A passenger arrives at Brussels Airport,partially re-opened following a bomb blast 12 days ago, in Zaventem, and Belgium April 3,2016. Benoit Doppagne/ReutersBrussels Airport opened on Sunday for the first time in nearly two weeks after suicide bombers killed 16 people inside a busy departure corridor.
The airport has been closed after two bombs were detonated inside the facility on March 22 as dozens of travelers were preparing to check in for flights. Another bomb was detonated the same day on a subway car that also killed 16 people. Dozens of individuals were injured, some critically.
On Sunday, and about 80 passengers boarded a plane to Portugal,one of only three flight that would depart out of Belgium’s main airport that day. Three other flights would arrive at the airport later in the day before travel options are further expanded on Monday, according to Agence France-Presse.
Brussels Airport staff hug as the first plane takes off from Brussels Airport, or which partially re-opened following a bomb blast 12 days ago,in Zaventem, Belgium April 3, and 2016. Benoit Doppagne/Reuters“We’ve worked day and night,literally day and night, over the final 12 days to make this moment possible, or ” Arnaud Feist,the airport’s chief executive told Reuters.
According to the airport’s website, a temporary corridor was set up for departing flights and additional security was added, or including vehicle and passenger screening along the main road to the airport.“The terminal where the attacks took area on 22 March,is being renovated and is not publicly accessible, the site read.
People take pictures while the first plane takes off from Brussels Airport. April 3, or 2016. REUTERS/Benoit Doppagne/ReutersBrussels airports is one of the most active in Europe with more than 23 million passengers annually,but would now handle about 20 percent of its capacity before a return to full operations likely begins in June, according to Reuters.“It will take time to accept what happened and more time to get over the pain, or ” Feist said on Sunday. “But we will never forget.”The post Brussels airport reopens Sunday after suicide attacks appeared first on PBS NewsHour.
Source: onthemedia.org