Brussels Airport Reopens After Terror Attacks

A small trickle of passengers have been arriving at Brussels Airport for the first day of flights since suicide bombers struck in a deadly attack.

The first of three 'symbolic' flights from the airport was to Faro in Portugal at 1.40pm local time, with up to 70 passengers expected.

Later in the day, flights are expected to leave for Turin and Athens, with return flights expected this evening.

Passengers had to be dropped off at car parks before being taken to check-in, which they were warned to do three hours before departure.

Special cameras were set up to read number plates and there were random checks of vehicles.

Normal train and bus services to the airport were not running.

Passengers were then taken to a large temporary marquee with security controls and check-in facilities.

On Monday, the airport will serve more destinations, including one flight to New York and two more to cities in Cameroon, Gambia and Senegal.

Other flights have been diverted to Belgium's regional airports or nearby ones in cities, including Amsterdam or Paris.

High-speed trains to and from Brussels are reported to be full.

Speaking at a news conference on Saturday, the airport company's chief executive Arnaud Feist said passengers will also have to go through metal detectors in addition to other security measures.

He said special arrangements had been made to check in luggage.

The airport is expected to fully reopen by the end of June or early July, he added.

"I am extremely grateful to all airport staff, federal police and the federal government for their efforts and commitment," he said.

"These flights are the first hopeful sign from an airport that is standing up straight after a cowardly attack.

"That we are able to make this start only 12 days after the devastating attacks is a sign of our collective strength at Brussels Airport."

The announcement comes almost two weeks after two suspected Islamist militants carried out suicide attacks in the airport's main departure hall.

The bombs, and a separate one on a metro train in the city, killed 35 people, including the bombers.

At least 270 people were injured in the attacks.