De Lijn’s standard ticket price increases to 3 euros

March 03, 2025

On April 1st, Flemish public transport company De Lijn will adjust its fares. As announced, the prices of all products are going up. A standard ticket will now cost 3 euros instead of 2,50 euros. According to the travelers’ organization TreinTramBus, De Lijn’s increase in fares comes at a terrible time for travelers. “Suddenly, there […]

Another tsunami of strikes to cripple Belgian rail

March 03, 2025

The nine-day railroad strike at Belgian public railroad company NMBS/SNCB has only just ended, and the next one is already coming: some railroad unions have announced 18 strike days over the next five months. The reason for the social unrest at the railway company is the new federal government and its reform plans. These include […]

Belgian government condemned again for noise nuisance at Brussels Airport

February 28, 2025

For years, the Brussels Capital Region has been demanding compliance with Brussels noise standards to limit noise pollution at Brussels Airport. The French-speaking court of first instance in Brussels has once again condemned the Belgian state for the excessive nuisance caused by night flights over the capital. At the same time, it increased the penalty […]

More passengers, more new drivers and e-buses for De Lijn

February 28, 2025

Last year, the Flemish public transport company De Lijn carried 373 million passengers, up 4.5%. According to Director General Ann Schoubs, this increase in passengers immediately proves that the new transportation plan introduced in 2024 has worked. In 2025, 200 new e-buses will be delivered to De Lijn, and a search for 600 new drivers […]

Transavia to surcharge on already purchased tickets in France

February 26, 2025

Transavia, Air France-KLM’s low-cost airline, will impose an additional surcharge on recent tickets purchased for flights departing from France. The increase is due to the country’s rise in air travel taxes. This rises from 2.63 euros to 7.4 euros for domestic or European flights and doubles to 15 euros for non-European destinations. Remarkably, Air France […]

Electra and Bolt team up for fast charging in Belgium

February 26, 2025

Fast charging specialist Electra and mobility company Bolt are entering into a strategic partnership to strengthen the transition to electric driving. The deal will give Bolt partner drivers access to the largest fast-charging network in Belgium at preferential rates. Through the partnership, which was previously launched in France, the two companies aim to accelerate the […]

Belgian freight transport by train slightly up again

February 25, 2025

Freight transport by train in Belgium rose slightly again last year. Over 55.2 million tons of freight were transported by rail, 3.2% more than in 2023 but still less than the peak years of 2008 (73 million tons) and 2021 (63 million tons), according to data on the open data website of rail network operator […]

Flanders still waits for over €13 million in foreign truck fines

February 24, 2025

The Flemish government is still awaiting more than 14 million euros in outstanding fines for violations of the mileage charge. About 13 million euros of that is charged to foreign trucks. The business newspaper De Tijd reports that barely half of the fines are collected from some countries. Although about half of the freight traffic […]

De Lijn orders hundreds of bus charging poles worth €24.2 million

February 24, 2025

The Flemish public transport company De Lijn has placed a new order for charging poles for electric buses. This time, it involves 600 to 900 charging poles from SPIE-Ekoenergetyka with a capacity of 50 to 180 kW, representing an investment of 24.2 million euros. The order is important in preparing De Lijn’s 50 depots to […]

Brussels’ Cowboy brings its production back near home in France

February 21, 2025

The hip Brussels electric bike maker Cowboy will now fully assemble its bikes in France instead of Hungary. To do so, it will partner with ReCycles, a French manufacturer with more than 30 years of experience in the sector, which will also manage the stock of parts. The reason for the move is to enhance […]

More than €4 billion profit for Airbus

February 21, 2025

European aerospace group Airbus made a net profit of 4.2 billion euros last year, or a 12% increase. The profit came mainly from the strong demand for Airbus aircraft. Sales rose 6% to 69.2 billion euros. Airbus delivered 766 commercial aircraft last year, including 602 from the A320 family. Airbus plans to increase the number […]

Number of car sharers rises by 22% in Flanders to 46,600

February 20, 2025

Over 4,600 shared cars were driving around in Flanders in 2024, 11% more than in 2023. The number of car sharers also increased by 22% last year to 46,600 drivers, according to the annual report of Way To Go, the former Autodelen.net. The same annual report also shows shared bicycles and e-scooters accounted for 24 […]

