Brussels Airlines in 2019

[Bel33]

When You look at the sub-Saharan network of AF-KLM with more than 30 destinations for summer 2019 and high flight frequencies, there is a huge gap to be filled by LH group and SN! I am not sure SN is already the specialist of Africa even if, in the LH group, SN is this specialist... Think also to Ethiopian, Turkish, Emirates, Qatar... Time for Wake up!

[lumumba]

But it's impossible to do the same than AF,Brussels hub is not big enough.
The transfer possibilities are not the same has CDG or FRA...

[Ansett]

That's why, at best, SN will be stuck with mainly French-speaking destinations in Western and Central Africa, since LH has no intention to develop the BRU hub.

[BrightCedars]

I second that!

SN's network in Africa is no leader by far. If is it indeed the intention of the LH group to occupy Africa using SN, the clock has been ticking for quite a while! They need to add more destinations and they need to add the minimum Intercontinental feed that makes sense at BRU as well.

They are a niche player by now and are attacked from all sides: AT, ET, KQ, TK, the new Senegal Airlines and even EK & QR. AF/KL has a stronger presence as well and of course must vaster networks in AMS & CDG. Even BA/IB isn't ridicule.

If LH's ambition is to capture a large swathe of the Africa market (and do so at BRU), investments are long overdue! If not, then fold SN into EW and eventually run a couple niche long hauls out of BRU or maximise Star Alliance code sharing.

Take the FIH situation. SN has had to reduce frequency but LH didn't jump in to offer SN metal with greater capacity, as possible under the bilateral.

[sn26567]

They are a niche player by now and are attacked from all sides: AT, ET, KQ, TK, the new Senegal Airlines and even EK & QR. AF/KL has a stronger presence as well and of course must vaster networks in AMS & CDG.

Indeed. And this article (in French) confirms that AF/KL is doing the utmost to keep its position as a leader (20% of Europe to Africa traffic). Interestingly, the main competitor of AF/KL is said to be ET. SN is not even mentioned. "Il y a du pain sur la planche" for SN.

https://www.deplacementspros.com/Air-Fr ... 52471.html

[luchtzak]

Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines is allowed to fly 7 (!!) times per week to Kinshasa.

Kinshasa flights will be increased from 5 flights to 7 flights per week as of March 31,2019.

FLT NBR START END DAYS DEP ARR
TK 589 01/04/2019 26/10/2019 1.3.56. IST 14:25 20:00 FIH
TK 589 01/04/2019 26/10/2019 1.3.56. FIH 20:50 22:30 LBV
TK 589 01/04/2019 26/10/2019 1.3.56. LBV 23:25 8:50 IST +1
TK 590 31/03/2019 24/10/2019 .2.4..7 IST 14:30 18:40 NDJ
TK 590 31/03/2019 24/10/2019 .2.4..7 NDJ 19:25 22:10 FIH
TK 590 31/03/2019 24/10/2019 .2.4..7 FIH 23:05 8:55 IST +1

[sn26567]

Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines is allowed to fly 7 (!!) times per week to Kinshasa.

Indeed, but with a Boeing 737 MAX 8, the capacity is much lower than on SN's A330.

And I am sure that the Belgian diplomatic representation in Kinshasa is pushing the new President to grant additional slots to Brussels Airlines, as requested by Christina Foerster.

[A330]

Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines is allowed to fly 7 (!!) times per week to Kinshasa.

Indeed, but with a Boeing 737 MAX 8, the capacity is much lower than on SN's A330.

And I am sure that the Belgian diplomatic representation in Kinshasa is pushing the new President to grant additional slots to Brussels Airlines, as requested by Christina Foerster.

Does anybody know whether SN still have capacity in their current fleet of 10 A330's to operate any additional flights tot Kinshasa if those rights return? Or would that require/imply extra aircraft?
I tried to find out whether the extra flights to Dakar and Banjul this winter extended into the summer season but their online timetable did not provide any results. Any news on that? Or is all capacity from canceling Mumbai gone to Accra and Lomé?

