BRU summer 2012: latest news, routes, airlines

[RoMax]

they are anticipating on SN entering the market?

I think so, also this winter they operate 767 (I think). Probably they want to improve their strength on the route to survive the entry of SN into the market. Personally I think this COULD be the end of AA in BRU. Jet Airways is strong enough on the market (mainly due to their India feed), Delta Airlines seems to be stronger on the route than AA and SN has the Africa feed and the support of their Atlantic joint venture partners.

[theeuropean]

I really wish AA would do something interesting like Miami-Brussels or Dallas-Brussels (which I think they did at some stage I could be wrong though) SN might even have enough guts to codeshare with AA on this flight. But lets see, AA is also in a financial mess...

[BrightCedars]

I really wish AA would do something interesting like Miami-Brussels or Dallas-Brussels (which I think they did at some stage I could be wrong though) SN might even have enough guts to codeshare with AA on this flight. But lets see, AA is also in a financial mess...

AA codeshared on SN's BRU-DFW at the time those were on the same side of the table.

We should face that with a very dominent alliance and strong members it's going to be a squeeze at BRU for those who don't belong to the local club.

[SabenaForever]

Estonian Air will increase BRU this Summer from 6 weekly to 10 weekly

OV175 TLL0640 – 0815BRU CR9 x467
OV176 BRU0900 – 1230TLL CR9 x467

source: Airlineroute

[sn26567]

easyJet Switzerland will fly three times a day (iso 2) from/to Geneva.

The competition with Brussels Airlines increases!

[Established02]

easyJet Switzerland will fly three times a day (iso 2) from/to Geneva.

Has there been a communication about this from easyJet or from any other news outlet?

AFAIK easyJet has been operating these 3 rotations on and off for at least 2 years already.

The 3 rotations for the upcoming Summer season have been in the system for many months already, but just like they did in the past it is not unthinkable that easyJet might take out again a part of this capacity.

[RoMax]

Brussels Airlines will go from 10 weekly up to 13 weekly to DME as from March 2012. SN announced this in Moscow and the flights are loaded in the GDS. Also they will reshedule, the night/morning flights arrive in BRU at 07:20 (6/weekly), the dayflights arrrive back in BRU at 17:50 (daily). Now the flights arrive in BRU at 19:05 (daily) and 06:25 (3 weekly).

SN says it took them 3 years to get the agreement through, pointing at the bilateral agreement that made expansion impossible. Also for Aeroflot this has been a problem for a long time (they also want two daily, but they couldn't, if I remember well they will fly 2 daily in S12).
Between January and October 2011 the amount op pax to/from DME rose to 58 022 passengers, up from 44 270 in the same period in 2010. This is a 20% increase.

With this improved shedule, SN can finally offer good connections with their African network. Often an overnight in BRU was needed, this improved already with the 10 weekly flights, but 13-14 weekly is needed to offer flexibility.
40% of the pax on the flights to BRU connect to other destinations, mostly European. But the airline hopes to seize 10 percent of the small but growing flow of traffic between Russia and Africa by the end of next year, said Markhu Ahteela, regional manager for the Nordic countries and Russia.
Russian travel agents sell about 10 000 tickets for African destinations, annually, Brussels Airlines holds a stake of 2% in this. They want to improve this significantly with their improved shedule between BRU and DME.

[Bralo20]

brussels airlines S12 Africa Operation Changes as of 25NOV11
by JL

Update at 0550GMT 25NOV11

As per 25NOV11 GDS timetable display, brussels airlines is adjusting its operation to Africa.

The Star Alliance member is cancelling service to Accra, while other destinations sees either service increase or operational routing change.

Details:

Abidjan Overall service increase to Daily (S11 was 3 weekly, S10 was 6 weekly. S12 operates: SN231 2 weekly, SN245 2 weekly, SN251 2 weekly, SN247 1 weekly)
Accra 3 weekly Service CANCELLED (Currently operating 1 weekly via Lome on inbound and 2 weekly via Bamako)
Bamako 2 weekly service maintained. Brussels – Bamako – Lome vv replaced by Brussels – Bamako – Ouagadougou – Brussels (SN275) triangle routing
Banjul Service remains at 4 weekly, operating 2 weekly each on Brussels – Conakry – Banjul – Brussels (SN217; replaces Brussels – Banjul – Conakry vv) and Brussels – Freetown – Banjul – Brussels (SN219; replaces Brussels – Banjul – Freetown vv)
Bujumbura Service increases from 2 to 3 weekly, new flight on Fridays (SN453)
Conakry Service remains at 2 weekly, operating Brussels – Conakry – Banjul – Brussels (SN217), replaces Brussels – Banjul – Conakry vv
Cotonou Service operates via Abidjan on inbound, 2 weekly (SN231), replacing Bamako – Ouagadougou – Cotonou vv routing
Dakar Service operates 4 times a week, reduced from 6 in S11 (SN201/202)
Freetown Service remains at 2 weekly, operating Brussels – Freetown – Banjul – Brussels (SN219), replacing Brussels – Banjul – Freetown vv
Kigali Service remains at 1 weekly. However, Brussels – Kigali – Nairobi – Brussels (1 weekly) is operating on Mondays instead of Fridays
Lome All 2 weekly service operates via Abidjan on outbound (SN251; replaces 1 weekly each via Abidjan and Accra in W11)
Monrovia Service remains at 3 weekly (SN245/247)
Nairobi Increases from 3 to 4 weekly (with the additional Brussels – Bujumbura – Nairobi – Brussels SN453 service)
Ouagadougou Service remains 2 weekly, operating Brussels – Bamako – Ouagadougou – Brussels (SN275), replaces Brussels – Ouagadougou – Cotonou vv routing

