BRU summer 2011: latest news, routes, airlines

[RoMax]

Thanks to the B77W's that are comming back from TK later this year (altough I don't think they will re use all 4, but lease some out again. But not sure) and the rather busy BOM-BRU-EWR route.
There were already rumours that Jet would dismantle their BRU hub already this winter. But at least the BOM/EWR flights seems to say for some time to go. Otherwise it would be unlogicall if they upgrade. Combine this with Star Alliance wich said they want to have a second Indian airline... Ok maybe I should stop dreaming.

[Atlantis]

I don't know if it was already mentioned but US Airways is going to use their B762 as from 14 May to BRU and this on a daily basis.

[tolipanebas]

As from the 8th of June Brussels Airlines will introduce an 8th weekly frequency
to DME.
Flight will leave on thursday evening an come back on friday morning.
SN2839 BRU 2300 DME 0430
SN3840 DME 0515 BRU 0655

As from next winter, SN is going to further increase the number of weekly flights to 10 by adding 2 more night flights to DME.

[RoMax]

As from next winter, SN is going to further increase the number of weekly flights to 10 by adding 2 more night flights to DME.

It seems the Moscow region was really underserved. Both Aeroflot and SN wanted to expand but were unable because of the limited bilateral agreement. Now that the bilateral agreement between Russia and Belgium has been reviewed both are expanding. Aeroflot is currently flying 8 weekly (comming from 7) and is planning to go twice daily as from W11/12. SN will start a 8th flight in June and will go to 10 weekly in W11/12. And it are night flights, so they don't need extra aircraft for these flights wich is also handy for SN.

So if Aeroflot will really go double daily, there will be 24 weekly flights to Moscow (both SVO and DME) in W11/12 compared to 14 in W10/11. I would say that's not bad.

[tolipanebas]

It's not only the O&D market, but also the transfer market which is aimed here.

Note that those extra night flights will also allow good connectivity to African and US destinations for the very first time at BRU, so an early moring arrival from DME is particularly interesting for SN.

[BrightCedars]

MEA is indeed daily loaded in the GDS for that week with daily flights, my mistake. Nice evolution there on that route. I know someone who will be very happy with that . And maybe we can hope for an upgrade once in a while?

Am I a special someone?

Glad to read the route is doing well and MEA is milking all options out of it. Last flights around Easter were upgrade to A321 for one, rather full, including up front, for the others on A320's.

Going back for a long weekend event in early June, will see how it is at a presumably lighter moment, although daily flights at the end of June are really something good to look at. We've already booked our Summer tickets with MEA anyhow. School holidays and VFR were definitely going to be a hit with the route but it's good to see the front end of the plane fill up quite nicely as well, makes me feel we'll keep enjoying the service for the foreseeable future.

[sn26567]

So if Aeroflot will really go double daily, there will be 24 weekly flights to Moscow (both SVO and DME) in W11/12 compared to 14 in W10/11. I would say that's not bad.

I just read in Routes Online that Aeroflot cancelled its proposal to go double daily from BRU to SVO. They will remain at 8 flights a week. Instead, they will increase flights from SVO to DUS (not so far from BRU...) from 2 to 3 DAILY !

I wonder what consequences this will have on SN's plans.

[sn26567]

Already announced earlier, Jetairfly from 17JUN11 to 16SEP11 is offering 2 weekly Brussels – Pristina service on board Boeing 737-500 aircraft

Code: Select all

TB1651/1652 BRU1840 – 2110PRN2205 – 0045+1BRU 735 1
TB5847/5848 BRU1855 – 2125PRN2220 – 0100+1BRU 735 5

Source: Airline Route

Note the TB code for TUI Belgium...

[sn26567]

The Brussels Airlines flights to Tel Aviv are now operated by A320 instead of A319.

[Boeing767copilot]

According Travel Magazine Aviation Newsletter CSA Czech Airlines wil start a direct link between Brussels and Bratislava, commencing in juin, 3 x week.
B737-500

[VEX802]

Czech Airlines to fly to six new destinations from Bratislava from June
13 May 2011
Flash News

Czech Airlines (CSA) will operate 24 new direct flights per week to six destinations from Bratislava's M.R. Štefánik Airport (BTS) starting in June, the TASR newswire reported, citing the airline's vice-president for sales and marketing, Jiří Marek.

CSA will connect Bratislava with Paris (seven flights), Rome (five), Amsterdam (four), Brussels and Larnaca (three each) and Barcelona (two). Marek said that Czech Airlines had observed that passengers often flew from Bratislava to Prague and then on to other destinations, using Prague as point of transfer, said Marek. In addition, the move was made because Bratislava has no direct connection to the main airports in Brussels, Barcelona and Paris, he added. Flights to Amsterdam and the popular Cypriot destination of Larnaca are currently lacking altogether, he pointed out.

