Leading officials of Brussels Airlines tried to calm things down on Friday during a press conference as the airline prepares for a two-day strike by its pilots next week. The management will submit a new proposal to their representatives on Monday, but did not wish to detail the content of this offer. Brussels Airlines will have the second strike of its pilots in its history on Monday and Wednesday.
In total, more than 60,000 passengers are affected by potential flight cancellations. A delicate situation that calls into question the reliability of the company as the summer season is nearing, recognised Christina Foerster, the new CEO of the company. She took the opportunity to apologise to all the travellers affected by this action.
Count Etienne Davignon, the chairman of the Board of Directors, reminded that the promotion of social dialogue is in the DNA of the company. “We have heard a number of things and will respond to them as far as possible” during Monday’s meeting, Davignon said.
Davignon also believes that an amalgam is currently being made between the social problems experienced by the company and its future within the Lufthansa group in general, and its integration into Eurowings in particular. However, the objective of Brussels Airlines remains to develop within Eurowings. A concrete growth plan will be presented at the end of June to support the company’s strategy in the medium-haul, leisure and long-haul sectors.
Next week’s strike is expected to have a financial impact of just under ten million euros for the company. A considerable sum for a company that lost 26 million euros in the first quarter, “even if the first quarter is always the worst,” according to Mr. Davignon. In 2017, Brussels Airlines posted a net profit of 3.57 million euros.