SN201 BRU1430 – 1845DKR 333 x246
SN202 DKR2135 – 0525+1BRU 333 x246
SN217 BRU1430 – 1905CKY2020 – 2130BJL2245 – 0640+1BRU 333 26
SN219 BRU1430 – 1920FNA2035 – 2155BJL2310 – 0705+1BRU 333 14
SN231 BRU1405 – 1935COO2045 – 2110ABJ2220 – 0705+1BRU 333 26
SN245 BRU1210 – 1700ROB1810 – 1930ABJ2040 – 0520+1BRU 333 37
SN247 BRU1210 – 1700ABJ1810 – 1930ROB2040 – 0515+1BRU 333 5
SN251 BRU1405 – 1850ABJ2000 – 2115LFW2225 – 0655+1BRU 333 14
SN275 BRU1405 – 1805BKO1905 – 2025OUA2140 – 0530+1BRU 333 37
SN453 BRU1040 – 1855BJM1955 – 2230NBO2335 – 0715+1BRU 333 357

For Changes on Douala, Yaounde and Kinshasa, see report on 08NOV11


Source: Airlineroute.net

[Bralo20]

The schedule:

brussels airlines Increasing Moscow Service in S12
by JL

Update at 0620GMT 25NOV11

brussels airlines in Summer 2012 season is further increasing Brussels – Moscow Domodedovo service. The Star Alliance member from 25MAR12 is offering 13 weekly service, increases from 10 in Winter 2011/12 season. This route in Summer 2011 was operating on Daily basis.

Schedule:

SN2835 BRU0955 – 1525DME 319 D
SN2839 BRU2325 – 0455+1DME 319 x6

SN2840 DME0535 – 0720BRU 319 x7
SN2836 DME1605 – 1750BRU 319 D

Source: airlineroute.net

[jimyvr]

ET does not codeshare with SWISS. It has codeshare agreement with SN, however.

?? This is about OLT not about ET...

Was only paying attention to ET, missed OLT.

brussels airlines S12 Africa Operation Changes as of 25NOV11
by JL

Update at 0550GMT 25NOV11

As per 25NOV11 GDS timetable display, brussels airlines is adjusting its operation to Africa.

The Star Alliance member is cancelling service to Accra, while other destinations sees either service increase or operational routing change.

Source: Airlineroute.net

I fixed the article a bit, because I didn't mention it'll be effective 25MAR12 for Summer season.

[DannyVDB]

I think the overview of the African operations is incomplete.

Missing Entebbe and some of the Kigali flights (there is definitely more than 1 flight a week), no?

Danny

[rwandan-flyer]

Missing Entebbe and some of the Kigali flights (there is definitely more than 1 flight a week), no?

Kigali is still served by 4 flights a week, but flights to Entebbe is now only served 3 times a week. .

About Accra, i think there is an over capacity from Star Alliance airlines (SAA, LH, TK, UA, SN, EgyptAir, ET and Air Portugal).

[sn26567]

About Accra, i think there is an over capacity from Star Alliance airlines (SAA, LH, TK, UA, SN, EgyptAir, ET and Air Portugal).

This is true, but then why should the Star Alliance specialist of Africa be the one to leave?

I guess the answer is that Brussels Airlines never had a leading position in Accra, which was never served by Sabena either.

[convair]

Re former Sabena African destinations Lagos, Dar Es Salam, Kilimandjaro, and possibly others I forget, any chance to revive them someday?

[convair]

Another question: does the new SN S12 Africa operation schedule require the 7th A330, taking into account NYC, of course?

[BrightCedars]

Also I would think Nigeria is a large market that demands a lot of intercontinental connections and bigger hubs like are better suited for that need. It's better if SN concentrates on niche markets. Also, Nigeria doesn't seem to be the most friendly business environment seeing the fines BA and VS are being given.

[134flyer]

Another question: does the new SN S12 Africa operation schedule require the 7th A330, taking into account NYC, of course?

Taking the complete schedule into account (incl. daily NYC), a quick on the back-of-an-envelope (so please correct me if I'm wrong) gives: 5 days a week 6 A330 & 2 days a week 7 A330 in operation.

[travellover]

Re former Sabena African destinations Lagos, Dar Es Salam, Kilimandjaro, and possibly others I forget, any chance to revive them someday?

Brazzaville, Kano, Niamey (briefly 20 years ago),Nouakchott (briefly 11 years ago),and Libreville.

[BrightCedars]

Taking the complete schedule into account (incl. daily NYC), a quick on the back-of-an-envelope (so please correct me if I'm wrong) gives: 5 days a week 6 A330 & 2 days a week 7 A330 in operation.

Could it be that they will not run NYC daily from the start, it could be a sensitive move if they start with a frequency above every other day (i.e. 4 weekly minimum). I was under the impression that there would be only 6 jets available for some time while all undergo refurb one after the other.

[134flyer]

Could it be that they will not run NYC daily from the start, it could be a sensitive move if they start with a frequency above every other day (i.e. 4 weekly minimum). I was under the impression that there would be only 6 jets available for some time while all undergo refurb one after the other.

Well, cabin refurbishmernts will start in Feb12 and NYC will apparently only start from June12. IMHO, starting NYC daily from the beginning would be the sensible thing to do, and I think that's the plan anyway.