Bus passengers give De Lijn an average score of 7.5 out of 10

February 20, 2025

Some 77% of passengers who took a bus trip with De Lijn in 2024 are satisfied with their journey. This is according to a survey conducted by the Flemish Department of Mobility among 13,097 passengers between March and December last year. Only 6% of them gave the public transport company a score lower than five […]

Belgium greenlights flying autogiros and ultralight helicopters

February 19, 2025

Belgian legislation on ultralight motorized aircraft (ULMs) had been renewed after 26 years. This also makes it possible to fly ultralight helicopters and autogiros in Belgium, the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport reports. The maximum allowable mass of a ULM will also be increased. The new regulations better reflect today’s reality. ULM is an […]

Bolt and Dott tackle wild parking of e-scooters and e-bikes in Brussels

February 19, 2025

Bolt and Dott, the only two operators selected by Brussels Mobility for shared bike and e-scooter services in the Brussels Capital Region, are joining forces to improve vehicle parking in the capital and reduce nuisance. The joint initiative, to be implemented five days a week in the most sensitive or affected areas, should ensure more […]

Mobility minister asks mayors to issue bus ban in case of aggression

February 18, 2025

Flemish Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder (N-VA) is asking the mayors to act against aggression on De Lijn buses, with a bus ban as the big stick. This measure already exists, but in a letter to the mayors, the Minister brings this possibility more widely to their attention. In 2023, De Lijn received 2,039 […]

Belgian train tickets gets cheaper in off-peak hours

February 17, 2025

Belgian public railroad company NMBS/SNCB is going to thoroughly reform its fare range before the end of this year, possibly sometime in October. One of the new things it is launching, is a paying benefit card that offers 40% discount during off-peak hours. In general, season tickets will not change, but 10-ride passes will be […]

New technology converts jet wind into electricity

February 14, 2025

Aircraft taking off move an enormous amount of air. The American company JetWind Power Corporation now wants to use the jet wind that is released to generate energy. In this way, airplanes, which are polluting because they usually run on kerosene and emit CO2, can still contribute to sustainability. The idea is not revolutionary. In […]

Rollout of cruise control on trains in Belgium almost complete

February 14, 2025

Fifteen years after the train disaster in the Flemish-Brabant village of Buizingen, the rollout of the rail safety system ETCS, a train cruise control, is almost complete. The rollout was accelerated after the disaster, which killed 19 people. As of the end of this year, no trains not equipped with this cruise control will be […]

De Lijn tickets to become 18% more expensive

February 13, 2025

Flemish public transport company De Lijn will pass on the index of recent years in the fare framework. Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder (N-VA) confirmed this in the Flemish Parliament. Usually, an average ticket becomes 18% more expensive in April, so a ride will no longer cost 2.5 euros but 3 euros. With the […]

Belgian rail unions’ threat of nine-day strike fails to get applause

February 12, 2025

Whether the action can count on much sympathy remains to be seen, but the trade unions VSOA Spoor and OVS have submitted notices for a railway strike of no less than nine days, from 21 February at 10 pm to 2 March at 10 pm. The strike is mainly directed against a number of measures […]

Number of accidents at Belgian railway crossings in decline

February 11, 2025

Five people were killed, and nine were seriously injured: that is a painful record of accidents last year at level crossings in Belgium. In total, there were 30 accidents, one less than in 2023. According to rail infrastructure manager Infrabel, the balance is clearly in decline. During the 2008-2021 period, for example, there were an […]

Airbus warns its hydrogen aircraft to be delayed

February 10, 2025

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus’s development of the hydrogen aircraft is proceeding slower than expected, it says in a statement to the French news agency AFP. In doing so, Airbus is responding to a union pamphlet stating that the aircraft manufacturer has pushed back the target date for the aircraft’s entry into service by five to […]

Will there be a second tube for Mont Blanc tunnel?

