BRU in 2006: what to expect: airlines, routes, news

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 13 Mar 2006, 20:45

Only the central Chinese government and the CAAC have to give now their green light to start flights to Brussels.

On 2 August Hainan start flights to Budapest with three flights a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Could we also expect three flights a week or a daily flight?

Hainan airlines chose BRU because they have plans with it's new European hub and they are going to use BRU for their Africa market.

source: travel magazine newsletter

andong · Post by **andong** » 14 Mar 2006, 07:40

Hi Atlantis
Just contacted one of the people who visited Bru lately and to my direct question about decision making-as there is a meeting planned with Flanders Tourism Minister; answer was (names deleted) see below

From: xxxxx@hnair.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 2:25 PM
To: xxxxxxx
Subject: 答复: HU PEK-BRU flight

Not yet.

发送时间: 2006年3月14日 14:22
收件人: 舒晓斌
主题:: : HU PEK-BRU flight

Hi Mr xxxxxx
When will the final decision be taken?

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 14 Mar 2006, 17:29

Hi Andong,

I think this is quit normal that they don't give a final solution to people who are involved in this.

We are knowing that Geert Bourgeois is going to China by the end of this month to have some talks.

I think we will have the final answers in a couple of days, weeks.

Post by **sn26567** » 15 Mar 2006, 14:01

I find it strange that, for a matter of national interest for Belgium, a Minister of the Flemish government is in charge of the negotiations.

Anyone who has an explanation?

Please no linguistic or regional considerations! I don't want to start a feud!

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 18 Mar 2006, 10:14

From 12 June 2006 Smartwings is going to offer 6 flights a week, ex Saturdays, between Prague and Brussels and this with the B737.

Source: justplanes

vueling · Post by **vueling** » 18 Mar 2006, 20:02

The link between Brussels and Prague will be operated by Smartwings (smartwings.net).
Tickets are already on sale. I ckecked and it is possible to have a return flight for 50 eur tax incl.

Timetable (from smartwings.net, not yet on biac)
Bruxelles Prague
QS063 Dep 21:00 Arr 22:30 12345 12/06/2006 – 27/10/2006
QS063 Dep 23:55 Arr 01:20 7 18/06/2006 – 22/10/2006

Prague - Bruxelles
QS062 Dep 19:00 Arr 20:30 12345 12/06/2006 – 27/10/2006
QS062 Dep 22:00 Arr 23:25 7 18/06/2006 – 22/10/2006

Established02 · Post by **Established02** » 18 Mar 2006, 21:29

vueling wrote:QS062 Dep 19:00 Arr 20:30 12345
QS063 Dep 21:00 Arr 22:30 12345

30 minutes to turn around a B737 at BRU... 8O

What other carrier is having 30 minutes turnaround time at BRU?

Thank you.

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 18 Mar 2006, 22:36

Finally BRU get some real LCC.

Lukas_Ridgeston · Post by **Lukas_Ridgeston** » 19 Mar 2006, 00:07

Don't be too sure about any Ministry (federal or regional) being directly involved in the actual negotiations with Hainan (or Grand China Airlines). I think it's more a case of who gets the credit for the flight in the end.

(who announced the talks during the mission to China? who has been communicating about them?)

It's more a question of playing the media/ public "perception"...

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » 19 Mar 2006, 10:22

Atlantis wrote:Finally BRU get some real LCC.

Today on the radio news: "Zaventem is getting 3 low cost carriers", coincidence or not?

also: http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail. ... 032006_006
and also: http://www.hln.be/hln/cch/det/art_184046.html
and also: http://www.vrtnieuws.net/nieuwsnet_mast ... ndex.shtml

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 19 Mar 2006, 11:14

Lukas_Ridgeston wrote:Don't be too sure about any Ministry (federal or regional) being directly involved in the actual negotiations with Hainan (or Grand China Airlines). I think it's more a case of who gets the credit for the flight in the end.

