Brussels Airlines' fleet renewal

[Stij]

Whereas I believe BRU HKG could work, I doubt the SYD add-on would make sense. Less and less carriers offer these kind of flights since the global alliances were formed.

If (and I doubt it very much) SN wants a part of this market, it's far wiser to fly to SIN and take SQ's network from there to every single city in Australia.

But let's stick to developing Africa and the North Atlantic until we have a decent, daily, non-stop network there

Cheers,

Stij

[Inquirer]

Hum, aren't you putting the cart before the horse?
Aren't you pushing some very long routes mainly because you absolutely want to take a bigger and longer range plane you can't use efficiently on the present routes?

Wouldn't it be much lower risk to add identical planes as they currently operate and launch destinations on continents where they have built a strong commercial presence (ideally with a local partner)?
Not saying you can't fill the bigger longer range plane at the right price to Australia too, just saying that it's not unlikely such right price isn't going to cover your costs in full: it's a high risk venture, to say the least.
Risk is not exactly a boardmember's best friend, is it?

Financial risk could be significantly reduced by launching other destinations instead with that plane, or even better: get a smaller and lighter plane, which incidentally is what they seem to be doing?
Africa and North America make perfect sense for this and it's no secret I am not wildly enthusiastic about their intention to launch Bombay either, although there's a significantly large and fairly high yielding local demand for a non-stop flight there.
Even then, it's lower risk to have Air India launch BOM-BRU and deploy the extra plane sourced for this on extra African routes instead. Such would bear far less risk than to do it themselves and it has the potential to make them more money from their limited resources even.
I can be wrong, but I think one of the reasons they are pushing the launch of BOM out in time is exactly that they feel they're better off with the route on sale, but would prefer others to serve it instead.

[Flanker2]

I don't see AI operating BOM-BRU. BOM is not really their main hub, as opposed to DEL.

[sean1982]

Even uk airlines are struggling to make SYD work and they have a history with it. Virgin stopped it altogether (also A346) and BA downgraded from a B744 to a B773 on it. So why would an airline from small little Belgium with a fuel guzzling airplane make money of it. Please

[PjVangerven]

Why not add SFO (or LAX) to the network, Swiss even has double daily flights in the summer, and also SAS is flying, Brussels (as EU capital) is an important destination for all kinds of tech firms around Sillicon Valley . A lot of Belgians work in the region. Moreover it is an important tourist destination.

And I agree to some point that the a346 at current fuel prices might be interesting for SN on some cargo intensive african routes. I personally really like those planes. Flew them a couple of times from Munich to San Francisco.

[tolipanebas]

It's now official: a 10th A330 will be added to our fleet before the end of this year.
More info on additional intercontinental routes and frequencies in due time.
But first there will be some other good news later this week.

[Stij]

Good news!

[brusselsairlinesfan]

It's now official: a 10th A330 will be added to our fleet before the end of this year.
More info on additional intercontinental routes and frequencies in due time.
But first there will be some other good news later this week.

Hi,
Very good news to see brussels Airlines reaching the "10th mark" regarding its long haul fleet! Can't wait to know about additional routes and frequencies...

[Airbus A330]

Hello,

But first there will be some other good news later this week.

The rollout of the future OO-SNH in Magritte livery?

[sn26567]

Hello,

But first there will be some other good news later this week.

The rollout of the future OO-SNH in Magritte livery?

No, that's next week, 21 March.

[convair]

LH is parking several A346's.
What a waste, why they don't lend them to SN for a much-needed African expansion escapes me.
Also, it would be perfect to open HKG.

It would, of course, be interesting to know how much money LH is saving by parking them.

However, it must be frustrating for SN people to see nice a/c of their parent company sitting idle whilst they could certainly make good use of them, if only as replacement a/c during C-checks and AOGs of their own fleet, or on high density routes (Dakar?) on which there are frequency limitations or occasional weight limitations (they seem to be obliged to limit cargo load on some flights on East Africa, e.g.).

From an outsider's perspective, this doesn't look like an opportunistic Group approach.

[lumumba]

From the beginning I sead that the A346 is a good plane for SN,for the same reason cheap and a very good payload....

[lumumba]

It's now official: a 10th A330 will be added to our fleet before the end of this year.
More info on additional intercontinental routes and frequencies in due time.
But first there will be some other good news later this week.

Maybe Air India starts Brussels-Mumbay?!?!

[Poiu]

I hope number 10 will mainly be used as a backup. SN has a nice, very nice even in bizz, long haul product, but all too often the experience is spoiled by AOGs and no backup.
The old 330s are often MTOW limited and the growth has reached it limit, more pax will result in less cargo. Any increase in fuel cost will make the operation loss making again. With no money available for a real fleet renewal, even if Lufty announces the comple te take over later this week, the future will remain challenging.
Standing by for incoming!

[crew1990]

You will know more, at the next press conference (which is very soon) stay tuned

[sn26567]

You will know more, at the next press conference (which is very soon) stay tuned

I'll be there and will try to report ASAP, connections permitting.

[Stij]

I'll be there and will try to report ASAP, connections permitting.

Thanks André for your time, energy, enthusiasm...

We look forward to your report!

Stij

[Conti764]

Okay, so after a few remarks, LH will anounce the full takeover this week...?

[Pocahontas]

Positive figures perhaps?

[sn26567]

Positive figures perhaps?

That was already announced earlier by CEO Gustin.