Brussels Airlines doubles flight frequency to Monrovia and Freetown

Reopening of crew base in Monrovia

Starting today, Brussels Airlines operates four instead of two flights per week to Monrovia (Liberia) and Freetown (Sierra Leone). “We have always continued our flights to these West-African countries during the Ebola crisis and with the increase of our flight offer, we want to actively contribute to the very necessary economic and social revival of the region”, says Brussels Airlines CEO Bernard Gustin.

With today’s flight SN243, Brussels Airlines’ new schedule for flights to Monrovia and Freetown commences. Henceforth, the airline operates flights to both countries on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. With the increased flight frequencies, Brussels but also other Brussels Airlines destinations (in the US, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Scandinavia) are now even more accessible.

The frequency increase is good news for travellers, but also for the freight forwarders who now have more capacity available to ship cargo on board the Airbus A330 aircraft of Brussels Airlines.

Last week, Liberia was declared Ebola-free. Two incubation periods have passed (42 days) since the last Ebola patient tested negative, and no new cases were reported since then. Sierra Leone, however, has not been declared Ebola-free yet, but the number of cases is decreasing. Both countries are working intensively on rebuilding their economy, so Brussels Airlines has decided to contribute to this goal, too.

“In difficult operational circumstances we continued flying to both countries. With our Africa is not Ebola initiative we wanted to raise awareness towards a broad audience. It is crucial that we prevent that the entire African continent is being put aside because three out of more than 50 countries are going through a severe health crisis. We assume our responsibility now that both international and local projects are being established in order to help Monrovia and Sierra Leone recover economically and socially. One of the basic conditions of growth is easy access to a country, and with the increase of our flight offer we want to contribute actively to that.”

Bernard Gustin, CEO Brussels Airlines

As from today the Brussels Airlines crew will again have their night stops in Liberia after one year of absence, which strongly demonstrates the confidence the airline has in the country. “We thank the entire Brussels Airlines staff for the very professional manner in which they enabled our flight operations during the Ebola crisis”, says Bernard Gustin. The CEO has joined the crew today on their flight to Monrovia, as a flight attendant, to show his gratitude towards the crew, but also towards the local Brussels Airlines staff in Africa. “We carry Africa in our hearts, which is proven once again today.”

Tuesday, September 08, 2015