Brussels Airport is set to gain its first direct connection to Germany’s high-speed ICE network, following a new cooperation between Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Brussels Airlines. From September 7, 2026, a new direct ICE service will link Köln Hauptbahnhof with Antwerpen, calling at Aachen, Liège, Leuven and Brussels Airport along the way.
Two daily return services will operate, with journey times of around two hours between Köln and Brussels Airport. The morning arrival into the airport at 8.29am is timed to provide convenient connections to long-haul departures. Tickets are on sale now.
The partnership introduces a joint codeshare offer, allowing passengers to book a combined rail-and-flight ticket in a single transaction. The arrangement extends the established “Lufthansa Express Rail” model to the new international route, offering benefits such as free seat reservations, CityTicket inclusion in Köln and Aachen, delay protection, mileage accrual and lounge access for eligible premium passengers.
The cross-border services will be operated by DB’s latest ICE 3neo trains, offering improved comfort and reliability. For Brussels Airport, the link restores a direct high-speed rail connection and strengthens its position as an intermodal hub with more than 180 global destinations.
The cooperation also underlines DB’s role as an intermodal partner within the Star Alliance network, signalling continued momentum towards more sustainable, integrated European travel.
