BRU Winter 2023-2024: news, new routes, airlines

[Miqvell]

airBaltic adds Vilnius-Brussels, from 30th October, 4 times weekly (Mo/We x2/Th).
Source : @airBaltic

[luchtzak]

BRU Winter 2023-2024
BRU Summer 2023
BRU Winter 2022-2023
BRU Summer 2022
BRU Winter 2021-2022
BRU Summer 2021
BRU Winter 2020-2021
BRU Summer 2020
BRU Winter 2019-2020
BRU Summer 2019
BRU Winter 2018-2019
BRU Summer 2018
BRU Winter 2017-2018
BRU Summer 2017
BRU Winter 2016-2017
BRU Summer 2016
BRU Winter 2015-2016
BRU Summer 2015
BRU Winter 2014-2015
BRU Winter 2013-2014
BRU Winter 2012-2013
BRU Winter 2011-2012
BRU Summer 2011
BRU Winter 2010-2011
BRU Summer 2010
BRU Winter 2009-2010
BRU Summer 2009
BRU Winter 2008-2009
BRU Winter 2007-2008

[Miqvell]

Some little news :
> RJ grows capacity to AMM before it even starts : increases to 3 weekly (Tu/Th/Su), replaces A319 by A320/321 and goes year-round
> TG plans to return to BRU according to Feist, starting date unknown

Sources : Bookings, Luchtvaartnieuws

[travellover]

Thank you for these informations.

About TG let´s hope that they will be back for the winter season.
For everyone.
Maybe we could visit Buthan and only Bangkok and India give a connection.
As FRA or AMS connection makes the travel too much long.
If no TG, first choice would be a ME3 flight, better than AMS and FRA for the Bangkok travel.

[Airbus330lover]

Thank you for these informations.

About TG let´s hope that they will be back for the winter season.
For everyone.
Maybe we could visit Buthan and only Bangkok and India give a connection.
As FRA or AMS connection makes the travel too much long.
If no TG, first choice would be a ME3 flight, better than AMS and FRA for the Bangkok travel.

Personnaly, I avoid ME3. 2 flight around 6 hours each, no sleep, four meals.... not the best solution.
My transfers hubs are VIE ans eventually MUC

[nordikcam]

Thank you for these informations.

About TG let´s hope that they will be back for the winter season.
For everyone.
Maybe we could visit Buthan and only Bangkok and India give a connection.
As FRA or AMS connection makes the travel too much long.
If no TG, first choice would be a ME3 flight, better than AMS and FRA for the Bangkok travel.

Personnaly, I avoid ME3. 2 flight around 6 hours each, no sleep, four meals.... not the best solution.
My transfers hubs are VIE ans eventually MUC

Igual I avoid the Big Three...If I cannot fly from CDG and AF...my transfers hubs are MAD or ZRH...

[Darjeeling]

CAA from Congo is eying to launch flights FIH to CDG/BRU by december 2023.

They've received their second A333 coming from China Airlines. This one is not 9Q registered but 9H (Malta) as HiFly Malta will operate it on their behalf. 9H-HFI to be precise.This might explain that. They're looking to hire some ex-SN senior pilots who were obliged to retire recently. BCAA and DGAC have been consulted recently to speed up the process (hence the HiFly agreement).

I'm not an aviation legal expert, but there is no open-skies agreement between DRC and Belgium, this might mean that SN will need to return some frequencies at an early stage (provided no new negociations are opened before, we all know that SN has good connections with the BeGov). Don't forget elections are coming in DRC by ... december as well

Other targeted destinations are JNB and DXB.

[sn26567]

CAA from Congo is eying to launch flights FIH to CDG/BRU by december 2023.

They've received their second A333 coming from China Airlines. This one is not 9Q registered but 9H (Malta) as HiFly Malta will operate it on their behalf. 9H-HFI to be precise.This might explain that. They're looking to hire some ex-SN senior pilots who were obliged to retire recently. BCAA and DGAC have been consulted recently to speed up the process (hence the HiFly agreement).