February 10, 2025

France and Italy will explore the possibility of drilling a second tunnel tube under Mont Blanc in addition to the one already in place, the two countries foreign ministers, Jean-Noël Barrot, and Antonio Tajani, said at a recent meeting in Nice. The Mont Blanc Tunnel, inaugurated in 1962, is 11,6 km long between Chamonix, France, […]

Almost 80% of Walloon drivers cannot resist smartphone addiction

February 07, 2025

In Wallonia, nearly 8 in 10 drivers (77%) admit that they cannot resist the temptation to use their phones while driving. This is according to a survey by the Walloon Road Safety Agency (AWSR) published on Thursday, World Mobile Phone Free Day. In Wallonia, an average of 16 accidents with deaths or injuries are caused […]

Britons say no to doubling e-bike motor power

February 07, 2025

The British government has called off plans to allow doubling the motor power of e-bikes from 250 watts to a maximum of 500 watts. The main reason for not implementing the measure is because of safety concerns. The decision keeps the U.K. in line with EU countries where the exact same support limit of 25 […]

Last locomotive built in Belgium saved from scrapping

February 06, 2025

The last locomotive built in Belgium, the so-called “2160,” has been saved from scrapping, according to the newspaper Le Soir. The unit, initially sold to a scrap dealer, is moving to the Musée de Chemin de Fer à Vapeur des Trois Vallées in Treignes, in the province of Namur. Anyone who now thinks that the […]

Exuberant consulting contracts grew rank at NMBS/SNCB

February 05, 2025

At Ypto, the IT company of the Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB, consultants have been awarded lucrative contracts without public tender for years. This appears from an investigation by the Treasury, reports the newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws. In a reaction, the NMBS/SNCB states that it has already taken measures at its IT subsidiary Ypto over […]

New mobility minister: ‘No new train station at Charleroi Airport’

February 05, 2025

There will not be a train station at Charleroi Airport after all. That is what the new Minister of Mobility, Climate and Environmental Transition Jean-Luc Crucke (ex MR, but Les Engagés since 2023) told his predecessor Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) during the power transfer. “It would cost way too much. We cannot spend public money this […]

De Lijn’s shared Blue-Bikes are growing strongly

February 03, 2025

Flemish shared bike provider Blue-bike, owned by public transport operator De Lijn, experienced its most vigorous membership growth last year since its inception in 2011. The more than 45,000 members also made a record number of rides, at just over 377,000. Blue-bike, known for the slogan ‘Always a bike at the tip of your fingers,’ […]

Antwerp drone transport company ADLC raises €2 million for expansion

February 03, 2025

Antwerp-based transport company ADLC, which offers transportation by drones to companies, has raised 2 million euros in fresh capital. With that additional money, the company plans to further expand its services in the maritime and offshore industry. From now on, DronePort in Sint-Truiden, at the former air force base in Brustum, Limburg, will also be […]

IATA: ‘Never as many airline passengers as in 2024’

January 31, 2025

Travel by air has never been more popular. Last year, airlines worldwide counted around 4.89 billion passengers, an improvement from the record of 4.54 billion in 2019, the International Organization of Airlines (IATA) announced. The average aircraft load factor reached 83.5%, which is also a record. IATA expects global air traffic to increase by 8% […]

After two decades of palavering London Heathrow gets third runway

January 30, 2025

London Heathrow Airport, Europe’s largest airport, will get a third runway. The British government supports the idea and is inviting proposals to be brought forward by the summer. “A third runway at Heathrow will lead to growth, boost investment, and make the United Kingdom more open and connected,” said British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel […]

Eranovum to install 1,000 fast chargers in Belgium

January 29, 2025

Spanish charging station operator Eranovum wants to install more than 1,000 charging stations in Belgium over the next three years. The company says there are many opportunities, especially in Wallonia. In France, the company also wants to install 1,000 additional charging points this year, in addition to the 9,000 it targets in Spain by 2026. […]

Fewer trains to Brussels Airport in February and March

January 28, 2025

Due to track works, there will be fewer trains to Brussels Airport train station from February 1st to 21st and the weekend of March 1st and 2nd. A transfer or bus connection will be necessary for specific trips. Railroad manager Infrabel is renewing the tracks in Zaventem for the airport connection. In addition, a switch […]

Paralympian sues Belgian rail for no train access by wheelchair

January 28, 2025

Belgian Paralympic boccia player Francis Rombouts has filed a lawsuit against the public railroad company NMBS/SNCB because he cannot take the train in his hometown of Tielen. The case, dragging on for years, was heard yesterday at the Brussels Court of Appeal. And to make it even more painful, Rombouts could not enter the courtroom […]

Airbus shuts down mega-plane cargo daughter Beluga Transport

January 27, 2025

European aircraft maker Airbus is ceasing operations with Airbus Beluga Transport (AiBT), its cargo company, for exceptional transport. The company used specially developed megaplanes, ‘Beluga ST’. It involved 75 jobs. “Global demand for cargo transport by aircraft remains strong,” said Airbus. “But we have found that certain activities have shifted to shipping.” In addition, the […]

