A private-jet passenger arriving at Brussels Airport does not walk through the main terminal. They arrive at one of two FBOs — ExecuJet or Aviapartner Executive Aviation — each with its own building, its own lounge, and its own procedure for handing off a passenger to a chauffeur. For arrivals at Liège (LGG) or Antwerp (ANR), the same handoff runs through ASL Group Handling. This is the playbook Belvedere uses when a jet is inbound.
The FBOs at Brussels Airport — plus Liège and Antwerp
Brussels Airport (BRU / Zaventem) has two separate FBO operators serving private aviation: ExecuJet and Aviapartner Executive Aviation. Each is a physically distinct facility, not a variant of the same terminal. Outside Brussels, ASL Group Handling operates the FBOs at Liège Airport (LGG, ~100 km east) and Antwerp Airport (ANR, ~45 km north) — used by jet operators for slot, crew-hours, or geography reasons (LGG is closer to Spa-Francorchamps and the Ardennes; ANR is closer to Ghent and the Antwerp diamond district). Belvedere covers both through ASL Handling.
| FBO | Airport | Handles | Belvedere service page |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExecuJet | BRU | Full private-aviation handling, VIP lounge, tarmac access with authorisation | execujet |
| Aviapartner Executive Aviation (Aviavip) | BRU | Executive lounges, on-site customs clearance, direct airside access | aviapartner |
| ASL Group Handling | LGG + ANR | Cargo and private aviation FBO at Liège and Antwerp; strong airside coordination outside Brussels | asl-handling |
| Flying Group / Business Aviation (partners) | BRU | Client-managed jet operators using the FBOs above | Handled via primary FBO |
The chauffeur-side impact of this fragmentation is real. Turning up at the wrong FBO with a jet inbound to another costs 10–15 minutes of driving between facilities. Belvedere dispatch confirms the FBO with the operator or the client at booking time and cross-checks the tail number against the FBO's inbound board before positioning the chauffeur.
The Chauffeur's Playbook — Timeline for a Jet Arrival
The service window for a private-jet chauffeur pickup starts long before the aircraft lands. This is the standard timeline for a BRU FBO arrival.
- T−24 hours: confirmation. Belvedere confirms FBO, scheduled landing time (SLT), tail number, and passenger count with the operator or the client contact. The assigned chauffeur is briefed. Vehicle is pre-inspected.
- T−2 hours: flight tracking active. Real-time ADS-B tracking on the tail number is live. Any early arrival, delay, or diversion is picked up automatically and pushed to the chauffeur and dispatch.
- T−30 minutes: chauffeur positioned. The Mercedes is at the FBO, the chauffeur is inside coordinating with the handler on lounge collection or tarmac authorisation.
- T−10 minutes: last-minute checks. Handler confirms taxi-in position, luggage handling arrangement, whether passengers are staying in the lounge or going directly to the vehicle. Chauffeur informed.
- Landing. Passenger disembarks; if tarmac-side pickup is authorised, chauffeur is escorted airside by the handler. Otherwise, passenger comes through the FBO lounge and is met at the front door.
- T+5 to T+15 minutes: departure. Luggage loaded, passenger briefed on route, vehicle underway. Slot times, customs, and immigration are handled between the FBO and Belgian border authorities — the chauffeur waits until clearance is complete.
The Handoff — Aircraft to Vehicle
Whether the chauffeur meets the passenger inside the FBO lounge or airside at the aircraft steps depends on three factors: FBO policy, aircraft type, and current airport-security posture. Tarmac-side pickup is not automatic — it requires prior authorisation from the FBO handler and, at BRU, from airport security.
For a Gulfstream, Global, or Falcon inbound to ExecuJet with a chairman-tier principal on board, tarmac-side is standard practice and pre-arranged. For most other configurations, lounge collection is the default: the chauffeur is inside the FBO, luggage is transferred by the handler, and the vehicle is at the FBO front door within two minutes of the passenger completing paperwork.
One point worth stating clearly: Belvedere does not compete with the FBO. The FBO handles ground operations for the aircraft. Belvedere handles ground transport for the passenger. The two coordinate through the handler on shift, not through the client.
