Smoking at Brussels Airport – BRU

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Yes, Brussels Airport (BRU) has three designated airside smoking areas — at Pier A between gates A28 and A29, at Pier B near gate B17, and at the T-pier between gates A65–T65 and A67–T67. All three are open 24 hours a day. Smoking is forbidden everywhere else in the terminal and parking areas, and the same rule applies to electronic cigarettes.

Brussels Airport (BRU), located in Zaventem 10 km north-east of central Brussels, is Belgium’s main international airport and the hub for Brussels Airlines (Lufthansa Group). It handles roughly 23 million passengers a year. Unlike most Western European airports, BRU keeps three airside smoking areas distributed across its three piers — Schengen, non-Schengen, and the swing T-pier — making layovers more manageable than at hubs like Amsterdam Schiphol or Paris CDG, where smoking is outdoor-only or requires leaving security.

The Three Smoking Areas

All three are airside (after security), all are open 24/7, and all are signposted in English, French, and Dutch.

Pier A — between gates A28 and A29. Pier A handles Schengen flights, so most short-haul departures within the EU/Schengen Area route through here. The smoking area sits roughly mid-pier, a 5–10 minute walk from most gates. This is the busiest of the three because Schengen traffic dominates BRU’s flight schedule.

Pier B — near gate B17. Pier B serves non-Schengen flights — UK, US, Middle East, Asia, Africa. The smoking area is past passport control, so it’s only accessible to passengers on non-Schengen departures or arrivals. If you’ve cleared passport control for a non-Schengen flight, the B17 zone is your option.

T-pier — between gates A65/T65 and A67/T67. The T-pier is BRU’s swing extension. The same physical gate positions can be either A-numbered (when used for Schengen) or T-numbered (when used for non-Schengen) depending on what aircraft is parked there. The smoking area occupies the corridor between these dual-numbered gates, accessible from whichever side is currently active. Signage in the terminal will direct you correctly based on your flight.

Schengen vs Non-Schengen — Which Zone Applies

Brussels Airport’s pier layout is unusually clean for a Schengen hub. Knowing which zone applies saves walking time:

  • Schengen flight (e.g., Brussels → Madrid, Amsterdam, Berlin): use Pier A (gates A28–A29).
  • Non-Schengen flight (e.g., Brussels → London, New York, Dubai): use Pier B (gate B17) or the T-pier (gates A65/T65 to A67/T67) depending on which gate your flight is at.
  • Connecting Schengen-to-non-Schengen: you’ll pass through passport control between the piers — smoke before passport control if you want the Pier A zone, or after for the Pier B / T-pier zones.

The T-pier’s dual numbering can confuse first-time travellers. If your boarding pass says gate A66, you’re on a Schengen flight from the T-pier; gate T66 means a non-Schengen flight from the same physical position.

For Belgium airport smoking rules, vaping rules, and other general info, see our Belgium smoking guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I smoke at Brussels Airport?

Yes — Brussels Airport has three designated airside smoking areas, all open 24 hours: Pier A between gates A28 and A29, Pier B near gate B17, and the T-pier between gates A65–T65 and A67–T67. Smoking is forbidden everywhere else in the terminal and parking areas, including with e-cigarettes.

Where is the smoking area in Pier A at BRU?

The Pier A smoking area is between gates A28 and A29, after security. Pier A handles Schengen flights, so most intra-European departures (including Brussels Airlines short-haul) reach it within a 5–10 minute walk from the gate. Open 24/7.

Where is the smoking area in Pier B at BRU?

The Pier B smoking area is near gate B17, after security and after passport control. Pier B serves non-Schengen flights, including UK, US, and other long-haul destinations. It is open 24/7. Allow extra time if your flight is from a far-end Pier B gate.

Where is the T-pier smoking area at Brussels Airport?

The T-pier smoking area sits between gates A65/T65 and A67/T67, open 24/7. The T-pier is Brussels Airport’s swing extension: the same physical gate positions can be either A-numbered (Schengen) or T-numbered (non-Schengen) depending on the flight. Signage will indicate which numbering is live for your departure.

Are e-cigarettes and vapes allowed at Brussels Airport?

Yes — in the same three designated smoking areas as cigarettes. Brussels Airport explicitly states that the indoor smoking ban applies to electronic cigarettes. The 2016 Belgian Royal Decree brought vapes under the same indoor public-space ban that covers tobacco, so the airport treats them identically. Heated tobacco products like IQOS follow the same rule.

Can I smoke during a Brussels Airport layover?

Yes — all three smoking areas are airside, so transit passengers don’t need to re-clear security. This makes BRU one of the better layover hubs in Western Europe for smokers, alongside Frankfurt and Düsseldorf. Schengen-to-Schengen connections use Pier A; non-Schengen connections use Pier B or the T-pier; mixed itineraries pass through passport control once between zones.