Brussels Airlines in 2025

[Boeing767copilot]

Does anyone know how the operations of airBaltic for SN are going?
Are they satisfied with the punctuality and flight operations so far?

[Atlantis]

Does anyone know how the operations of airBaltic for SN are going?
Are they satisfied with the punctuality and flight operations so far?

I believe that there is not a huge increase in pax for the moment bcs of the 4 extra Air Baltic planes. And this bcs 4 of the own SN planes are in maintenance.
This I don't understand why, OK it's still not high season, their planes are sent now for maintenance. During Winter is very calm to do this.

[BekEBBR]

Does anyone know how the operations of airBaltic for SN are going?
Are they satisfied with the punctuality and flight operations so far?

I believe that there is not a huge increase in pax for the moment bcs of the 4 extra Air Baltic planes. And this bcs 4 of the own SN planes are in maintenance.
This I don't understand why, OK it's still not high season, their planes are sent now for maintenance. During Winter is very calm to do this.

Well, I think it is BECAUSE of those 4 Air Baltic planes that they can perform Mx on their own planes... But that would be just my guess. It's not a bad moment in my opinion, not too much pax demand, 4 extra aircrafts...

[DannyVDB]

Does anyone know how the operations of airBaltic for SN are going?
Are they satisfied with the punctuality and flight operations so far?

I believe that there is not a huge increase in pax for the moment bcs of the 4 extra Air Baltic planes. And this bcs 4 of the own SN planes are in maintenance.
This I don't understand why, OK it's still not high season, their planes are sent now for maintenance. During Winter is very calm to do this.

I think there IS a huge increase. They recently announced that they increased capacity with 20% for the period 4 April, to mid-May. They already took over most of the flights to FRA and MUC, added capacity to holiday destinations.

There are always planes in maintenance. Overall 12.4% of all planes of the LHG are 'inactive' (painting, maintenance, long-term parking ...). You also can't decide entirely yourself when to perform maintenance: 1) planes go in maintenance when they need to and 2) maintenance-slots should be available. At the end of the day it is not like you go to a bakery to buy a bread

Just my two cents,
D

[oldblueeyes]

Not to forget the irregularities topic.
More available aircraft means as well less pressure if something happens and this can offset the total payments the company is making.

[Atlantis]

Does anyone know how the operations of airBaltic for SN are going?
Are they satisfied with the punctuality and flight operations so far?

I believe that there is not a huge increase in pax for the moment bcs of the 4 extra Air Baltic planes. And this bcs 4 of the own SN planes are in maintenance.
This I don't understand why, OK it's still not high season, their planes are sent now for maintenance. During Winter is very calm to do this.

I think there IS a huge increase. They recently announced that they increased capacity with 20% for the period 4 April, to mid-May. They already took over most of the flights to FRA and MUC, added capacity to holiday destinations.

There are always planes in maintenance. Overall 12.4% of all planes of the LHG are 'inactive' (painting, maintenance, long-term parking ...). You also can't decide entirely yourself when to perform maintenance: 1) planes go in maintenance when they need to and 2) maintenance-slots should be available. At the end of the day it is not like you go to a bakery to buy a bread

Just my two cents,
D

The 20% increase is when you have all your own planes flying + the additional ones of Air Baltic + the extra A330 + the increasing of flights. Only then you will reach the 20%.

BTW, SNQ will come back today from her maintenance.

[lumumba]

There are rumors here that ITA will start flying the A321in 2026 to Luanda ?!

[OO-JFP]

according to FR24 OO-SFJ is back from CHR
OO-JFP

[Atlantis]

SSY is also back from maintenance. Only 2 A320 remains in maintenance still. All others are flying.
I don't count the A330 as it is not in the SN fleet yet

[oldblueeyes]

There are rumors here that ITA will start flying the A321in 2026 to Luanda ?!

Makrs perfectly sense to test the economics of the 321LR and push the South Hub.

[rwandan-flyer]

Some Air France and Corsair flights to West and Central Africa (for AF) no longer fly over Algeria. The flights detour over Morocco before flying over Mali. There is no official reason, but this may be due to tensions between Algeria and Mali.

Both countries recalled their ambassadors and closed their airspace after the destruction of a Malian drone by neighboring Algeria at the end of March. No Malian aircraft can land or fly over Algeria. No Algerian aircraft can land or fly over Mali.

