Chaos at Brussels airport as passengers are forced to queue for hours amid tighter security checks as terminal reopens after terror attack 

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Thousands of travellers queued for hours and some missed their flights amid tighter security checks at the newly reopened departures hall at Brussels airport following the terror attacks in March.

Angry passengers took to social media to complain of three-hour waits due to increased security screening at Brussels Zaventem Airport, which reopened yesterday.

One traveller Jan Drahokoupil tweeted: 'Over 2h wait to get into the reopened @BrusselsAirport. A big fail for passengers and Bxl business.'

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Chaos: Thousands of travellers queued for hours and some missed their flights amid tighter security checks at Brussels Airport today

Passengers, some of whom missed their flights from the airport - took to social media to vent their anger

The tightened security comes after two suicide bombers killed 16 people at Brussels airport in March

Jan Spooren wrote on Twitter: 'For those traveling through @BrusselsAiport - make it 4 hours 2 b there b4 scheduled departure time - it's 1 big mess.'

The airport had already resumed some flights before the check-in hall was reopened, but passengers had been using a temporary check-in tent due to extensive damage to the departure hall.

Passenger Julius Waller tweeted: 'Belgian incompetence. Lines from parking to departure hall. Passengers like sardines. #brusselairport 2hrsto fly.'

Cliff Mosco posted a photograph of queues at the airport alongside the message: '4 hours just to get into the airport and missed my flight. And there is no air Canada rep in the building. #fml.'

Another, Jan Spooren added on Twitter: 'For those traveling through @BrusselsAiport - make it 4 hours 2 b there b4 scheduled departure time - it's 1 big mess.'

The former Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme missed his flight yesterday morning after waiting two-and-a-half hours at the airport, according to La Libre newspaper.

Waiting: Passengers took to social media to complain of three-hour waits due to increased security screening

Brussels Airport spokesperson Nathalie Van Impe told AD.nl: 'The first day of major operational change is always difficult.'

She said the operations would be evaluated and she suspects 'it will improve in the coming days'.

The two airport suicide bombers are believed to be Najim Laachraoui and Ibrahim El-Bakraoui. The pair killed 16 people when they blew themselves up within seconds of each other.

One of the blasts hit the heart of the packed American Airlines check in desk, and the other struck outside Starbucks as early morning travellers ran for their lives. 

The third bomb - thought to be comprised of the heaviest explosive - was left abandoned as the 'man in white' fled the scene.

The newly-repaired departure hall was opened yesterday after a special ceremony presided over by Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel. 

Attackers: The two airport suicide bombers are believed to be Najim Laachraoui and Ibrahim El-Bakraoui

The two suicide bombers killed 16 people at Brussels airport when they blew themselves up within seconds of each other

'We all choose to resist. Today, our capital's airport is reopening. Brussels is back in business,' Michel told a gathered crowd near a plaque bearing the names of victims, surrounded by photos and flowers. 

In a statement, Brussels Airport Company CEO Arnaud Feist called it 'an important day in the recovery' of the airport and in efforts to revive the city's image. Feist said he hoped the airport would be back at 100 per cent capacity by mid-June.

The March 22 attacks at the airport and Brussels' subway killed 32 people overall.