Zaventem - Nee dank! (Brussels Airport (BRU))

Member Name: Morgenhund

Product:	Brussels Airport (BRU)
Date:	14/11/00 (33 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: train link is frequent

Disadvantages: Generally transport infrastructure needs improving.

For a city that would like to maintain that it is the "Capital of the EU" Zaventem is a pretty awful airport. Whilst clearly you can't expect the airport to be next door to all the main business premises, you would at least hope that it would be planned well enough to allow fast connections onwards into Brussels.

A lot of companies have relocated sales departments closer to Zaventem because it has been hard to get to otherwise, and the public transportation is a bit dicey. Although there are train links, these are a bit hit or miss, and run to the usual Belgian standard of punctuality, namely approximately 5 minutes late is "as good as on time!"

Whereas connections from London City seem to work well, the same can't be said of Zaventem. There used to be daily hold ups on the orbital roads, and flights were regularly missed by people travelling from the company, or they were late back for meetings.

The facilities were fairly average, and this is not a place you want to stay in for too long if you can possibly avoid doing so, as the service is septic, the staff unhelpful, as is a typical Belgian wont. The whole transport plannign needs a good overhaul.

Summary: