Air Belgium in 2019

[TLspotting]

Air Belgium to operate 2 flights for Air Madagascar on 7 and 8 August 2019.

Paris CDG - Antananarivo

MD051 CDG - TNR 15:10 - 02:55+1 A343 OOABB 07/08/2019

MD050 TNR - CDG 20:50 - 07:05+1 A343 OOABB 08/08/2019

Thanks to "Aéroport Paris - Charles de Gaulle" Facebook Group.

[SR20]

"Eight days after the opening of reservations on the Caribbean, 20% of flights are already filled," says Niky Terzakis, the CEO of Air Belgium, who is sure that his company is filling a gap.

https://www.lecho.be/entreprises/aviati ... 51530.html

[TLspotting]

Air Madagascar schedule delayed : MD051 CDG - TNR 21:20 - 09:05+1 A343 07/08/2019

MD050 TNR - CDG 23:35 - 09:50+1 A343 08/08/2019

[Passenger]

Shocking statement from CEO NT in some newspapers, as reported in an article on the homepage today:

"...The problems were compounded by the opening of the Brussels – Hong Kong route by Cathay Pacific. Terzakis regrets that Brussels Airport welcomed Cathay, a direct competitor, with open arms instead of favouring national companies...."
https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air- ... he-future/

This is untrue, and it's an insult towards Brussels Airport:

1. Air Belgium was also wellcome at Brussels Airport. But for socio-political reasons, Air Belgium preferred CRL.

2. Brussels Airport has done nothing unusual (let alone something illegal) to favourite Cathay. Cathay received the same incentives that every new airline gets when they open new routes at BRU. These incentives are public/published. If Air Belgium starts flying from BRU tomorrow, the red carpet will be rolled out for them too.

3. Air Belgium has lost the commercial battle against Cathay not because of BRU favouring Cathay, but because of the very late delivery of Air Belgiums' AOC. If/when AB would have received its AOC end of 2016, as they hoped, they had one year advantage on Cathay. Reminder of the time lapse: Air Belgium’s first announcement was in August 2016, with this remark on their Linkedin page: “to commence revenu operations to Hong Kong later this year”. Cathay's first announcement was in August 2017, via a press release “first flight to Brussels on 25 March 2018”.

[ZavCity]

Completely true..Everyone knows the Wallon gvt is involved, so they wanted CRL as a base !
gtz
paul

[Atlantis]

Exactly. This is very very low of him to state this publicly. They had the choice and they choose CRL bcs of the money and Walloon government being involved but they had to take also all disadvantage like a short runway. So instead of playing the victim and blaming others, look first at your own decisions

[Boavida]

As long as Air Belgium choses to fly from CRL, I don't see a bright future for them. Air Belgium seems more like a political project than a proper airline. Too bad.

[flightlover]

As long as Air Belgium choses to fly from CRL, I don't see a bright future for them. Air Belgium seems more like a political project than a proper airline. Too bad.

They needed a reason to extend the runway, don't think anyone else was candidate to play such a role.

[Stij]

They needed a reason to extend the runway, don't think anyone else was candidate to play such a role.

Sometime I think the airport is there to give work to the local general contractors...

Cheers,

Stij

[JOVAN]

Shocking statement from CEO NT in some newspapers, as reported in an article on the homepage today:

"...The problems were compounded by the opening of the Brussels – Hong Kong route by Cathay Pacific. Terzakis regrets that Brussels Airport welcomed Cathay, a direct competitor, with open arms instead of favouring national companies...."
https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air- ... he-future/

This is untrue, and it's an insult towards Brussels Airport:

1.[/i]

I do not see any insult here.
Do you have a problem with freedom of speech?? and freedom of Opinion ?

The CEO gives his comments and opinions.
He is a businessman, so he has probably taken all aspects in account.
Including prices to operate to/from BRU.
AB made a decision . CRL won. BRU lost a customer.

