The Association of European Airlines (AEA) has today named Bernard Gustin, Co-Chief Executive of Brussels Airlines, as its new Chairman for 2012.

During his year-long chairmanship, Bernard Gustin will act on behalf of AEA’s 35 airline members which contribute €86 billion to the European economy. He will chair the association’s board and represent AEA in high-level political meetings.

“Europe is bracing itself for a turbulent 2012, therefore it is more critical than ever to have a competitive and thriving European airline industry,” said Mr Gustin. “AEA’s members want to fuel the economic recovery. To achieve this, aviation must not be used as a regulatory playground, or as an austerity cash-cow.

“Our focus for the coming 12 months will be on removing inefficiency from the system and driving external costs down. As a key priority, we urgently need Member States to deliver on their Single European Sky promises.”

But as we enter 2012, the political focus is sadly dominated by tensions over aviation’s inclusion in the EU ETS – not on the launch of landmark Single European Sky reforms which will slash emissions by 12%, reduce delay times and cut airline operating costs.

“The ETS debate is like a volcano. When the tensions erupt, it is going to be extremely damaging for European air travel. A globally acceptable solution and a shift of focus from politics back to the environment is an absolute must for 2012,” said Mr Gustin.

Mr Gustin succeeds Virgin Atlantic Chief Executive Steve Ridgway, who expertly steered the association’s work during 2011.

AEA 16 January 2012

Flying to New York or one of the numerous African destinations on the Brussels Airlines network will become more comfortable than ever. The airline invests 30 million euro this year in comfortable flatbed seats in Business Class, generous seating comfort in Economy Class, trendy design and revolutionary entertainment technology. Thanks to this new quality product Brussels Airlines reinforces its position as the reference airline offering the highest levels of quality.

The passenger cabins of the seven Brussels Airlines Airbus A330 aircraft will undergo a genuine makeover in 2012, focused on design, innovation, comfort and the highest levels of quality. “We're introducing this superior in-flight product based on the newest technology and based on the feedback of thousands of passengers creates high expectations and ambitions”, says co-CEO Bernard Gustin.

Business Class

Brussels Airlines Business Class passengers will soon enjoy a new trendy premium seat that can be turned into a real ‘flatbed’ (180° flat position) of nearly two meters in the blink of an eye. But there’s more. The flat bed is equipped with a pneumatic cushion which allows the passenger to choose between a “soft” or a “hard” seat, according to preference, and whereby the body weight is never pressed against the seat. Brussels Airlines is one of the first airlines in the world to introduce this “Pneumatic Cushion” technology in an even more advanced version.

The flat bed also offers relaxing massage possibilities and LED mood lighting, plenty of storage for shoes or reading material and warm, contemporary colours complete the superior comfort. The seat belts carry an airbag. Thanks to the ingenious cabin configuration not less than 24 of the 30 seats have direct aisle access. 10 of the 30 Business Class passengers have no adjacent seat and all seats guarantee lots of privacy.

Pictures of the business class cabin:




Economy Class

Passengers flying in Economy Class will soon travel in a stylish, ergonomic seat designed by Italian designers offering more legroom and seat comfort. Passengers will surely appreciate the 83 cm legroom that will allow them to relax even more during their flight. The headrest is adjustable in height and in width. The individual touch screen, equipped with USB port, measures not less than 22, 6 cm.

Economy class seats:



Revolutionary inflight entertainment system

The new RAVE in-flight entertainment technology, of which Brussels Airlines is amongst the launch customers, is undoubtedly revolutionary. Both in Business and in Economy Class the RAVE programme will be available in six different languages. The individual Business Class screen is not less than 38, 9 cm (15,3") with navigation through modern tablet style ”touch and scroll”. The on demand entertainment system, that is wirelessly connected to every individual screen (and therefore more reliable than traditional centrally-driven systems) contains over 100 hours of movies and documentaries, news programmes, games, audio and e-reading material. Passengers can even connect their own iPad or other devices to the screen in Business Class. No one will get bored on board our intercontinental flights.

Another new technology is the ‘Niceview’ flight information programme (developed by Lufthansa Technik), offering a three-dimensional view from various camera perspectives (aircraft, cockpit, cabin, ...) on which passengers can follow the exact course of the aircraft. A window seat is not necessary anymore to have a (virtual but very realistic) view on the area surrounding the aircraft. The system also offers information on connecting flights.

A new dimension

Brussels Airlines invests close to 30 million euro in its long haul fleet. Also the lavatories and galleys will be completely refurbished. “A large investment that gives a new dimension to the term “passenger comfort”, says Brussels Airlines co-CEO Bernard Gustin. “Customers boarding a Brussels Airlines long haul aircraft will have the feeling they are entering a brand new aircraft. If we compare this level of comfort to the product of other airlines on transatlantic flights or routes to and from Africa, we can conclude that we will become a real precursor and trendsetter of quality in terms of seats, relax possibilities, leg room and entertainment technology.

The refurbishing of the long haul fleet is at the same time a “green” investment. Thanks to the use of modern materials, the weight per aircraft decreases and consequently also the fuel usage and CO2 emissions.”

The first renewed aircraft will be operational as from spring 2012. Lufthansa Technik will perform the refurbishing. The new scheduled services to New York will be operated with the new in-flight product and the upgrade will be gradually available on the African network in 2012.

Brussels Airlines press release, 10th of January 2012, Zaventem

A total of 415,600 passengers chose Brussels Airlines in the month of November. This is an increase by 6, 3 percent compared to November 2010. The seat load factor increased with 5, 3 points.

