Brussels Airlines in 2025

[JOVAN2]

Do you prefer to see a Brussels Airlines grounded in the middle of nowhere in Africa, where you don't have hotels for stranded passengers ? You will need to bring another plane to make the second part of the trip ?

Obviously not. What I'm saying is that it is "dangerous" to book an intercontinental flight with SN because for various reasons one long-haul flight has been cancelled every day for almost a month! It's better to fly with a company that can substitute one plane for another, which is absolutely not the case with SN... that's unfortunately all I'm saying.

Exactly it's obvious but not for everyone I would think,we consider Brussels Airlines has our brand we are proud of it and use it,make it work properly!!

Reliability is everything in airline business.
So many cancelled flights every week again and again ..
SN lost their reliability already long time ago. Being the sick little brother in LH group a suffering grave under-investment makes them miss any chance to become a trustworthy airline.

[rwandan-flyer]

Obviously not. What I'm saying is that it is "dangerous" to book an intercontinental flight with SN because for various reasons one long-haul flight has been cancelled every day for almost a month! It's better to fly with a company that can substitute one plane for another, which is absolutely not the case with SN... that's unfortunately all I'm saying.

Exactly it's obvious but not for everyone I would think,we consider Brussels Airlines has our brand we are proud of it and use it,make it work properly!!

Reliability is everything in airline business.
So many cancelled flights every week again and again ..
SN lost their reliability already long time ago. Being the sick little brother in LH group a suffering grave under-investment makes them miss any chance to become a trustworthy airline.

Delivery aircraft delays can reag 6 month or even more, like for Singapour Airlines https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/146933 ... roup-fleet

KLM has pilot deficit because sick leave and part-time workers have increased in the past couple of years. Many of KLM’s pilots are not working enough to keep its fleet flying. They have some long haul planes grounded. For the intruduction of the 321Neo, it requires extensive pilot training, temporarily taking pilots out of service and exacerbating the shortage. https://simpleflying.com/pilot-shortage ... ts-summer/

In USA

The airline pilot shortage could worsen as hiring pipeline shrinks

Despite some reduced need in the short term, FAA certifications suggest fewer pilots will be available if demand improves

https://qz.com/airline-pilot-shortage-p ... 1851734562

Well Brussels Airlines is not the only in airline in trouble. It's the whole aviation industry. Because we are there focused on SN troubles (and we think that others airline in the world do better), but everyone is suffering.

Once again, some airlines or some regions have beaten pre covid data, but with less pilots, mechanical staff, ground staff, planes than before the covid. Airlines struggle to operate their full seasonal timetables.

It's not because it seems to have less cancelations on others airlines that they are doing well. AF has ended less profitable routes in Asia (Chennai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Sri Lanka) to deploy A350s or B787s on others routes and during the peak periods they lease aircraft from ASL France and Amelia, because they have 6 A220s grounded due to engine issues and a big stop during month for deliveries of A220s. AF mainline domestic services are now sometimes operated by HOP Aircraft from Paris Cdg (Nice, Nantes, Montpellier, Lyon, Toulouse, Brest and Bordeaux). Before it was limited to Pau, Clermont Ferrand, Biarritz and Basel Mulhouse.

Air New Zealand which has suspended some routes

The airline will cut 2% of its domestic and regional seat capacity, impacting approximately 6,000 customers between February and June 2025

Air New Zealand (NZ) faces significant operational disruptions, with CEO Greg Foran anticipating around two to three years of aircraft and maintenance challenges.

The situation is financially impactful, costing the airline approximately $150 million annually.

https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2024/ ... oeing-787/

If Brussels Airlines decides for several weeks or even for months to suspend some routes Africa like Freetown, Monrovia, Kigali due to the lack of aircraft. What will be the reactions there ?

[Ge203]

To all the “I know better” people here. What do you exactly want SN to do?

SN is known in the industry for its resilience, it showed during the 2016 attacks for instance. It can only Ideal with what it’s given or what it can get. It is no surprise that there is a shortage of spare parts, especially with the Trent 700. So, not much SN can do realistically, but wait and try its best. New aircraft isn’t necessarily a solution. Look at the problems with PW on the NEO and A220 for example.