CSA already operates flights from Bratislava to Prague which have traditionally been among the most popular from Bratislava, the Sme daily wrote. Ticket sales for the new flights will begin on May 17, and the detailed flight schedule will be announced next week.

Sources: TASR, Sme

[EBKT]

CSA Czech Airlines last Friday (13MAY11) announced its planned expansion for Slovakia market, with the service resumption/launch to 6 European cities out of Bratislava: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Brussels, Larnaca, Paris CDG and Rome.

The Skyteam member was formerly known as Czechoslovak Airlines, until the break up in May 1995. The former CSA operated dual hub from Prague and Bratislava, but the latter’s operation winded down after Slovakia declared its independence in 1991.

Flight shedule:
Bratislava – Brussels eff 24JUN11, 3 weekly

Code: Select all

OK204 BTS0700 – 0855BRU 735 135
OK205 BRU0940 – 1130BTS 735 135

source: AirlinerRoute.net

[Atlantis]

Turkish Airlines is going to increase their number of flights to BRU. They are now flying 21 times a week between Istanbul and Brussels, they are going to upgrade it to 24 times a week, starting 1st July.

Extra flight days are Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Arr in BRU: 14.15.

Source: turkish airlines website

[sn26567]

Montenegro Airlines has canceled 3 weekly Podgorica – Brussels and 3 weekly Podgorica – Milan Malpensa service. Both of these routes were launched in April 2011, which only lasted for over a month.

Source: Airline Route

[RoMax]

The CEO of Montenegro Airlines said the bookings for Brussels and Milan were very low. Because of the financial state of the airline it would be a bad idea to keep/launch this route with a so low amount of interested passengers. But they keep evaluating both destinations for the future.

[Atlantis]

Those new destinations are not the easiest destinations. It was indeed the question if they could survive the end of the summer season but stopping that route after 1,5 month is very quick. This says also how the situation of Montenegro Airlines is. Don't forget that they become a nice incentive to start up this route.

I'm also curious how Jöngköping and bacau will do.

[theeuropean]

I'm also curious how Jöngköping and bacau will do.

Jöngköping never started. I'm also guessing due to low bookings.

[secondlife]

New low cost Route

Blue air
Brussels - Bacau (RO)
30 may
2/7

http://www.goedkoopvliegenclub.nl/nieuws.html

Confirmed in meanwhile.

Flights on Monday and Friday
Bacau - Brussels: OB223 15.30 - 17.15
Brussels - Bacau: OB224 18.00 - 21.45

We see lately some smaller companies who shows their interest in BRU because of the competitive prices to start up new flights to BRU.

And Yes, first flight Brussels - Bacau took place on 30th MAY with a 95% load factor.

anna.aero: 'Blue Air, the Romanian low-cost carrier, on 30 May continued expanding its base in Bacau (BCM) in the Moldavia region in the northeast of the country as the airline launched a new route to Belgium’s capital Brussels (BRU). Flights on the route operate twice-weekly, on Mondays and Fridays, with 737 aircraft. The route from Bacau, which notably is close to the neighbouring country Moldova, is Blue Air’s third route to the capital of Europe after flights from Bucharest Baneasa and Constanta. A chocolate cake awaited the first Blue Air aircraft from Bacau at Brussels Airport.
Cutting the cake for the full planeload of passengers were Brussels Airport’s Head of Aviation Marketing Leon Verhallen; Blue Air’s CEO Sherif Ussama; and the Ambassadors to Belgium of both Romania, Ovidiu Dranga, and Moldova, Mihai Gribincea.'

[sn26567]

From September 2011, additional Brussels Airlines flights between Brussels and Malaga:

New evening flight from Malaga to Brussels, at 17:05 local time, arriving at Brussels at 19:55.
Morning flight from Brussels to Malaga departing earlier at 10:25.

[sn26567]

Jet Airways Mumbai – Brussels – Newark:
777-300ER service entry date postponed till 28OCT11, instead of 23SEP11. Service operates 2 weekly, while A330-200 continues operation on the other 5 days:

Code: Select all

 9W228 BOM0300 – 0750BRU1015 – 1240EWR 332 x57
 9W228 BOM0300 – 0750BRU1015 – 1240EWR 77W 57
 
9W227 EWR1830 – 0750+1BRU1005+1 – 2325+1BOM 332 x57
 9W227 EWR1830 – 0750+1BRU1005+1 – 2325+1BOM 77W 57

Source: Airline Route