Brussels Airlines' fleet renewal

[crew1990]

Some very big plan will be announced around December, stay tuned

[Airbus A330]

Some very big plan will be announced around December, stay tuned

Hmmm, I can't wait!

[DeltaWiskey]

An internal message was sent to all SN employees today, for the aviation enthousiast on this forum there is probably not any new information in it. It just says that a lot of departments are involved, that it is a very exciting project and that it will have a major influence on the future of SN! Haha, no kidding!

The only thing that may be worth mentioning is that majority of the A330 leases expire between Q4 '18 and Q4 '19. In other words, the replacement could be pushed through really quick, but as we all know what happened with the short haul fleet replacement, this is a rather flexible 'deadline'. I expect them to be replaced at a rate of ±3 a year from Q4 2018, with SFM/N/O leaving first.

The timeframe makes the A350 almost impossible (imo), so the 'competition' is rather limited to young (RR-powered) A330's and A330neo's. I am kind of hoping for the latter, but if fuel prices stay low, the is no real need for and 2nd hand A330 probably make more sense financially.

A decision should indeed be made by December.

[Airbus2016]

The content of the message is indeed about the renewal of the long haul fleet. The 5 a330-300 (oosfm/n/o/w/v and two 200's, i guess oosfy/z, will be replaced. The decision will be in december.

[crew1990]

Also there are talk about longer range destinations exceeding 24 hours rotation time, and more leisure oriented routes.

Who said the range of the A350 wasn't needed?

[sn26567]

The only thing that may be worth mentioning is that majority of the A330 leases expire between Q4 '17 and Q4 '18.

You seem to be in a hurry: isn't it rather between Q4 '18 and Q4 '19 ?

[Omychron]

The only thing that may be worth mentioning is that majority of the A330 leases expire between Q4 '17 and Q4 '18.

You seem to be in a hurry: isn't it rather between Q4 '18 and Q4 '19 ?

A typo probably?
According to the mail, first delivery should be around the end of 2018.

[DeltaWiskey]

Yes, it's a typo, I will correct it.

[Stij]

Also there are talk about longer range destinations exceeding 24 hours rotation time, and more leisure oriented routes.

Who said the range of the A350 wasn't needed?

I immediately thought about SFO, but when I looked at the KL's SFO schedule, it's just under 24h...

AMS 9:50 11:35 SFO
SFO 13:45 9:15 AMS

It could fit in perfectly with the current operations... if combined with a Western Africa rotation...

Leisure oriented routes... mmm... CPT??? Please???

Cheers,

Stij

[DeltaWiskey]

An SFO rotation from BRU with an A330 is realistically closer to 25 hrs, the KL flight you mentioned is a tiny bit shorter and is operated with a 744, which cruises M0.03 faster than the A330. It still could fit in the morning bank, but leaves no leeway for any delays.

[Stij]

An SFO rotation from BRU with an A330 is realistically closer to 25 hrs, the KL flight you mentioned is a tiny bit shorter and is operated with a 744, which cruises M0.03 faster than the A330. It still could fit in the morning bank, but leaves no leeway for any delays.

Thanks DeltaWiskey!

[Inquirer]

Also there are talk about longer range destinations exceeding 24 hours rotation time, and more leisure oriented routes.

Interesting!

What kind of destinations see the plane gone for more than 24 hours: far East Asia and East coast of the USA, I presume? Which could that be?

More leisure oriented routes?
Are they counting on flying also long haul for Thomas Cook maybe?
Or is all of this proof that post-integration in the Lufthansa group, Eurowings may indeed set up an intercontinental hub in BRU, using Brussels Airlines as their operator vehicle?
IMHO, BRU would be far more suited than Koln for such kind of long haul operations, and it seems like Brussels Airlines is seriously contemplating getting the right planes for it too.

Maybe all just a coincidence of course, but it seems like the building bricks are firmly being put in place, especially if combined with the desire of BRU to significantly expand it's terminal infrastructure to host more intercontinental planes in future: it definitely doesn't sound like they are done growing, quite on the contrary, I'd say.

[sn26567]

Whatkind of destinations see the plane gone for more than 24 hours: far East Asia and East coast of the USA, I presume?

Or rather the West coast?

[Inquirer]

Yes indeed, André: WEST coast USA that should read of course.

[crew1990]

When I was reading it I was also thinking about Los Angeles, San Francisco and Johanesbourg.

For the more leisure oriented one, I guess it will be more destination mixed leisure/bussiness like Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando, Cap town or destination 100% leisure but in Africa like Mombasa or Zanzibar. And why not Phuket with the help of Jetairways.

Now the A350 perfectly makes sense, even if it quite a short time, they can push a little bit airbus with the help of lufthansa.

[nordikcam]

When I was reading it I was also thinking about Los Angeles, San Francisco and Johanesbourg.

For the more leisure oriented one, I guess it will be more destination mixed leisure/bussiness like Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando, Cap town or destination 100% leisure but in Africa like Mombasa or Zanzibar. And why not Phuket with the help of Jetairways.

Now the A350 perfectly makes sense, even if it quite a short time, they can push a little bit airbus with the help of lufthansa.

Why the help of Jetairways and not TG or maybe AI ?? I do not understand. Thx.

[Boavida]

I'm really hoping for the A350. Also marketing-wise it would be great: just look a the amount of (free) publicity and 'hype' these new planes generate for the airlines they fly for. Priceless.

You don't get this -at all- with second hand A330's...

[Homo Aeroportus]

I'm really hoping for the A350. Also marketing-wise it would be great: just look a the amount of (free) publicity and 'hype' these new planes generate for the airlines they fly for. Priceless.

You don't get this -at all- with second hand A330's...

I share your point of view but the priceless ad comes ... at a price.

Airbus January 2016 Price List.
(discounts may apply, my commission not included).

In million USD :
231.5 for a A330-200
256.4 for a A330-300
252.3 for a A330-800neo
287.7 for a A330-900neo
308.1 for a A350-900
355.7 for a A350-1000

In short, a NEO comes at an additional 20-30M to the base model.
Add another 60-70M to get an A350.

But the A350 is really another ball game. If SN takes them it will mean it is a totally different company.
Crossing fingers.

H.A.

[crew1990]

When I was reading it I was also thinking about Los Angeles, San Francisco and Johanesbourg.

For the more leisure oriented one, I guess it will be more destination mixed leisure/bussiness like Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando, Cap town or destination 100% leisure but in Africa like Mombasa or Zanzibar. And why not Phuket with the help of Jetairways.

Now the A350 perfectly makes sense, even if it quite a short time, they can push a little bit airbus with the help of lufthansa.

Why the help of Jetairways and not TG or maybe AI ?? I do not understand. Thx.

Thaï Airways of course, typing mistake

[travellover]

I wonder if in the future, SN will give more breath to their growing long-haul fleet and network by keeping as much as possible among the available fleet a spare aircraft.