Translate
Brussels South Charleroi Airport
Charleroi, Belgium
Brussels South Charleroi Airport
Belgium's leading low-cost gateway serving the Brussels region.
- ›Ryanair's largest hub in continental Europe is based at Brussels South Charleroi Airport.
- ›The airport handled over 8 million passengers in its peak years before the COVID-19 pandemic.
- ›It was originally established as a military aerodrome during World War I.
- ›The airport's 'Brussels' branding led to a notable EU ruling in 2004 regarding state aid granted to Ryanair.
- ›It is located in the municipality of Gosselies, not directly in Charleroi city.
Brussels South Charleroi Airport, located roughly 46 kilometres south of Brussels near the industrial city of Charleroi, has grown from a modest regional airfield into one of Europe's busiest low-cost carrier hubs. Originally used for military purposes, it was transformed through the 1990s and 2000s largely by Ryanair's expansion into a major point-to-point travel centre. Despite its name, the airport serves a wide catchment area including Brussels, Namur, and Liège, handling over eight million passengers annually at its peak.
- Terminal A — The main and only passenger terminal, handling all arrivals and departures with a compact, single-building layout typical of low-cost airport design.
- TEC bus service to Charleroi-South railway station (Bus A)
- Flibco shuttle bus directly to Brussels-Midi/South station
- Taxi and rideshare services available outside arrivals
- Car rental desks from major providers including Hertz, Europcar, and Avis
- Private transfer services bookable in advance to Brussels and surrounding cities
- Marriott Courtyard Brussels South
- Holiday Inn Charleroi Airport
- ibis Charleroi Airport
- Best Western Plus Charleroi Airport
- Hôtel Van Der Valk Nivelles-Sud
Inside the terminal, passengers will find a modest but functional selection of cafés, fast-food outlets, and grab-and-go snack bars suited to budget travellers with limited connection time. Airside options include familiar chains and Belgian staples like waffles and sandwiches. For a more substantial meal, the town of Charleroi offers traditional Belgian brasseries and restaurants a short bus or taxi ride away.
- Allow extra time for ground transport — the airport is about 60 minutes from central Brussels by shuttle bus.
- Book the Flibco bus to Brussels-Midi in advance online to secure cheaper fares and guaranteed seats.
- Security queues can be long during early morning Ryanair peak departures — arrive at least 2 hours before your flight.
- The terminal is compact, so check your gate carefully as it can get crowded and confusing during busy periods.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
Route map (82 destinations)
Airlines serving this airport
Routes
Aircraft operating here
Pick what matters for your layover or early flight, then compare on your favorite booking site.
IndianAirports may receive compensation when you book or purchase through some of the links on this page, at no additional cost to you. Prices and availability are set by the booking provider and may change. We never share your private trip details with partners — only the destination, dates and party size you searched.
City & Place Guide
No guide exists for this place yet — Click to generate a Traveler Pulse guide.
Passport, Visa & Immigration
Flying internationally via CRL? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for Belgium from official government sources.
Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA), informally called Brussels-Charleroi Airport, Charleroi Brussels-South or Charleroi Airport, is an international airport located in Gosselies, part of the city of Charleroi, Wallonia, Belgium. The airport is 7 km north of downtown Charleroi and 46 km south of the city of Brussels.
Read full article on Wikipedia