Low cost terminal at Brussels Airport delayed till end 2009

[jan_olieslagers]

Belgian television mentions that the planned low cost terminal at Brussels Airport is delayed till at least end 2009.

http://www.deredactie.be/cm/de.redactie ... stterminal

[Atlantis]

hmm, hmm, what's the difference with the closed topic? Just an English title with a Dutch link. That could be better, don't you think? That was the question of an other member.

[jan_olieslagers]

For myself I prefer a good discussion in good Dutch over a poor discussion in poor English... as we so often see here...
And I'm none too happy to see my message partially translated behind my back...
The reason I posted in Dutch was that the article I saw was in that language, no less no more.

[luchtzak]

Blame it on me then Doing my best to bring an English topic about this matter, anybody else who likes to start an English topic about it ?

[sn26567]

Why don't we just keep this topic unlocked for those who prefer a good discussion in English?

Thus, yesterday Belgian television in Dutch language announce that the low-cost terminal of Brussels would not open in April 2009, as originally planned. The decision has been deferred at least until the start of the winter season 2009-2010.

Some comments indicated that this would be good for CRL, to which others replied that the LCC traffic in Brussels would expand anyway, with or without a low-cost terminal.

Any other opinions?

[Acid-drop]

I think it's a good idea to hold any investment until the we see hope for the end of the crisis ...

[Lamal]

If everybody thinks like this, the crisis will never end. It are investements that can turn the tide.

[teddybAIR]

On-topic: Is there any reason to believe that this delay is related to the effects of an economic slowdown? I ask this question, because I believe that the LC segment is the segment which I estimate to suffer least from the crisis.

Off-topic: Can we stick to the essence of the discussion instead of the endless, exhausting complaints about people’s English writing skills? I suggest we open a topic for people to argue on language matters, while all other topics remain exclusively accessible for people who write their contributions with the best intentions…even if that means that they make mistakes. On the condition that contributions are written with good intentions and respect for others, I assume the majority of this community has no problem with people who are less proficient than some other forum members.

P.S: I have no problems should this message be removed. Itself is partially off-topic anyway!

[Airbus330lover]

Delayed till begin 2010 or end 2009.
Influence of SN and LH in the discussion ?

[Conti764]

Delayed till begin 2010 or end 2009.
Influence of SN and LH in the discussion ?

I don't think so. With LH, SN had to become a regular airline again (I expect the return of economy and business on European flights again) so SN has no advantage of using the low cost infrastructure. By opening the low cost infra for leisure carriers as well (JAF, TC,...) BRU made a smart decision to end all (or at least most of) the problems carriers could have with this infrastructure.

[Badabing]

Delay seems linked to administration / building permits, NOT to current economic situation or change of heart after LH/SN courtship.

[jan_olieslagers]

That's what they say, yes. For myself I suspect them of using this as a handy excuse for delay, and after sufficient delay cancelling it. As so often, we will just have to wait and see...

[regi]

In times of economical turmoil, governments must be brave to tackle it with drasitic measures, sometimes called The Hoover Dam Plan. ( referring to to build the Hoover Dam in the 1930's to employ many people and give something usefull back to the nation)

Imagine:
investment in a LCC terminal at Zaventem and a direct brand new light railway link between Zaventem and Charleroi. ( not going to Brussels ) To give the passengers at Charleroi fast connection to the international flights from Zaventem. And to use the full capacity of Zaventem airport for companies that have not the same incentives as Ryanair and Wizz air have at Charleroi, such as Easyjet.
So a double investment with the possibility for very tough competition from all sides.

I am sure that such a direct rail link between the 2 airports would make connection between 2 terminals shorter than going at Heat Throw from term to Term 4 , which I experienced to take 1.5 hours by taking 2 busses. Similar problems arrise at CDG, Zurich, Frankfurt, Mumbai ( international-domestic)

[LX-LGX]

Yes, there is a drop in aviation. But powerful players - like Macquarie Aviation - won't give up. Also, the primary investment in the Low Cost Terminal isn't that much, compared to their turnover, their possibilities and the fact that it's a long term investment.

- - -

The reason for the delay indeed has to do with authorisations. I've tried to reply without names of parties of politicians:

The new terminal was announced in February 2008, for opening in April 2009. In July 2008, Brussels Airport filed the official building request (bouwaanvraag - demande de permis de construire) with the Flemish Community. The airport indeed is based in Zaventem, which is Flemish Region. There was no MER done (milieu-effectenrapport - rapport environnement), as Brussels Airport assumes that extending its airport activities is already allowed by the current authorisation.

Now comes the joke: mid September 2008, one of the 19 mayors in the Brussels Capital Region (I call him mr X) was at Brussels Airport. There were some construction works ahead, and mr X thaught this was for the new LCT - Low Coast Terminal - for which no authorisation was given yet. Brussels Airport tried to convince mr X that the construction works were not for the new LCT, but because mr X is a Belgian politician, he is always right (even when he's wrong). So he believed that Brussels Airport was already building the LCT, without the necessary permit. Together with 3 other mayors from the Brussels Capital Region, mr X then filed a complaint with Belgium's controlling court (Raad van State / Conseil D'Etat). That court now has to decide on the absence of a MER - environment report - before the Flemish Region is allowed to give the authorisation for the construction works. Hence today's delay.

The 4 mayors who believe that Brussels Airport is already building the new LCT are these from Oudergem/Auderghem, Schaarbeek/Schaerbeek, Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe/Woluwe Saint-Lambert and Sint-Pieters-Woluwe/Woluwe Saint-Pierre.

- - -

The reason why Brussels Airport is announcing now that the LCC is postponed, is the new Belgian aviation tax. As long as the Belgian government hasn't told us how much the new tax will be, LCC's won't start planning new routes to/from Brussels. Without that new tax, Brussels Airport could have charged Low Cost airlines the fares they would normally pay at the new LCT - ready or not.

[airazurxtror]

Some comments indicated that this would be good for CRL, to which others replied that the LCC traffic in Brussels would expand anyway, with or without a low-cost terminal.

The LCC at Brussels will have to use the same high-cost terminals as the legacy carriers.
Their ticket prices will thus be higher than if they had used a terminal costing them less.
The difference in ticket price between a LCC at BRU and a LCC at CRL will remain rather high.
Flying from CRL will thus remain cheaper for the traveller, even taking into account the price of going to Charleroi (for a Brusselaar, for example).