nordikcam wrote: ↑30 Dec 2023, 16:24
ZavCity wrote: ↑30 Dec 2023, 15:09
BRU used to have many long haul carriers at the end of the nineties(VASP/China Eastern/Cubana/US airways/American to name a few) and before that even more BUT the Big 3 (EK/QR/EY) from the Middle East with their low fares and good service took every other competition away..And there is also the fact that Belgian tourists are more keen to fly to European/North African destinations than our neighbours do..I really think BRU airport is trying to attract airlines..but....
I remember Iraqui Airways / Cubana de Aviacion / Sri Lankan airlines / Air India / LAP on the way Recife Asuncion / Air Congo / Cameroon Airlines / South African Airways to say some others...but at this time Schiphol was twice as big as Brussels...today's it's three times...
Indeed, there were several 'exotic' airlines at several points in time (I flew myself Cubana via Canada
). I also remember Biman Airways (Bangladesh), Mahan AIr (Iran) and of course Jet Airways (India). Maybe a few more.
But as Lumumba states most of these were only a few weekly (or even less) frequencies. Moreover, they were certainly not all operating in the same period.
The exception was Jet Airways which had at a certain moment in time (almost) 6 daily frequencies to India / North America and reached - if I am not wrong - around 900.000 pax / year!
The other big difference is of course Sabena / Sobelair. They had together early 2000's 16 long haul planes (I loved the MD-11
)!
It would be interesting to search for the long haul figures over the years, I assume someone from BRU should be able to find these back, no? With the Big 3 from the ME, and other long haul I am not sure there is a big difference between now and then.
Regarding the 'ambition' (or lack of it) for now and the near future, I am not so pessimistic (but that will largely depend on how our world will evolve over the coming year(s)):
1) The already announced or rumored flights to Singapore, Shanghai (Hainan), Nairobi, Toronto, Newark (2nd daily) ...
2) If the rumors about more long haul planes for SN in the long term become true (so not only the expansion next year), that would make a big difference ...
3) The vague rumors on Thai, and maybe others to Shanghai ... and hopefully more frequencies to e.g. Tokyo, or flights becoming year round (Toronto, 2nd Washington)
I am not so convinced we will see back Cathay (Hong Kong) and Delta (Atlanta).
I still see also other destinations in the future.
BTW, I don't think BRU is in winter sleep modus. They work hard, but it is not so obvious to attract and convince airlines to make the move. It would certainly help to have more Belgians taking the long haul plane
Happy New Year!
Danny