CRL is not a very comfortable airport, quite messy indeed. Chaotic even.
But they go for low cost. CRL's success and continuous growth shows their formula works.

Of course, you can be sure, there will be new long haul destinations from CRL.
That is because Wallonia has an Aviation Policy.

AB is first, but other long haul airlines, and destibations will follow.

[jan_olieslagers]

I do have a problem with lies and with liars.

[Airbus330lover]

I do have a problem with lies and with liars.

? who ?

[Passenger]

I do have a problem with lies and with liars.

? who ?

Terzakis.

[ZavCity]

Same here, there is nothing wrong with freedom of speech..But this does not include telling lies..Air belgium was NOT denied access to BRU by BIAC..so they do not have to tell in a press statement they were not wanted in BRU!
amen
gtz
paul

[Airbus330lover]

Perhaps only a misunderstanding..... And who knows. Perhaps only searching Cathay, with undiscolsed clausules too.
Common in business

[cathay belgium]

Hi,

Short reply : CRL can be very chaotic...long ques, too narrow ,too small hall ways, shortage of seats.... Gates 1-10 with the stairs,. Deboarding from the new terminal...
This is realistic...
You can say,I say CRL is chaotic...nothing wrong to say that... But I take some cheap fares from CRL... But if not I Prefer BRU-EIN and DUS by far even AMS
Btw more expensive parkings also and bad connected by trainde.. ! And that damn white tent for all that years now..

CXB

[Passenger]

Perhaps only a misunderstanding..... And who knows. Perhaps only searching Cathay, with undisclosed clausules too.
Common in business

This is the incentive program at/from Brussels Airport for 01/04/2016 till 31/03/2021:
EN:
https://www.brusselsairport.be/en/aviat ... ve-program
NL:
https://www.brusselsairport.be/nl/aviat ... ve-program
FR:
https://www.brusselsairport.be/fr/aviat ... ve-program

It is very very unlikely that Brussels Airport has done something special for Cathay on top of that. That would make them (= BRU) vulnerable if, for whatever reason, the relationship with CX ends. It's illegal too, because it's unfair competition. And specially at large firms like BRU and CX, it's impossible to keep things secret: there is allways the risk that someone leaves the company and joins a competitor.

[JOVAN]

Hi,

Short reply : CRL can be very chaotic...long ques, too narrow ,too small hall ways, shortage of seats.... Gates 1-10 with the stairs,. Deboarding from the new terminal...
This is realistic...
You can say,I say CRL is chaotic...nothing wrong to say that... But I take some cheap fares from CRL... But if not I Prefer BRU-EIN and DUS by far even AMS
Btw more expensive parkings also and bad connected by trainde.. ! And that damn white tent for all that years now..

CXB

That is indeed what I mean.
It would be easy to organize things in a better and logical, pleasant way.

The TENT is a real joke. Or a pain in the .. if you want.
PAX have to make a big tour to go thru it.
The TENT is useless and even polce men & security personnel inside are ashamed.

The TENT is only there because the local Police Officer in charge wants it that way.
Too many little BARONS, also in the Police organization.
Serious Belgian disease.

[JOVAN]

Perhaps only a misunderstanding..... And who knows. Perhaps only searching Cathay, with undiscolsed clausules too.
Common in business

Indeed. Hidden favours ("don't tell anybody !!") are quite usual in Business.

I would personnaly have preferred AB at BRU.

Let us not call Mr. Terzakis is liar unless this can be proved.

[jan_olieslagers]

...The problems were compounded by the opening of the Brussels – Hong Kong route by Cathay Pacific. Terzakis regrets that Brussels Airport welcomed Cathay, a direct competitor, with open arms instead of favouring national companies...."

I leave it to him to offer proof that CX were offered better terms than himself could have obtained. Or what else does the "with open arms" stand for? Were their arms less open for Air Belgium?

Or, wait, is he only complaining that he did not get anything better than the Chinese? In that case I must admit the word "lie" is all too heavy. But how realistic was that to expect?