Brussels departure hall opens for first time since terror attacks

The departure hall at Brussels main airport was partially reopened Sunday for the first time since two suicide bombers killed 16 people on March 22. The militant group that calls itself the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.

The entire Zaventem Airport was shut down for nearly two weeks following the assaults that also included a separate bombing inside a busy subway station in Brussels. Another 16 people were killed there.

The airport reopened on a limited basis April 3 amid tight security and as Belgian and other European officials launched an international dragnet that branched out across several European countries. But the departure hall remained closed for renovations.

Members of staff and travellers walk in the departure hall after a ceremony at Brussels Airport as it reopens 40 days after deadly attacks in Zaventem, Belgium, May 1, 2016. Photo By Eric Vidal/Reuters

In an opening ceremony held 40 days after those attacks, Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport Company, lauded the efforts of those who worked to reopen the departure hall, which will initially house the operations of 25 airlines before later becoming fully functional.

“We’re again seeing the familiar image of passengers in our departures hall, a big step towards the return to normal activities at the airport which will give a boost to the economy of the entire nation,” Feist said. “That we are returning to an almost normal situation in so little time, is important for the confidence of our business, investors and foreign tourists.”