary structures.

The Maelbeek subway station, where another 16 people were killed in a related bombing, reopened April 25.

By April 28, the airport was handling 18,000 departing passengers and hundreds of flights per day.

But the airport departures terminal was where two men detonated the explosives that knocked out windows, walls and part of the ceiling in what looked like a war zone of wounded travelers.

Brussels airport to reopen Sunday with tighter security

“Sunday is an important say in the recovery of Brussels Airport,” said Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport Co. “The fact that this is possible in less than 40 days after the attacks is, without any doubt, a technical and operational tour de force that took an enormous effort of hundreds of people.”

The departures hall will have 111 check-in counters open, combined with 36 counters that will remain open in the temporary structures.

With that restoration, the airport will return to about 80% of its capacity before the attacks, according to Feist. The goal is to restore 100% of service by mid-June, he said.

Brussels Airport offers advice for travelers

Because of added security measures, the airport offered travel advice such as arriving three hours before departure, pack lightly respecting rules about small quantities of liquids and gels, and check in online by the airline’s web site and print out boarding passes.

“It is positive that the passengers and airlines are quickly regaining their confidence in our airport,” Feist said. “These coming months, it will be very important to rebuild the image of our country abroad.”