Brussels Airport Departure Hall Reopens For The First Time After March Attacks

Brussels Airport reopened its repaired departure hall Sunday for the first time after the terror attacks on March 22, the Associated Press (AP) reported. The airport had resumed some flights earlier but a temporary check-in tent was used by passengers due to the ongoing repair work at the departure hall.

Two bombs had exploded in the departure hall of the airport in March, killing 16 people, following which it was closed down for repairs. A subway station in Brussels, Maelbeek, was also attacked along with the airport, killing a total of 32 people. The subway station was reopened last Monday after repairs.

The AP report said the airport will be used by passengers for select flights, now that extra security checks are in place at the terminal, compared to before. The airport's CEO Arnaud Feist called the reopening “an important day in the recovery” of the airport and bettering the image of the city. Feist also said that the airport will be fully operational by mid-June.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the Brussels airport attack, which was carried out by suspects linked to the Paris attack in November that killed 130 people. The mastermind of the Paris attacks, Salah Abdeslam, was arrested in Brussels and has since been extradited to France.