Employment in the passenger air transport sector in Belgium has experienced significant fluctuations over the past decade. The number of full-time equivalents increased notably from 2014 to 2017, marked by steady year-on-year growth within the range of 2.25% to 6.95%. However, 2018 witnessed a sharp decline of 11.43%, before a remarkable surge of 51.19% in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the sector in 2020, resulting in a steep decline of 48.69%. With a recovery evident through 2021 and 2022, the sector experienced a healthy growth of 14.53% YoY in 2023, standing at 5.12 thousand FTEs. The CAGR over the last five years (2019-2023) sits at 6.9%.
Future trends indicate consistent growth with forecasted employment reaching 5.92 thousand FTEs by 2028. The forecasted 5-year CAGR is 2.32%, reflecting a slower yet steady recovery within the sector. Key trends to watch include technological advancements, shifting passenger behaviors, regulatory changes, and economic factors such as fuel prices and geopolitical dynamics that could impact the sector’s growth trajectory.