I'm not an aviation legal expert, but there is no open-skies agreement between DRC and Belgium, this might mean that SN will need to return some frequencies at an early stage (provided no new negociations are opened before, we all know that SN has good connections with the BeGov). Don't forget elections are coming in DRC by ... december as well

Other targeted destinations are JNB and DXB.

If my memory serves me well, the bilateral agreement between Belgium and DRC provides 5 weekly frequencies to Belgium and 2 to the DRC. But SN could use the DRC frequencies as long as the DRC doesn't use them.

Before the Covid crisis, SN was flying daily to FIH. Currently only 4 times a week, thus within the frame of the bilateral agreement. There is room for CAA/HiFly without SN having to change anything.

[ZavCity]

There used to be a similar agreement since ages..Air Zaire, Air Congo, Hewa Bora airlines and others were here in the past..My contact in DRC told me about the proposed service to BRU, indeed possible with a European registered plane, but still many paperwork to be done!.Let's hope they come !

[nordikcam]

CAA from Congo is eying to launch flights FIH to CDG/BRU by december 2023.

They've received their second A333 coming from China Airlines. This one is not 9Q registered but 9H (Malta) as HiFly Malta will operate it on their behalf. 9H-HFI to be precise.This might explain that. They're looking to hire some ex-SN senior pilots who were obliged to retire recently. BCAA and DGAC have been consulted recently to speed up the process (hence the HiFly agreement).

I'm not an aviation legal expert, but there is no open-skies agreement between DRC and Belgium, this might mean that SN will need to return some frequencies at an early stage (provided no new negociations are opened before, we all know that SN has good connections with the BeGov). Don't forget elections are coming in DRC by ... december as well

Other targeted destinations are JNB and DXB.

If my memory serves me well, the bilateral agreement between Belgium and DRC provides 5 weekly frequencies to Belgium and 2 to the DRC. But SN could use the DRC frequencies as long as the DRC doesn't use them.

Before the Covid crisis, SN was flying daily to FIH. Currently only 4 times a week, thus within the frame of the bilateral agreement. There is room for CAA/HiFly without SN having to change anything.

SN is actually flying daily to FIH...5 times a week directly and 2 times via Luanda...

[sn26567]

CAA from Congo is eying to launch flights FIH to CDG/BRU by december 2023.

They've received their second A333 coming from China Airlines. This one is not 9Q registered but 9H (Malta) as HiFly Malta will operate it on their behalf. 9H-HFI to be precise.This might explain that. They're looking to hire some ex-SN senior pilots who were obliged to retire recently. BCAA and DGAC have been consulted recently to speed up the process (hence the HiFly agreement).

I'm not an aviation legal expert, but there is no open-skies agreement between DRC and Belgium, this might mean that SN will need to return some frequencies at an early stage (provided no new negociations are opened before, we all know that SN has good connections with the BeGov). Don't forget elections are coming in DRC by ... december as well

Other targeted destinations are JNB and DXB.

If my memory serves me well, the bilateral agreement between Belgium and DRC provides 5 weekly frequencies to Belgium and 2 to the DRC. But SN could use the DRC frequencies as long as the DRC doesn't use them.

Before the Covid crisis, SN was flying daily to FIH. Currently only 4 times a week, thus within the frame of the bilateral agreement. There is room for CAA/HiFly without SN having to change anything.

SN is actually flying daily to FIH...5 times a week directly and 2 times via Luanda...

Oops, you're almost right: I forgot to add the three flights via LAD to the four non-stop flights.

[crew1990]

It 4 weekly "sec" and 3 weekly via Luanda as there is 3 trafic right between Belgium and Angola indeed.

At the moment:

Monday SN357/358 BRU-FIH-BRU
Tuesday SN359 BRU-LAD-FIH-BRU
Wednesday SN357/358 BRU-FIH-BRU
Thursday SN359 BRU-LAD-FIH-BRU
Friday SN357/358 BRU-FIH-BRU
Saturday SN357/358 BRU-FIH-BRU
Sunday SN359 BRU-LAD-FIH-BRU

If indeed CAA would step in the market and SN could not fly to RDC more than 5 times a week. In order to keep almost the same offer in term of seat, one of the solution could be to fly FIH 5 weekly "sec" and link Luanda with a new destination in the area like Libreville, Brazaville or Pointe Noire for examble.

