De Ridder Defends Airport Deal at Europe’s Second Port
Belgian Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder (N-VA) has forcefully defended the Flemish government’s agreement with regional airports, calling it a “very strong deal” and arguing that a business airport naturally belongs at Europe’s second-largest port. The defense comes amid growing opposition criticism over a secretly leaked settlement and negative advice from the Inspection of Finance.
Speaking on Radio 1’s ‘De Ochtend’ program on August 5, De Ridder stood by the deal reached in mid-July that provides 96 million euros in subsidies to regional airports for 2025-2029, down from 131 million euros in the previous period—a reduction of approximately 27 percent. The minister emphasized the airports’ economic significance, noting they generate 190 million euros in added value and support 2,700 direct and indirect jobs.
The ‘Business Airport’ Argument
De Ridder dismissed criticism that Antwerp’s Deurne airport has become almost exclusively a hub for business flights as “cynical,” pointing out that when TUI passenger flights operated there, people complained—and now that they are gone, people still complain. She argued that a business airport is a natural fit for Antwerp, given the city’s status as home to Europe’s second-largest port.
“We have the second port of Europe: then as a city you’d better also have an airport. That belongs together,” De Ridder said. “We should be damn happy that business leaders who invest in our country actually use those airports.”
The minister also rejected the notion that the government is writing a blank check, insisting the new arrangement differs fundamentally from past agreements. “We are not giving a blank check, and that is a big difference from the past,” she said.
The Secret Settlement Controversy
The deal has been overshadowed by the accidental leak of a confidential settlement (dading) between the Flemish government and Egis, the French operator of Antwerp and Ostend airports. The document was mistakenly included in a batch of parliamentary documents sent to the Flemish Parliament, revealing that both parties agreed to waive mutual claims worth millions.
The airport operator’s claims for backdated subsidies, including interest, totaled 12.1 million euros, with total claims reaching 14.8 million euros. The Flemish government had its own claim of over 12 million euros for personnel made available to the airports. The settlement also includes a subsidy agreement running from January 2026 to October 2039, binding future governments.
De Ridder defended the settlement as necessary to avoid lengthy legal proceedings. “The risk of further procedures and escalation was very real,” she said. “The conclusion was therefore that it was better to reach a settlement to avoid lengthy legal procedures and additional lawyer costs.”
Negative Advice from the Inspection of Finance
The controversy deepened when it emerged that the Inspection of Finance gave three negative advices on the settlement. According to Groen parliamentarian Bogdan Vanden Berghe, who exposed the advices, the Inspection warned of an “unbalanced” deal and potentially illegal state aid of 6 million euros that was never notified to the EU.
“Three times the Inspection of Finance gave advice on that secret gift of 12 million and three times that advice was outright devastating,” Vanden Berghe said. “With the support of Vooruit and CD&V, Minister De Ridder pushed through anyway and closed this deal.”
Vanden Berghe also warned of potential European consequences, noting that subsidies specifically for airport safety have not been permitted by the EU since 2019, and the payment was never notified to Brussels.
TUI’s Departure and Airport Finances
Adding to the pressure on the airports is the announcement that TUI Fly will stop all flights from Antwerp Airport by end of March 2027, concentrating its Belgian operations on Brussels and Ostend. After TUI’s departure, only SkyAlps’ weekly flights to Bolzano and private jet operators will remain at Deurne.
Despite these challenges, both Antwerp and Ostend-Bruges airports reported profits for 2025 — 492,000 euros and 78,000 euros respectively. Antwerp’s profit was its first in five years. However, aviation economist Wouter Dewulf cautioned that without subsidies, no regional airport would survive, and warned that “2026 is a difficult year and 2027 will be much more difficult.”
Political Fallout and What’s Next
The controversy has united opposition parties across the political spectrum. PVDA’s Jos D’Haese questioned why taxpayers should fund airports used primarily by private jets, while Anders’ Egbert Lachaert called the subsidies “throwing money down the drain.” Even within the coalition, CD&V’s Mien Van Olmen expressed frustration over the lack of transparency.
The Flemish government’s summer agreement on regional airports aimed to reduce subsidies while promoting greater efficiency and collaboration between the four Flemish airports. The government argues the airports’ economic value justifies continued support, while critics contend the money would be better spent elsewhere.
De Ridder will provide further explanation at a special session of the Flemish Parliament’s Mobility Committee on September 10, 2026. The session is expected to be contentious, with opposition parties demanding detailed answers about the settlement, the negative advices, and the long-term viability of the regional airports. As the debate continues, the fundamental question remains: should taxpayers continue subsidizing airports that increasingly serve only business and private jet traffic?