Zaventem Reopening Ceremony

Ladies and Gentlemen,

For many of us, it is our first time returning to the departure hall since that fateful day.

The images we saw on 22 March came as a shock to us all.

Because this is above all a place where we look forward to a different destination, to being reunited with a loved one, or to rising up to face a new challenge.

The attack on the airport shattered that illusion.

But Brussels Airport is showing today that it is more resilient than ever.

The airport has not become dejected.
Its many thousands of workers were struck in the heart and have worked hard to welcome everyone back.

This resilience shows that our country is standing up against atrocities.
Our citizens have shown their best side.
They helped people in need.

They acted professionally in difficult circumstances.
And they are picking up where they left off, however hard it has been.
Because the memory of the many victims weighs heavily on all of us.
The memory of the men, women and children who died here shall continue to live on.

We were hit hard, but we stood back up.

The place where we are standing is living proof of this resilience.
 

I can only show admiration for the incredible challenge that was met here.

And it was met in less than 40 days after the attacks.
It is a veritable tour de force.

And this determination is the best answer we can give the terrorists.

Brussels Airport did not throw in the towel.
Various lines were already operational twelve days after the attacks.

A month after the attacks, around 15,000 passengers were coming through our airport every day.

Starting tomorrow, we will be welcoming around 80% of the number of passengers we had prior to the attacks!

There is no better proof for the resilience of our democratic society!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The speed and intelligence deployed to return our airport to an operational state are highly symbolic.

An airport is a gateway to the outside world.
It is the gateway and the entrance to Belgium.

This airport is also one of the lungs of our economic fabric.
Through this airport, we export and import a large volume of goods every hour of every day.

An airport is like an immense human hive.
It is a place of intense commercial trade.
But first and foremost of human interaction.

The date of 22 March will remain forever etched in our memories.

On that day, men and women were brutally targeted by terrorism here and in Maelbeek.

There are no words strong enough to condemn these heinous, cowardly, monstrous and criminal acts.

Life ended suddenly for 32 people. For their families and relatives, it is a poignant grief that will never dull.

For 340 other individuals, the explosions inflicted injuries, burns and bruises. 

For thousands of other people present at the scene, it is a trauma whose memory will forever remain etched in their minds.

For us all, it is and will remain an unspeakable act of aggression against our country. Against Europe and against the values of democracy. 

But our population instantly decided to stand up against this atrocity, this barbarity.

An immense movement of compassion, generosity and solidarity prevailed from the outset.

We chose to put our differences aside to stand up as one.

We all chose to resist.

Our capital's airport is starting up again.
Brussels is back in business. Welcome to Brussels Airport.