Given the fact that there will be most probably a 10th A330 next year it's totally feasible. There would still be 6 slots to add 1 (2 if triangular) destination and/or add extra capacity in the network.

Example:

Monday: SN358/359 BRU-FIH-BRU
Tuesday:
Wednesday: SN358/359 BRU-FIH-BRU
Thursday:
Friday: SN358/359 BRU-FIH-BRU
Saturday: SN358/359 BRU-FIH-BRU
Sunday: SN359 BRU-FIH-BRU

And

Monday:
Tuesday: SN35x BRU-LAD-LBV-BRU
Wednesday:
Thursday: SN35x BRU-LBV-BRU
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday: SN35x BRU-LAD-FIH-BRU

[nordikcam]

It 4 weekly "sec" and 3 weekly via Luanda as there is 3 trafic right between Belgium and Angola indeed.

At the moment:

Monday SN357/358 BRU-FIH-BRU
Tuesday SN359 BRU-LAD-FIH-BRU
Wednesday SN357/358 BRU-FIH-BRU
Thursday SN359 BRU-LAD-FIH-BRU
Friday SN357/358 BRU-FIH-BRU
Saturday SN357/358 BRU-FIH-BRU
Sunday SN359 BRU-LAD-FIH-BRU

If indeed CAA would step in the market and SN could not fly to RDC more than 5 times a week. In order to keep almost the same offer in term of seat, one of the solution could be to fly FIH 5 weekly "sec" and link Luanda with a new destination in the area like Libreville, Brazaville or Pointe Noire for examble.

Given the fact that there will be most probably a 10th A330 next year it's totally feasible. There would still be 6 slots to add 1 (2 if triangular) destination and/or add extra capacity in the network.

A 10th Airbus A330... where would it come from ? Eurowings, Cathay or Singapore? An other one ? Thx...

[nordikcam]

Oops ! A 10th Airbus A330...where would it come from ? Eurowings, Cathay or Singapore ? Or an other one ? Thx !

[crew1990]

Not yet confirmed, still under discusion but it seems going in the right way. An expansion is foreseen this is why they are already creating a pool of recruitment for next selection of flying staff https://brusselsairlines.cvw.io/?lang=en-US.

SN went from a fleet of 38 to 45 aircrafts between 2021 and 2023 (around +22%). Planes are often full and there is almost the double of business class passenger, the milking cow of any airline, than previous year hence the first step in the recent upgrade in the premium product in order to pamper them.

Whatever pessimistic people say (and frustrated people wish), futur seems promising.

[Airbus330lover]

Not yet confirmed, still under discusion but it seems going in the right way. An expansion is foreseen this is why they are already creating a pool of recruitment for next selection of flying staff https://brusselsairlines.cvw.io/?lang=en-US.

SN went from a fleet of 38 to 45 aircrafts between 2021 and 2023 (around +22%). Planes are often full and there is almost the double of business class passenger, the milking cow of any airline, than previous year hence the first step in the recent upgrade in the premium product in order to pamper them.

Whatever pessimistic people say (and frustrated people wish), futur seems promising.

They need to check the reservation system too, some serious improvment to do, not on the interface but on the requests results... see posting.php?mode=quote&p=425574

[crew1990]

As from 29/10 start of W23/24 there will be a new destination for Brussels Airlines and one destination will end...

New destination: Stockolm Arlanda ARN, Sweeden.

Destination ended: I let you guess

Reason of this move, better connection within the LH group, and more flexibility as Bromma (oups I said it) had to much restriction to be operated smoothly

[SLM]

Is Thai coming back to Bru from Nov this year?

[Miqvell]

Is Thai coming back to Bru from Nov this year?

We have no accurate info on this but we know that they will welcome 9 A350 by the first quarter of 2024, "which will provide a significant boost to their capacity, especially to Europe".

[Miqvell]

Another confirmation that Thai will resume Bangkok soon (W23 ?), this time as a "seasonal route"
Source : TL, https://twitter.com/SeanM1997/status/16 ... 7950669825