Liège as an Alternative — ASL Handling FBO
Liège Airport (LGG), 100 km east of Brussels, is a secondary FBO option used by jet operators for slot availability or crew-hours reasons. Belvedere coordinates LGG arrivals through ASL Group Handling. The onward drive to Brussels is approximately 1 h in an S-Class or Maybach S-Class; itineraries continuing into the Ardennes or on to the Belgian F1 Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps often start at LGG for exactly this reason.
The playbook at LGG is the same as at BRU: pre-confirmation, ADS-B tracking, chauffeur positioned before landing, handler coordination, lounge or airside pickup depending on authorisation. Because LGG operates with lower footfall than BRU, tarmac-side authorisation is more frequently granted.
Vehicle Choice for Jet Clients
Private-jet arrivals at the FBOs are the single most Maybach-heavy service context Belvedere runs. Three vehicle patterns cover ~95% of jet-side bookings.
- Mercedes-Maybach S-Class — the most requested vehicle for FBO pickups. Silent cabin, massaging rear seats, executive tables, refrigerated compartment, panoramic roof. Handles 1–3 passengers with luggage.
- Mercedes V-Class (executive) — for jet arrivals with 4–6 passengers or heavy luggage load. Captain's chairs, conference table, privacy glass. Second-vehicle-in-convoy configuration for jet parties where principal and staff travel separately.
- Mercedes-Maybach Pullman — for heads of state, royalty, and ultra-VIP arrivals where partition privacy is required. Reserved for a small number of arrivals per year, all pre-arranged.
For multi-passenger jet arrivals where the principal and staff travel in separate vehicles, Belvedere runs a convoy configuration — principal in the Maybach S-Class, staff in a V-Class, coordinated by radio between chauffeurs so both vehicles depart the FBO together and arrive at the destination in the correct sequence.
Common Questions
Answers to the questions asked most often by jet operators, aviation brokers, and family-office aviation coordinators.
Which FBOs at Brussels Airport does Belvedere serve?
Belvedere is a dedicated ground partner for the two private-aviation FBOs at BRU: ExecuJet and Aviapartner Executive Aviation (Aviavip). Plus ASL Group Handling at Liège Airport (LGG) and Antwerp Airport (ANR) for airside collections outside Brussels.
How does tarmac-side pickup work?
Tarmac-side pickup requires prior authorisation from the FBO and airport security. When approved, the chauffeur and vehicle are escorted airside by an FBO handler, positioned at the aircraft steps, and load luggage directly from the aircraft to the vehicle. Whether tarmac-side is authorised depends on aircraft type, passenger profile, and current security posture at BRU or LGG.
When should the chauffeur be positioned relative to landing time?
The chauffeur is positioned at the FBO 20–30 minutes before scheduled landing time. Real-time flight tracking (ADS-B via dispatch) means adjustments happen automatically for early or late arrivals. For crew and passenger separation, secondary vehicles are pre-positioned as required.
What information does Belvedere need for a jet chauffeur booking?
Six items: FBO name (ExecuJet, Aviapartner Executive, or ASL Handling at BRU; ASL at LGG), scheduled landing time, tail number or callsign, origin airport, passenger name(s), and destination address in Brussels or beyond. Handler contact and slot details are handled between Belvedere dispatch and the FBO.
Which vehicle is most requested for jet clients?
The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class — silent cabin, massaging rear seats, executive tables. For multi-passenger jet arrivals, the V-Class handles up to six with luggage. For ultra-VIP with partition privacy, the Maybach Pullman.
Book the FBO Chauffeur
To coordinate a chauffeur for a private-jet arrival at Brussels Airport (BRU) or Liège Airport (LGG), call +32 2 318 21 00 or email [email protected] with the FBO name, tail number, scheduled landing time, and passenger count. For recurring jet operations, ask about a corporate account — monthly invoicing, priority booking, and a dedicated account manager remove per-flight friction. See also the Airport & Private Jet Chauffeur service page and the general booking guide.