[sn26567]

And I am sure that the Belgian diplomatic representation in Kinshasa is pushing the new President to grant additional slots to Brussels Airlines, as requested by Christina Foerster.

Does anybody know whether SN still have capacity in their current fleet of 10 A330's to operate any additional flights to Kinshasa if those rights return? Or would that require/imply extra aircraft?
I tried to find out whether the extra flights to Dakar and Banjul this winter extended into the summer season but their online timetable did not provide any results. Any news on that? Or is all capacity from cancelling Mumbai gone to Accra and Lomé?

From what I heard, SN kept capacity available to increase frequency to FIH again and they try to wait as long as possible before redeploying that capacity elsewhere. More should be known by the end of next week or the week thereafter.

[convair]

And I am sure that the Belgian diplomatic representation in Kinshasa is pushing the new President to grant additional slots to Brussels Airlines, as requested by Christina Foerster.

Does anybody know whether SN still have capacity in their current fleet of 10 A330's to operate any additional flights to Kinshasa if those rights return? Or would that require/imply extra aircraft?
I tried to find out whether the extra flights to Dakar and Banjul this winter extended into the summer season but their online timetable did not provide any results. Any news on that? Or is all capacity from cancelling Mumbai gone to Accra and Lomé?

From what I heard, SN kept capacity available to increase frequency to FIH again and they try to wait as long as possible before redeploying that capacity elsewhere. More should be known by the end of next week or the week thereafter.

I assume they also keep capacity to resume IAD in the summer schedules, if I'm right.
So far, they also had at least one of their 332 in Lisbon for maintenance during the whole winter season; but SFO is supposed to leave the fleet in February (already replaced by SFE).

[KJK]

Interesting article on Routes Online about the African expertise of Brussels airlines and routes development:
https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/br ... b-20190215

[Stij]

Welcome to Aviation24 KJK!

Stij

[sn26567]

Interesting article on Routes Online about the African expertise of Brussels airlines and routes development:
https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/br ... b-20190215

I see at least three errors in this article:

• The load factor did not increase in January, but decreased slightly.
• All flights to Dakar are non-stop, but three of them are not continuing to other destinations
• Brussels Airlines will not launch the Wroclaw destination in 2019

Other than that, interesting article indeed.

[brabel]

Interesting article on Routes Online about the African expertise of Brussels airlines and routes development:
https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/br ... b-20190215

They keep on speaking about the Brussels "hub" all the time. Let's hope it stays a real hub indeed!

[DannyVDB]

Interesting article on Routes Online about the African expertise of Brussels airlines and routes development:
https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/br ... b-20190215

I see at least three errors in this article:

• The load factor did not increase in January, but decreased slightly.
• All flights to Dakar are non-stop, but three of them are not continuing to other destinations
• Brussels Airlines will not launch the Wroclaw destination in 2019

Other than that, interesting article indeed.

Hi André,

I think they were referring to the 2018 figures, not 2019

[Boeing767copilot]

Lufthansa-topman stopt als bestuurder bij Brussels Airlines

Carsten Spohr, the CEO of Lufthansa, is no longer part of the board of directors of SN Airholding, the holding company above the airline Brussels Airlines. The council was also reduced from nine to five people, including two Belgians.

https://www.tijd.be/ondernemen/luchtvaa ... 99716.html

[Boavida]

^^ Is that a good or a bad thing ? (when it comes to keeping the Brussels Airlines brand)

[lumumba]

I was wondering the same.

[sterling]

Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines is allowed to fly 7 (!!) times per week to Kinshasa.

Indeed, but with a Boeing 737 MAX 8, the capacity is much lower than on SN's A330.

And I am sure that the Belgian diplomatic representation in Kinshasa is pushing the new President to grant additional slots to Brussels Airlines, as requested by Christina Foerster.

I think that the Turkish state/Turkish Airlines is more willing to do (favorable) concessions with DRC that aren't kosher from the outside view, while Brussels Airlines is upholding "clean hands", hence Turkish Airlines is allowed to fly more.

[sn26567]

^^ Is that a good or a bad thing ? (when it comes to keeping the Brussels Airlines brand)

There are still enough Germans on the Board!