Austrians to make sustainable aviation fuel from frying oil at Antwerp Port

January 24, 2025

According to the Belgian business newspaper De Tijd, Austrian energy and chemical giant OMV has advanced plans to build a refinery in the port of Antwerp. At the Kallo plant, waste streams such as used frying oil and other vegetable or animal fats from the food and agricultural sectors could be converted into sustainable aviation […]

Segway-Ninebot launches seven new eKickScooters

January 23, 2025

Chinese manufacturer Segway-Ninebot, the global leader in e-scooters with more than 13 million Ninebot eKickScooters on the road, is launching its next generation of eKickScooters. Seven new models are involved. With that new generation, the quality, such as an improved suspension system and the driving range of almost every model, increases slightly again. Like all […]

Charleroi Airport would get train station from new federal government

January 23, 2025

According to formateur Bart De Wever (N-VA), the so-called ‘Arizona coalition’ is gradually entering the final straight line for forming a new federal government. One notable mobility measure on the table is that Charleroi Airport would get a connection to the rail network. This is according to a leak to the newspaper La Libre Belgique, […]

De Lijn’s bus problem continues: 300 with more than 1 million km

January 22, 2025

Figures requested by Flemish member of parliament An Christaens (CD&V) show that the public transport company De Lijn has more than 300 buses with more than 1 million kilometers on the counter. Because of this outdated bus fleet, De Lijn is increasingly struggling with technical problems, and passengers are paying the toll. De Lijn has […]

Brussels Airport will sell green electricity to 100 neighboring families

January 21, 2025

Brussels Airport is launching a pilot project to sell the power generated by its solar panels to 100 households in four neighboring municipalities. The airport operator promises a discount of about 124 euros off an average household’s annual electric energy bill. Collaboration with energy platform Bolt The pilot project is being run in collaboration with […]

Fastned goes for luxury toilets at its fast chargers in Belgium and The Netherlands

January 21, 2025

Fastned, the Dutch operator of EV charging stations, has signed a deal with One Hundred, an Amsterdam-based holding company, to provide high-quality toilet service at its charging stations in Belgium and the Netherlands. For that matter, everyone may or can help pay as Fastned will also issue new bonds. The proceeds will be used to […]

Belgium’s major bicycle show Velofollies attracts +39,000 visitors

January 20, 2025

The 17th edition of the bicycle fair Velofollies attracted over 39,000 people to Kortrijk Xpo. The e-bike was still central to the offerings of just about all manufacturers. Sales of e-bikes fell by 5.9% last year. With a drop of 11.6%, sales of traditional bikes took an even harder hit, but the second-hand market for […]

Current LEZ in Brussels Capital Region legally invalid

January 17, 2025

The Brussels urban movement BRAL, together with other civil society organizations, points out a legal error in the ordinance on the postponement of the tightening of the Low-Emission Zone (LEZ) in the Brussels Capital Region. Due to a reference to the wrong article, many diesel and gasoline cars will be driving “illegally” in Brussels. According […]

Lufthansa’s Jörg Eberhart new top executive ITA Airways

January 16, 2025

German Jörg Eberhart, a manager at Lufthansa, will become the new CEO of ITA Airways, the state-owned airline that emerged from bankrupt Alitalia. The Italian state’s designation thus also formalizes the German group’s entry into ITA Airways’ capital. Italian Lorenza Maggio, vice president of sales of Lufthansa for Europa, the Middle East, and Africa, will […]

Slight increase in NMBS/SNCB rail passenger to 245 million

January 16, 2025

Belgian public railroad company NMBS/SNCB carried some 245 million train passengers last year, almost half a million more than in 2023. It is thus approaching the record number of 253 million passengers in 2019, indicating a solid recovery after Covid-19. However, introducing the new timetable continues to cause discontent and dissatisfied travelers here and there. […]

‘Noisy’ Brussels Airport welcomed 26,3 million passengers

January 15, 2025

Last year, Brussels Airport welcomed 23.6 million passengers. That’s 6.4% more than in 2023 but still just over 10% below the record level set before the COVID-19 pandemic. In an interview with the business newspaper De Tijd, CEO Arnaud Feist also states unequivocally that Brussels Airport will not be able to meet the noise standards […]

