Brussels Airlines' fleet renewal

[BrightCedars]

Had the luck to land an A320neo (OO-SBC) on our flight from BRU to CPH last Friday evening.
The most striking aspect to me is the much lower noise level in the cabin, even at take off power.
SN or LH group selected a cabin without ambient lighting, which I find nice but obviously it's esthetical.
There is also no PTV and the business class section is not worth the upgrade since it's standard seats unlike those airlines with 2x2 or even more advanced C cabins in narrow bodies. Of course for a 1-hour hop it's superfluous but I would find it a nice option for longer flights, alas in SN's case I think it would be a very small sub-fleet and I'm not sure they could extract the revenue on any of their long routes, even TLV.
This noted, the return was on an older A319ceo (OO-SSQ) and apart from the light being TL instead of LED the cabin was more or less on par with that on its much younger cousin.
Wondering why SN put 4 coat hooks in their aircraft when there are only 3 seats (observed both on ceo and neo)

[Boeing767copilot]

Had the luck to land an A320neo (OO-SBC) on our flight from BRU to CPH last Friday evening.
The most striking aspect to me is the much lower noise level in the cabin, even at take off power.
SN or LH group selected a cabin without ambient lighting, which I find nice but obviously it's esthetical.
There is also no PTV and the business class section is not worth the upgrade since it's standard seats unlike those airlines with 2x2 or even more advanced C cabins in narrow bodies. Of course for a 1-hour hop it's superfluous but I would find it a nice option for longer flights, alas in SN's case I think it would be a very small sub-fleet and I'm not sure they could extract the revenue on any of their long routes, even TLV.
This noted, the return was on an older A319ceo (OO-SSQ) and apart from the light being TL instead of LED the cabin was more or less on par with that on its much younger cousin.
Wondering why SN put 4 coat hooks in their aircraft when there are only 3 seats (observed both on ceo and neo)

I agree with your experience with the NEO. I do miss a curtain between the two classes.
Do you know if the seat pitch between the business class seats is the same as in economy in the NEO?

[crew1990]

Had the luck to land an A320neo (OO-SBC) on our flight from BRU to CPH last Friday evening.
The most striking aspect to me is the much lower noise level in the cabin, even at take off power.
SN or LH group selected a cabin without ambient lighting, which I find nice but obviously it's esthetical.
There is also no PTV and the business class section is not worth the upgrade since it's standard seats unlike those airlines with 2x2 or even more advanced C cabins in narrow bodies. Of course for a 1-hour hop it's superfluous but I would find it a nice option for longer flights, alas in SN's case I think it would be a very small sub-fleet and I'm not sure they could extract the revenue on any of their long routes, even TLV.
This noted, the return was on an older A319ceo (OO-SSQ) and apart from the light being TL instead of LED the cabin was more or less on par with that on its much younger cousin.
Wondering why SN put 4 coat hooks in their aircraft when there are only 3 seats (observed both on ceo and neo)

Do you know if the seat pitch between the business class seats is the same as in economy in the NEO?

There are more legroom in the front then in the back of the aircraft. The front seat are reclinable in the front of the aircraft.

[TimTam]

And the seats are not reclinable as from row...?
With a 28 inches seat pitch ? Like on FR ? Who has more detailed info about it ? THX !

[Atlantis]

OO-SBD is now almost on the ground for a month at BRU. Very long preparation to get them in the air.

Transavia received new planes and sent them into operation the next day.

Quite costly. The last 2 missed the biggest part of the Summer high season where most money is earned. Of course partly of delays in delivery new planes.

[oldblueeyes]

And the seats are not reclinable as from row...?
With a 28 inches seat pitch ? Like on FR ? Who has more detailed info about it ? THX !

Same configuration of the cabin for interchangebility between the brands.

- same leg room for Business and Preferred zone
- Standard up to the last 2 rows
- very tiny in the last 2

[Duke]

Same configuration of the cabin for interchangebility between the brands.

Except that LH and LX put a curtain between business and economy...and not SN...
And that LH and LX very soon will offer free wifi on board... and not SN...

[oldblueeyes]

Do the main competitors of SN at BRU airport offer internet?
SN is not positioned as a brand at the level of Swiss - it's direct competitors are Ryanair, Wizzair, Transavia and all the others flying at BRU.

[theeuropean]

On another last note, flying LH not impressed with their economy class. SN’s buy on board menu is by far much better than LH’s, there’s not even a real competition in my eyes.

Any news on potential new aircraft coming to SN?

[longwings]

OO-SBD is now almost on the ground for a month at BRU. Very long preparation to get them in the air.

