Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) is Belgium’s second busiest airport after Brussels (Zaventem) Airport (BRU).
Although it nominally serves Brussels, CRL is 46 kilometers south of the city - a lot, compared to the just 10 km between BRU and downtown Brussels. It is 7 kilometers north of Charleroi, which is in turn south of Brussels, hence the name. Most travelers often call it just Charleroi Airport.
CRL primarily serves low-cost carriers and is an alternative gateway to the Belgian capital for budget travelers.
In 2024, Charleroi Airport handled over 10 million passengers, marking a sizable 12% increase year over year.
Major Airlines - Ryanair, Wizz Air
Brussels South Charleroi Airport is a major operating base for Ryanair, which offers point-to-point flights to over 100 destinations across Europe and North Africa. It is by far the airline with the most flights at CRL.
Another big European low-cost carrier that serves Charleroi is Wizz Air. It focuses on flights to cities in Eastern Europe.
Other low-cost airlines with scheduled flights at Brussels Charleroi are Pegasus Airlines, which flies to Antalya and Istanbul (SAW) in Turkey, and Volotea, which offers seasonal flights to Bordeaux and Nice in France.
Air Corsica wraps up the list of airlines at CRL with its flights to Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi, and Figari on the French island.
These airlines combined fly from Charleroi to over 130 destinations in Europe, North Africa, and the Caucasus. Click here to see a list of destinations from CRL.
Terminal Layout and Gates of Brussels Charleroi Airport
The airport has two terminals:
Terminal 1 is the main terminal, handling the majority of flights by all carriers with gates numbered 1 to 25.
Terminal 2 is smaller, with gates 26 to 28, and on a daily basis handles flights by Ryanair and Wizz Air, plus seasonal or overflow traffic during periods of more people traveling.
The two terminals are within walking distance of each other, essentially adjacent.
Connecting Flights and Transit at Charleroi Airport
Practically all traffic at Brussels South Charleroi Airport is point-to-point flights. Connecting flights are not officially coordinated, but self-transfers are common.
Having a layover at CRL is easy. Those leaving (or entering) the Schengen zone must clear Security and Immigration at the airport. The same applies if you have checked-in luggage, which you will need to collect and re-check.
If you travel only with a carry-on, you may follow the signs that point towards “Transit” or “Information point”.
It is recommended to allow at least 2 to 3 hours between separate tickets to account for possible immigration checks, security screening, and baggage collection if necessary.
Wi-Fi at CRL
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout both terminals.
You can connect by selecting the "CRL Free WiFi" network and then following the simple login instructions.
The Wi-Fi is generally reliable for basic browsing and communication, and is completely unlimited in time and bandwidth.
Dining Options at Charleroi Airport
CRL might not be the biggest airport out there, but it still offers a satisfactorily large array of places to eat and drink, such as various restaurants, snack bars, cafés, and fast-food outlets.
Dining options are fairly casual, with no fine dining available on-site. But that doesn’t mean you won’t find what travelers these days call “hidden gems”.
To help you decide where to eat in Brussels Charleroi, here are some of the best and most popular places:
POKAWA serves Poké Bowls with seasonal ingredients in Terminal 1.
Airport Bar 25 is a modern, welcoming bar serving various foods and drinks near Gate 25 in Terminal 1.
Charles' Brewing Company is the place to check out in Terminal 2. The drinks are a given, but you may still be pleasantly surprised by how good their homemade sandwiches, quiches, pies, and pastries are.
Panos: a very popular Belgian sandwich shop. Find in Terminal 1.
Fritapapa: an awesome local Wallonian brand which specializes in Belgian fries and serves beer you can’t find anywhere else. Located in Terminal 1.
The Speakeasy: Offers an enticing selection of drinks, both Belgian beers, and quality coffee and tea. Find it in Terminal 1.
Lounges at Brussels Charleroi Airport
Brussels South Charleroi Airport has 2 lounges from the same provider and under the same name, just in different terminals.
The Lounge offers comfortable seating, refreshments, including alcoholic drinks, newspapers, and free Wi-Fi in an air-conditioned, non-smoking area. There is one such lounge in Terminal 1 and one more in Terminal 2.
Access to either is open to anyone, though it clearly focuses on those flying within Schengen, as it’s located before the Immigration border control gates. A pass for a maximum of 3 hours can be purchased online for €28 or at the entrance for €30. The lounge is open from 5 AM until 7:30 PM.
Transportation options at Brussels Charleroi Airport
Despite the long distance from Brussels, Charleroi is well-connected to the Belgian capital. The same can be said for the region around the airport.
The most convenient transport option comes from the Flibco shuttle buses, which operate direct services to Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, and Lille. Tickets start from 13.50 EUR, and the shuttles are coordinated with the flights.
To reach the airport, Flibco offers what they call a “Door2Gate service”, where a shared shuttle will pick you up from your preferred location.
A few Transport En Commun (TEC) public buses also connect Charleroi:
A1 runs between Charleroi Gare Centrale and the Airport twice an hour from 4.30 AM until 11.30 PM.
A2 connects Fleurus SNCB Station to the Airport every hour between 4.00 AM and 11.00 PM.
A3 shuttles between Luttre Station and CRL from 4.30 AM until 11.30 PM with a frequency of twice per hour.
Combined bus+train tickets are available on the Belgian SNCB website.
On the other hand, a taxi ride to Brussels costs around 90 EUR. You can take one from in front of the terminal building.
There exists an option that is cheaper than a taxi but more flexible than the public buses: the Poppy car-sharing app allows you to rent a car for a short time and then just leave it in a Poppy parking zone. With fuel and parking included in the price, it’s a no-brainer transport solution.
Classic car rental agencies also have desks at the airport. These include Hertz, Europcar, and Sixt.
Parking at CRL Airport
Brussels South Charleroi Airport offers 5 parking garages suitable for all kinds of expected durations and budgets:
P1 (Premium) is closest to Terminal 1 and suited for short- and long-term stays. It’s covered and has direct access to the terminal.
P2 (Comfort) is ideal for medium and long stays and is about a 5-minute walk from the terminal.
P3 is a budget option located about 20 minutes away on foot via a pedestrian path. There is a paid shuttle, which runs every 30 minutes between 4 AM and 11.30 PM and costs 8 EUR return (free for children under 3). Booking this parking online is mandatory.
P4 is another budget option which does not offer a shuttle at all - the only option is a 30-minute walk to the terminal. Online booking is mandatory.
LOCK Parking: A premium, covered & protected car park and the closest you can get to the terminals.
Smart Parking allows you to book spaces online in advance at discounted rates.
Bicycles and motorbikes can be parked on Level 0 of Car Park P2 free of charge.
For dropping someone off, use the Express Parking (the closest to the terminals). It costs 2 EUR for the first 3 minutes and 3 EUR for stays up to 30 minutes.
Hotels near Brussels South Charleroi Airport
While no hotels are directly inside the terminal or right in front, you still have several lodging options to choose from within a 3-kilometer radius.
The Aero 44 Hotel is one of the closest hotels to CRL. It offers a complimentary shuttle and excellent rooms. A public bus stops right at the entrance of the hotel.
Other options include the budget-friendly Ibis Styles Charleroi Airport and the Van der Valk Hotel Charleroi Airport, which offers upgraded rooms and business facilities, though slightly further from the terminal.
Brussels, Belgium
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