T&E study: Aviation growth will negate all efforts to green

January 15, 2025

Whatever efforts the aviation sector makes to meet climate goals will be in vain because of the predicted growth in air traffic, reports Transport & Environment in a new rapport, a screening of European environmental targets for air traffic. According to the NGO, the EU must develop measures to regulate air traffic growth to reduce […]

300 exhibitors get ready for Velofollies in Kortrijk

January 13, 2025

From Friday to Sunday, Kortrijk Xpo will host Velofollies, the leading trade fair for cycling enthusiasts in Flanders. At this 17th edition, there will be a lot of interest in gravel bikes and e-bikes, two trends of recent years that have not lost popularity. Velofollies is the second largest bike fair in Europe, after Eurobike […]

Belgian train punctuality improves after all-time low

January 10, 2025

The Belgian railroad company NMBS/SNCB’s train punctuality reached 89.7% last year, an improvement of 2.2% compared to 2023 when it had fallen to its lowest level in five years. This puts punctuality back on the course agreed with the federal government. But at just under 46,000, the number of canceled trains remains high. 9 out […]

Lufthansa recruits 10,000 worldwide, 36O at Brussels Airlines

January 09, 2025

The Lufthansa Group plans to hire some 10,000 new employees this year. Three hundred sixty people are involved at the subsidiary Brussels Airlines. Last year, the entire Lufthansa Group recruited 13,000 people. All these new hires clearly signal that the group, the largest in Europe and fourth largest in the world by revenue, has shaken […]

Cost of traffic jams on Belgian roads rises to €5.3 billion

January 09, 2025

According to the Belgian Mobility Dashboard (BMD) calculations, the economic cost of traffic congestion in 2024 reached 5.3 billion euros, or 5% more than in the previous year. In 2024, that time loss per motorist averaged 6 minutes and 35 seconds per day or over 40 hours throughout the year, up 1% compared to 2023. […]

EU’s largest rail freight operator Lineas’ share drops below 50%

January 08, 2025

The market share of Lineas, Europe’s largest private rail freight operator, has fallen below 50%. However, it is still higher than the European average. This is according to a report by the Belgian rail regulator. The report refers to 2023. According to the Rail Transport and Airport Operations Regulatory Service, Lineas’ market share then fell […]

Truck kilometer tax brings in more than a billion for Belgium

January 08, 2025

For the first time in Belgium, the truck kilometer charge has brought in more than a billion euros. This is according to statistics for 2024 published by Viapass, the public body that coordinates and monitors road pricing in Belgium. Tolls brought in 658 million euros in Flanders, 347.1 million in Wallonia, and 10.8 million in […]

Car on decline in Wallonia but remains number one

January 07, 2025

Between 2017 and 2024, the modal share of the car in Wallonia dropped from 83% to 71.4%, although the car remains the most popular means of travel there, as just under three-quarters of trips were made by car. This is according to figures from the FPS Mobility and the Walloon statistics office Iweps. Attempts to […]

Swindlers use fake e-buses to cash-in on France’s eco bonus

January 06, 2025

Between November 2022 and January 2023, about 600 e-buses were registered in France eligible for an ecological bonus. However, more than half of those buses did not exist: fraudsters used loopholes in the state registration system to scam subsidies for hundreds of fake e-buses. According to Le Monde, up to 10 million euros in public […]

Brussels converts more lampposts into EV charging stations

January 06, 2025

In the Brussels Capital Region, network operator Sibelga is converting streetlights into charging stations for EVs. BRUZZ and L’Echo/De Tijd, among others, report this. Such solutions should reduce the impact of charging points on public spaces. Some 40 such charging points are already operational, located in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, the City of Brussels, and Uccle. Another ten […]

Flanders to allow super-trucks, Brussels and Wallonia hesitate

January 03, 2025

Flemish Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder (N-VA) wants to allow super trucks on Flemish highways within two years. The approval for the longer and heavier vehicles, or LHVs as these trucks that are up to 25,25 meters long and weigh up to 60 tons are officially called, will come on condition that a few strict […]

8.5 million traffic violations bring in €577.4 million for Belgium

December 31, 2024

8,4 million. That is the number of traffic offenses committed by motorists on Belgian roads in 2023. So reports Sudpresse newspapers, based on figures from the FPS Finance. Most of those violations were speeding violations (6,8 million). In most cases, these were not major speeding offenses but involved driving between 0 and 10 km too […]

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