Transavia received new planes and sent them into operation the next day.

Difficult to judge without intimate knowledge of the respective contracts with Airbus. Both manufacturers will deliver aircraft in various states of readiness as requested by customers. Some airlines elect to finish kitting their new aircraft in-house or with another supplier, for cost reasons (often) or because the manufacturer is not certified to install a particular piece of equipment (less often).
-SBB, -SBC, and two recent Lufty deliveries I checked at random all took about a month from delivery to first commercial flight, so I suspect this delay is not abnormal.
Checking two random Transavia deliveries, looks like they take 5 days, so probably not delivered quite ready either.

Cargolux is/was (*) famous for taking delivery of fully kitted aircraft. The 744s would take off on their delivery flight, and immediately land in SEA to pick up freight for the flight home. Of course, it's easier to fully equip a cargo aircraft.
(*) my information is obviously a few years old.

[oldblueeyes]

Any news on potential new aircraft coming to SN?

The strategy was pretty clear communicated - average growth by 2 shorthaul and 1 long haul aircraft per year.

This does not mean that the planes have to come at the beginning of the peak season and that they have to be new.

There are ongoing rumors that the upcoming 2x330 may be those ex Edelweiss, because of their longer range capabilities.

New A320 NEO fam for 2025 are quite allocated - Lufthansa City is getting 9 and Swiss 2. Likely there could be 1 or 2 additional deliveries, or maybe not.

[Atlantis]

Any news on potential new aircraft coming to SN?

The strategy was pretty clear communicated - average growth by 2 shorthaul and 1 long haul aircraft per year.

This does not mean that the planes have to come at the beginning of the peak season and that they have to be new.

There are ongoing rumors that the upcoming 2x330 may be those ex Edelweiss, because of their longer range capabilities.

New A320 NEO fam for 2025 are quite allocated - Lufthansa City is getting 9 and Swiss 2. Likely there could be 1 or 2 additional deliveries, or maybe not.

Edelweiss don't has A330 in the fleet anymore. Or they went to SN, Air Transat or Discovery.

Unless you mean that they will come from Discovery

[oldblueeyes]

Exactly.

There are rumors that they would go to the Munich base or that they would go to SN.

With a large bunch on 789 coming in early next year the whole puzzle or realocations that is delayed right now for delivery reasons would get new dynamics.

Let's wait and see.

And with ITA being onboarded into the group there may be additonal elements to be considered on medium term. The 339 have the "right" business seat confirguration, Thompson Vantage XL, which is in the 4 A359 ex Philippines LH has as well. At the same time, the 6x ITA A359 have the Collins business seats. Would be curious to see how cabion product harmonisation would look like outside the Allegris options.

[Kapitein]

OOSBE landed this afternoon in BRU

[Boeing767copilot]

Tomorrow, friday 12/7, first flights OO-SBD Airbus neo FAO en LHR.

[Boeing767copilot]

Tomorrow, friday 12/7, first flights OO-SBD Airbus neo FAO en LHR.

UPDATE: MUN - ATH - BER

[SLM]

When OO-SNN (Eurowings colours) in Brussels Airlines colours? It is already flying for more than 5 years in EW livery for SN? Tx

[Homo Aeroportus]

When OO-SNN (Eurowings colours) in Brussels Airlines colours? It is already flying for more than 5 years in EW livery for SN? Tx

Well, maybe the interval between paint jobs also depends on quality?
Remember when D-AIKG was transferred from LH to SN in September 2019 she received a new EW colour scheme. But when she returned to LH back as D-AIKG in March 2022, she had absolutely to be repainted in LH c/s.
That was only 30 months in between, of which 21 were spent in storage.
Bad paint job probably.

H.A.

[longwings]

When OO-SNN (Eurowings colours) in Brussels Airlines colours? It is already flying for more than 5 years in EW livery for SN?

When Brussels has $200,000, a week to spare, and is focused on their brand image... A good paint job can last 7-8 years.

That was only 30 months in between, of which 21 were spent in storage. Bad paint job probably.

Depending on the conditions it was stored, could be the aircraft went through a heavy check before returning to service. Airlines often repaint livery at the same time as their heavy overhauls because of the time it takes to complete them.
Also Eurowings has a higher brand awareness as a discount airline - compared to Lufthansa - in Germany. Passengers who paid for the premium product don't want to fly on the discount aircraft.
Bad paint job is possible but not likely, bc that would be a very bad one.

[oldblueeyes]

And sometimes aircraft have just some stickers. There is a good reason why the base colour across the fleet is Eurowhite.