Whether it’s for AOG, weather, capacity, crew shortage,… every airlines in the world cancel flights everyday, literally. Look at AF/KL or BA. Dozens of flights cancelled per day.

At the end of the day what matters for the PAX is flying to their destination, they know that not a single airline enjoys canceling flight, but it happens sometimes. In case of missed connections for instance, every pax is rebooked before they even know they missed the connection, and get their new itinerary before the flight even touches down in BRU. This is NOT the case with other sister airlines in the group or bigger carriers.

Of course it’s not an ideal situation, but SN tries its best, and the canceled flight, is usually the one where it’s easier to rebook PAX.

[Established02]

First time I notice that SN is using a DAT call sign for an engine test run.

[Miqvell]

Pretty much all the destinations that will partially/completely be operated by Air Baltic as of 30th March :
Barcelona, Berlin, Birmingham, Bologna, Ljubljana, Lyon, Malpensa, Munich, Prague, Venice, Vienna, Vilnius, Zurich.

[fcw]

Let’s hope SN has a plan B! Air Baltic is in financial difficulties and struggling to keep their P&W powered fleet airworthy.

https://eng.lsm.lv/article/economy/tran ... r.a582068/

https://eng.lsm.lv/article/economy/tran ... l.a582137/

[longwings]

If Brussels Airlines decides for several weeks or even for months to suspend some routes Africa like Freetown, Monrovia, Kigali due to the lack of aircraft. What will be the reactions there ?

You are of course correct that there is a pilots shortage affecting the industry, however all the examples you gave (I think) were over planned capacity reduction. Brussels Airlines' issues seem to be over flight cancellations, and no one (if I recall correctly) blamed crew shortages. So not exactly the same issue.

In any instance, planned capacity reduction is always better than unplanned cancellation.

Look at AF/KL or BA. Dozens of flights cancelled per day.

BA cancels about 3% of its flights on average across all factors (AOG, weather, crew shortage, security...). That is worse than Brussels where the rate is closer to 2% if memory serves me well. For AF/KLM, Air France is on par with Brussels and KLM with BA...

If one focuses on the widebody fleet, the picture changes. Given its small size, one long-haul cancellation due to AOG at Brussels means 10% of the fleet is unavailable. That same 10% at BA translates to 13 or 14 long-haul aircraft. Trust me when I write fleet maintenance leaders better hope 13 different idiots drove 13 different vehicles into 13 aircraft the same day, because if it's mechanical issues grounding that many aircraft at BA, someone is invited for tea and biscuit and a discussion over future career prospects.

A fair comparison is between Brussels and another carrier with 10ish long-haul aircraft.

[lumumba]

If Brussels Airlines decides for several weeks or even for months to suspend some routes Africa like Freetown, Monrovia, Kigali due to the lack of aircraft. What will be the reactions there ?

You are of course correct that there is a pilots shortage affecting the industry, however all the examples you gave (I think) were over planned capacity reduction. Brussels Airlines' issues seem to be over flight cancellations, and no one (if I recall correctly) blamed crew shortages. So not exactly the same issue.

In any instance, planned capacity reduction is always better than unplanned cancellation.

Look at AF/KL or BA. Dozens of flights cancelled per day.

BA cancels about 3% of its flights on average across all factors (AOG, weather, crew shortage, security...). That is worse than Brussels where the rate is closer to 2% if memory serves me well. For AF/KLM, Air France is on par with Brussels and KLM with BA...

If one focuses on the widebody fleet, the picture changes. Given its small size, one long-haul cancellation due to AOG at Brussels means 10% of the fleet is unavailable. That same 10% at BA translates to 13 or 14 long-haul aircraft. Trust me when I write fleet maintenance leaders better hope 13 different idiots drove 13 different vehicles into 13 aircraft the same day, because if it's mechanical issues grounding that many aircraft at BA, someone is invited for tea and biscuit and a discussion over future career prospects.

A fair comparison is between Brussels and another carrier with 10ish long-haul aircraft.

But passengers wise they doesn't care for them it's a bigger risk.

[nordikcam]

If Brussels Airlines decides for several weeks or even for months to suspend some routes Africa like Freetown, Monrovia, Kigali due to the lack of aircraft. What will be the reactions there ?

