Lufthansa buys the remaining 55% of Brussels Airlines

[tolipanebas]

Those interested in following the news, including the investment of several hundred millions Lufthansa is going to make in the further expansion of Brussels Airlines, can tune in to the airlines' Facebook page for live streaming of the press conference this morning...

enjoy.

[sean1982]

Those interested in following the news, including the investment of several hundred millions Lufthansa is going to make in the further expansion of Brussels Airlines, can tune in to the airlines' Facebook page for live streaming of the press conference this morning...

enjoy.

Its like they had a choice with 50% of the longhaul aircraft in dire need of replacement (or a life extension programme)

[Yuqu12]

What time is that press stream on facebook?

[Passenger]

Livestream link:
https://press.brusselsairlines.com/live ... onference#

[Yuqu12]

Thanks Passenger!

[Inquirer]

Its like they had a choice with 50% of the longhaul aircraft in dire need of replacement (or a life extension programme)

Relax Sean, no need to sound so sour over today's positive news from Brussels.

Half a year ago, they were facing an existential crisis in the wake of the terror attacks at BXL, so if indeed their new owner is going to come up with the kind of financial backing Tolipanabas is hinting at here, that's extremely good news for them, for the thousands of people who are on their payroll, for the airport and also for our country as a whole as it means a clear sign of a long term commitment and increased stability.
The other choice which is always on the table for any business is to simply pull out of a troubled project and let go of it, so there's always a choice, contrary to what you may say: clearly Lufthansa does not go that path, but rather seems to have some interesting corporate plans with this airline as well as the airport. I am very interested in hearing more about those further growth plans!

What time is that press stream on facebook?

That I would like to know too!
That I can watch in while doing my expense notes of the last 2 months!
I once again forgot the end of the year is close.

Edit: I see a link was posted meanwhile; thank you for that, sir!

[Passenger]

10h30.

[b.lufthansa]

Lufthansa to invest 600.000.000 in renewing of the fleet

http://www.rtbf.be/info/economie/detail ... m=fb_share

[Inquirer]

€600M?
That's more than just several hundred millions even, if confirmed?
I suppose that's the cumulative costs they are talking about, rather than the initial investment costs?

Nevertheless, such big investment projects are now no longer impossible for them now.
We still need to get used to it, but poor and little Brussels airlines is gone; to be replaced by Brussels Airlines which is part of a profitable and big group with excellent financing capabilities: announcing a project with a value of well over half a billion euro just like that is a clear example of that change in the game. Now let's see if there's confirmation of this in the press release by them.

[Bralo20]

The 600 million seems to be for leasing 7 planes during a period of 20 years. (Which seems (at first sight) a decrease in long haul)

Waiting for the official news though...

4,285 million EUR per plane, per year for a total of 85 million EUR after 20 years. Seems quite cheap not?

[Passenger]

Livestream link:
https://press.brusselsairlines.com/live ... onference#

Livestream is activated.

[Bralo20]

Lufthansa statement:

http://newsroom.lufthansagroup.com/en/n ... 4/317.html

[Boavida]

My bet is for a "soft" integration (cf. soft brexit): Brusselswings with Intercontinental flights and European feeder flights, and perhaps some Eurowings flights to tourist destinations.

The name change to Brussels"wings" doesn't make any sense. Changing just the 'airlines' with 'wings'? The change is too small to make a difference. If the name will change it will be to Eurowings. Full stop. They won't come up with an extra name, which will make things (for the customer) more unclear and (for LH) senseless since they want to get the (lousy) Eurowings brand more known.

[Bralo20]

600 million EUR was a "mistake of a technical matter" according Davignon. The long haul leases are all up at the end of 2017, the leases will be replaced by other planes but there's no plan to invest 600 million EUR.

[Boavida]

Lufthansa statement:

http://newsroom.lufthansagroup.com/en/n ... 4/317.html

Some quotes:

The brand ‘Brussels Airlines’ will be complemented by the claim “Member of the Eurowings Group”.

Based on its successful development, Brussels Airlines is able to play a leading role in bringing our pan-European point-to-point offer under the brand of the Eurowings Group to new successful heights.

So If I understand correctly, for 2 more years Brussels Airlines will have 'Member of Eurowings Group' titles on the planes to prepare the customers for the full rebranding to Eurowings in 2 years.

RIP Brussels Airlines.

[Yuqu12]

No real surprise I guess. Unless EW keeps failing for 2 years :/

[Didymus]

Press conference is being streamed live on the Brussels Airlines Facebook page right now.

[sean1982]

Some preliminary information here:
https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/brussel ... s-not-yet/

If that's correct, it's the opposite of what the doomsayers have repeated here three times a day. There will be no integration of Brussels Airlines into EuroWings, the Africa-flights will not move from Brussels to Germany, and the company "nv/sa Brussels Airlines" will (probably) remain to exist. Only nv/sa SN Airlholding will (probably) be integrated into Lufthansa.

Indeed why don't people have the patience to wait till tomorrow before spreading different Apocalypse Now scenario's...

I waited .... same result

[Bralo20]

That was a very disappointing press conference, a lot of people to say virtually nothing...

One thing though, it seems that the new long haul fleet will be bought.

It's quite clear that they want to get rid of Brussels Airlines in favour of Eurowings but it's also clear that they realise that this won't get accepted quite as easily as they wanted and thus they keep reminding that despite what will happen they will remain to have "a Belgian touch".

And regarding the media... Were they selected to not to ask any questions? Only a few generic question were asked by journalists, almost if they were instructed not to ask questions. Quite a weird situation.

[Boavida]

It watched the press conference and LH seems to have a very unclear/double message. On the one hand, they issue a press release saying they intend to bring it all under the 'Eurowings' brand eventually... but on the other hand the LH CEO told that they'll always keep a 'Belgian touch' in the name. He said "this is not a brand takeover". And "if we change the name, it will always be in agreement with the Belgian management".

ps: we have a lousy, uninformed/uninterested press. What a bunch of stupid questions...