Brussels airport to reopen with 'symbolic passenger flights' Sunday

BRUSSELS, April 2 (UPI) -- Brussels airport announced it will reopen for departure flights for the first time since the suicide bomb attacks that killed 32 people.

The airport released a statement Saturday, announcing it will reopen with three "symbolic" passenger flights to Faro, Turin and Athens respectively on April 3.

"These flights are the first hopeful sign from an airport that is standing up straight after a cowardly attack," Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport Company, said. "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 airport will gradually increase the number of flights and begin accepting arrivals in the future. Officials did not specify dates.

Stringent security restrictions will be put in place, including a maximum capacity of 800 departing passengers per hour. Airport security officers went on strike Friday. protesting insufficient security measures after last month's terrorist attack.

Passengers will also undergo systematic checks in tents outside the building before reaching a second security point at a makeshift check-in area.

In addition the airport will only be accessibly by car and taxi. Passenger drop-off and pick-up will be limited to one designated area.

"The temporary arrangements won't be able to offer the level of comfort travelers are used to at Brussels Airport," Feist said. "Our main challenge is to rapidly return to normal capacity. We hope to have maximum capacity available at the start of the summer holidays, at the beginning of July."