You are of course correct that there is a pilots shortage affecting the industry, however all the examples you gave (I think) were over planned capacity reduction. Brussels Airlines' issues seem to be over flight cancellations, and no one (if I recall correctly) blamed crew shortages. So not exactly the same issue.

In any instance, planned capacity reduction is always better than unplanned cancellation.

Look at AF/KL or BA. Dozens of flights cancelled per day.

BA cancels about 3% of its flights on average across all factors (AOG, weather, crew shortage, security...). That is worse than Brussels where the rate is closer to 2% if memory serves me well. For AF/KLM, Air France is on par with Brussels and KLM with BA...

If one focuses on the widebody fleet, the picture changes. Given its small size, one long-haul cancellation due to AOG at Brussels means 10% of the fleet is unavailable. That same 10% at BA translates to 13 or 14 long-haul aircraft. Trust me when I write fleet maintenance leaders better hope 13 different idiots drove 13 different vehicles into 13 aircraft the same day, because if it's mechanical issues grounding that many aircraft at BA, someone is invited for tea and biscuit and a discussion over future career prospects.

A fair comparison is between Brussels and another carrier with 10ish long-haul aircraft.

But passengers wise they doesn't care for them it's a bigger risk.

Yes, true ! For example, I changed my approach, changed my habits, changed my loyalty program and therefore changed airlines. The problems are fewer and less frequent on long-haul flights with other Alliance !

[Homo Aeroportus]

Why did SN flight to JFK leave today as SN1501?

And return flight SN1502 arriving BRU tomorrow morning is cancelled per BRU web site.

Replaced by SN1402 as per SN web site.

??

H.A.

[fcw]

Why did SN flight to JFK leave today as SN1501?

It’s a rescue flight for SN501 which got cancelled yesterday.

[convair]

Why did SN flight to JFK leave today as SN1501?

It’s a rescue flight for SN501 which got cancelled yesterday.

Why did SN flight to JFK leave today as SN1501?

And return flight SN1502 arriving BRU tomorrow morning is cancelled per BRU web site.

BRU Arrivals 21JAN25.png


Replaced by SN1402 as per SN web site.


20JAN25 SN1402 .png

??

H.A.

Maybe bringing VIPs to Trump inauguration?

[fcw]

Why did SN flight to JFK leave today as SN1501?

Maybe bringing VIPs to Trump inauguration?

Very unlikely as the flight arrived after the inauguration!

[Stij]

Very unlikely as the flight arrived after the inauguration!

And the inauguration was in Washington DC.

[Homo Aeroportus]

Seems OO-SFJ went AOG in Banjul last night.
She did not return to DSS > BRU.

Juliet was to run JFK this morning 23JAN and so was replaced by X-Ray. As the latter was to operate SN465 to KGL-EBB today, this flight has been cancelled last night.

Oddly, Flightstats.com for this KGL/EBB flight reports during a few minutes OO-SFG as a replacement but as Golf is still in Manilla this was not possible and the flight shows cancelled an hour later.

Hopefully the 501/502 of today was not full in Premium. As u/s Juliet offers 28 seats where the rest of the fleet has only 21.
Such last minute changes of A/C not only is a burden for Mx and Ops department but also for the front line staff such as at check-in. Upgrading is usually well received, downgrading is another thing.

Hang on. Help is on the way ....

H.A.

[lumumba]

So Brussels Airlines are canceling flights in advance so that it doesn't show up as a cancellation at the end.

[lumumba]

This A330 fleet is a disaster today again Abidjan!

[rwandan-flyer]

This A330 fleet is a disaster today again Abidjan!

The A330 back to the parking. But flight still not yet showed as canceled. And right now we don't k now why the plane back to the parking. It can be tech issue, but also a passengers who is sick.

[rwandan-flyer]

right now SN229 is canceled accordibg to FR124

[Boavida]

This A330 fleet is a disaster today again Abidjan!

Unbelievable! How long is LH Group going to let SN struggle with their unreliable old A330 fleet? Until all customers have gone?

I'm flying to JFK in May and have deliberately avoided booking with SN as I don't want a 50% chance to have my flight cancelled.