Compared to November 2010, Brussels Airlines welcomed 24.667 more passengers on board of its intra-European and intercontinental flights. The flights to Africa registered a passenger growth of 10, 1 %. On the European flights an increase of 5,8 % was recorded.

Thanks to this passenger growth, the load factor improved with 5, 3 % points and reached in the first winter month 63, 4 %. During the month of November Brussels Airlines increased its flight offer to Moscow. On several routes larger aircraft with a higher seat capacity came into service. The seat offer on some routes with a more seasonal (summer) profile was reduced in line with the lower market demand.

Not included in these statistics are the passenger figures of the charter flights operated by Brussels Airlines on behalf of tour operators.



Brussels Airlines press release, Brussels, 23 December 2011

Starting 1st June 2012, Brussels Airlines will connect the European capital daily with New York JFK. This new service will be operated with completely renewed Airbus A330 aircraft equipped with the latest in-flight technology and comfort. It is the airline’s first own connection to the States since Brussels Airlines started in 2002. The sale of tickets for this new Brussels – New York JFK route is launched today.

1st June 2012 is set to be a historical day in the history of Brussels Airlines. With the launch on that day of a new scheduled service between Brussels Airport and New York, Brussels Airlines will be bringing Belgian aviation back to the United States after a break of ten years.

Brussels Airlines will run a daily morning service to New York (JFK) and an overnight service between New York and Brussels. All flights will be operated with Airbus A330-300 or A330-200 aircraft. The planes will be equipped with a a brand-new business and economy class cabin (flat bed in business, ergonomic seats in economy, in-flight entertainment system of the last generation and more) for guaranteeing very comfortable travel. More details about this new cabin will be announced soon. Brussels Airlines is also introducing today a launch fare of €399, all taxes and service fees included.

“We are especially pleased that we will be able to serve New York, the main long-haul destination for the Belgian travel market, ourselves from next spring”, says Brussels Airlines CO CEO Bernard Gustin. “Not only are we investing in our own air connection to the States, but thanks to a completely new cabin we are also offering our passengers a state of the art product more than ever before.”

Schedule
The flight departs Brussels Airport in the morning and arrives in the United States in the early afternoon, local time. Departure from JFK is scheduled for the late afternoon with arrival in Brussels the following morning. This scheduling enables the New York flight to fit in smoothly with Brussels Airlines’ European and African flights, so that, allowing for a brief transfer in Brussels Airport, dozens of destinations in Europe and Africa connect perfectly with the transatlantic route. In New York JFK, Brussels Airlines will be operating from Terminal 1. In Brussels Airport, the plane departs from the Brussels Airlines exclusive long-haul terminal (“T zone”).



During the flight, passengers can enjoy the typical Belgian hospitality of the Brussels Airlines crew and superb gastronomic cuisine including free drinks.

Passengers flying with Brussels Airlines to New York can earn and redeem Miles & More frequent flyer miles. The ticket sale of this new route starts as of today via the internet and the travel agents. Brussels Airlines is happy to cooperate with companies, tour operators, incentive and congress travel organizers.

Brussels Airlines press release, Brussels, 27th December 2011

Winter timetable 2011-2012 : Brussels Airlines increases frequencies to Moscow

During the upcoming winter season, Brussels Airlines will increase its flight frequency between Brussels Airport and Moscow’s Domodedovo airport. From the end of October onwards Brussels Airlines will connect the Russian Capital ten times a week with Brussels. Other highlights of the winter timetable are the new destinations Bamako, Agadir and Marrakech who appear for the first time in Brussels Airlines winter schedule.

Till the month of June Brussels Airlines was operating seven weekly flights to Moscow Domodedovo. Since then an eighth weekly frequency has been added. Starting this winter season, two more weekly frequencies will be offered. In total, Brussels Airlines will then offer 10 weekly flights between the European capital airport and Domodedovo. The flight increase has been made possible thanks to an expansion of the bilateral aviation agreement between Belgium and Russia. Also the growing market demand justifies the frequency increase.

The additional frequencies are scheduled on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday with a late evening departure from Brussels Airport and an early morning return from Moscow on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. All these flights connect smoothly at Brussels Airport with European and African services of Brussels Airlines.

The new winter timetable also contains new Africa destinations. Bamako (Mali), a destination that Brussels Airlines is connecting twice weekly since September, pops up for the very first time in the winter schedule. Also Agadir and Marrakech are newcomers in the winter timetable.

During the upcoming winter season, Brussels Airlines will operate larger aircraft with additional seat capacity on several routes. Flights to Hamburg, Berlin, Geneva, Copenhagen, Vienna, London Heathrow and Tel Aviv are upgraded thanks to the fleet replacement programme whereby some Boeing 737 and AVRO RJ aircraft are replaced by larger Airbus A 319/320 aircraft equipped with new ergonomic seats that offer more leg space.

On several routes like for example Athens and Lisbon, Brussels Airlines adjusts the timing of its flights resulting in improved connection possibilities with other flights.

Due to lower market demand on typical summer destinations, some destinations are suspended this winter. Flights to Seville are operated till the 13th of November, Naples and Catania till the 6th of November. On some other routes frequencies have changed in order to adapt seat capacity to the lower market demand during the winter or the weekend days.

On a weekly basis, Brussels Airlines operates this winter 712 return flights.

Brussels Airlines press release, Brussels, 24 October 2011