Yet the Dutch can transport 55 million pax out of "boerengat" Amsterdam, and the Swiss from ZRH.Sorry but I really wonder what kind of expectations people have from SN. A small hybrid-FSC surrounded by the biggest hubs in Europe and with its hub close to one of the largest FR bases in continental Europe (especially if you combine CRL and BRU bases).
Aviation in Europe is a wide open market and while SN is squeezed between 5 major hubs, it is also surrounded by the biggest travel markets in Europe being the U.K., The Netherlands, Germany and France presenting a unique opportunity for major success.
I don't think that people have too high expectations, it's SN that lacks ambition.
I think that the Sabena experiment has terrorised the Belgian aviation environment so badly that they can't see SN as a separate, truly new entity that can have a bright future.
The Swiss have been brave in these regards. They've been shocked, have swallowed it and went back into it from scratch, to become the most profitable airline in Europe.
It's all in the head.