(who announced the talks during the mission to China? who has been communicating about them?)

It's more a question of playing the media/ public "perception"...

We have to wait till the end of the month when they announced it official.

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 20 Mar 2006, 16:54

According to Travel Magazine Newsletter there is still no guarantee that Hainan Airlines will come to Brussels. The airline is still negociating with the two airports: Zürich and Brussels. But according to insiders, BRU makes a better change.

SNBA is a candidate for codeshare - what else - confirmed by a spokesman.

The first flight will be on 18 July 2006 with 4 flights a week to Europe.

Source: Travel magazine newsletter.

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 21 Mar 2006, 18:55

It's now official; Bravo Airlines took over the rights of Air Congo to organize flights from Brussels, Paris and Madrid to Kinshasa.

This means that SNBA and Hewa Bora gets a third competitor on that route. ALX is flying on Sunday to Kinshasa, during the summer also on Thuesday, and SNBA is flying several times a week to Kinshasa.

At this moment the schedule for Brussels is not known.

ostair · Post by **ostair** » 21 Mar 2006, 20:03

Does anyone know what the intention is of Condor to offer flights to Munich?

There is always a market for a LCC but is there enough demand for this route?

Cheers

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 22 Mar 2006, 22:08

This Saturday Geert Bourgeois departs to China for one of the last talks. I'm wondering if we can expect one of these days a final decision of Hainan where they are going to fly to: Zürich or Brussels.

Cartman · Post by **Cartman** » 23 Mar 2006, 02:39

Atlantis wrote:It's now official; Bravo Airlines took over the rights of Air Congo to organize flights from Brussels, Paris and Madrid to Kinshasa.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that due to a bilateral agreement between Belgium and DR Congo, there are only two carriers allowed on the BRU - FIH route, one Belgian and one Congolese (in casu Hewa Bora and SNBA).

Now, since Hewa Bora didn't get blacklisted today (not fully anyway) and this company is also referred to as Air Kabila (undeniable ties with Congolese president and his family), there is no doubt that ALX will remain the COngolese carrier on this line. So how would bravo airlines get a permit to fly on this route?

airazurxtror · Post by **airazurxtror** » 23 Mar 2006, 13:35

ostair wrote:Does anyone know what the intention is of Condor to offer flights to Munich?

There is always a market for a LCC but is there enough demand for this route?

Cheers

If you have a look at Condor prices, you'll see they are much cheaper than the others carriers on this route.
I suggest Condor will take a large slice of their concurrents' custom.

Post by **sn26567** » 23 Mar 2006, 13:50

airazurxtror wrote:I suggest Condor will take a large slice of their concurrents' custom.

Then Lufthansa, owner of 50% of Condor, is shooting itself in the foot. Have you seen that the Condor A320 leaves from BRU to MUC at half an hour interval from a Lufthansa A320?

Flying-Belgian · Post by **Flying-Belgian** » 23 Mar 2006, 14:40

sn26567 wrote:
airazurxtror wrote:I suggest Condor will take a large slice of their concurrents' custom.
Then Lufthansa, owner of 50% of Condor, is shooting itself in the foot. Have you seen that the Condor A320 leaves from BRU to MUC at half an hour interval from a Lufthansa A320?

Salut André,

I've read recently an interview of LH's sales director for Belgium in the Travel Magazine, and he was puzzled about Condor's choice, and also added he wasn't informed beforehand neither was LH's management in Germany. That's his say. Hence this strange schedule maybe ?

FB.

iechist · Post by **iechist** » 23 Mar 2006, 18:02

Air Wales will be leaving the scheduled passenger business at the end of April. However, Eastern Airways will operate Cardiff-Brussels.

For those interested in the non-BRU part of this story, Eastern will also take on CWL-NCL and CWL-ABZ. Aer Arann will take over CWL-ORK. Nobody is taking on ORK-EXT or CWL-DUB yet (although Ryanair already operate on this route).