For the moment, only Air France is making this detour. But the crisis seems to be spreading to Burkina Faso and Niger, which have also recalled their ambassadors from Algeria. https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/ ... _3212.html (translation not working with the link)

No many coverage about this crisis right now, but if things worsen, the consequences could be dire.


Algeria-Mali: Air, Energy... The Economic Consequences of an Unprecedented Crisis

After recalling their ambassadors and closing their respective airspace, Algiers and Bamako have entered a climate of tension whose economic impact has not spared their Nigerien neighbor.

https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1676832/ec ... precedent/ (translation not working with the link)

Turkish Airlines don't fly over Algeria too!

up

How are SN.flights to Kigali doing, after Kagame
Breaking relations with Belgium ?
Still daily…non-stop ,.full flights ??

Brussels Airlines still serving Kigali every day and RwandAir still serving Brussels. There not change for Belgian living in Rwanda and Belgians Tourists who want visit Rwanda. They still can get visa at the arrival.

Only some projects are suspended. NGOs, other agencies can't cooperate with Belgium. But Belgium is facing to a strong competition with Paris and London if we talk about point to point demand since covid. Probably in medium term, London and Paris will the 2 top biggest market for Kigali in Europe.

Brussels Airlines has increased flights to Kigali not only due to the point to point demand but also demand from Europe and North America which is growing.

Here are top 10 point to point market for Kigali in 2024 on Brussels Airlines network + Star Alliance partners at Brussels Airport :

Avg pax every day on this list : 406 pax.

Bruxelles : 37 317 pax. 56 000 pax before covid.
Paris Cdg: 34 572 pax. 14 000 pax before covid.
Londres Heathrow : 28 465 pax. Around 18 000-19 000 before covid.
Washington : 11 499 pax
Montreal : 9 570 pax
Toronto : 7 848 pax
Frankfurt : 7 067 pax
New York JFK : 6 755 pax
Geneva : 5 368 pax
Chicago : 5 788 pax

I guess the competition is stiff with KLM (Europe and North America) and Egyptair (Europe) even if MS is in the Star Alliance. There are also Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian and Kenya Airways and soon the return of Qatar Airways but they can rely on their Asian network to fill their planes to and from Kigali (Dubaï, Canton, Doha and Mumbai it's more 100 000 pax for Kigali in 2024).

[luchtzak]

OO-SFE grounded in Entebbe, damage to cockpit window after hail strike: https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/luft ... ow-damage/

[nordikcam]

Big Festival of cancellations...from a passengers point of view : a real pity...bigger than last years, no ? What will be next summertime !!!

[crew1990]

Air Europa 787 is coming back to operate JFK from en May to end June

[DannyVDB]

That's good news ...

Not sure what is the schema for June - ... (10 flights a day?)

We had a nice overview for the winter schedule, not sure the high summer months were already published on this forum?

D

[convair]

Air Europa 787 is coming back to operate JFK from en May to end June

OO-SFD has been AOG at FNA since May 7, and I believe someone here mentioned repair could take several weeks.

OO-SFC still @ CHR for paint; OO-SFQ at WOE for refurbishing maybe anticipated not to be ready yet to start operations in June.

The planned schedule for June maybe provided for 10 l/h flights per day, with 1 spare.

On the s/h and m/h side, the Air Baltic A220s flying only part time for SN; they also fly a lot for BT and even for LX.

[DannyVDB]

On the s/h and m/h side, the Air Baltic A220s flying only part time for SN; they also fly a lot for BT and even for LX.

Correct, but it seems that some of the BT planes dedicated for LH or for LX are also performing flights for SN ...

D

[OO-PDM]

There are always 4 BT A220's flying for SN. The exact models rotate between the LHG and air Baltic itself, so EAF might not always be up to date. Today YL-CSM, YL-AAW, YL-ABA and YL-ABE are flying for SN, next week it could be 4 different ones.

[lumumba]

Air Europa 787 is coming back to operate JFK from en May to end June

OO-SFD has been AOG at FNA since May 7, and I believe someone here mentioned repair could take several weeks.

OO-SFC still @ CHR for paint; OO-SFQ at WOE for refurbishing maybe anticipated not to be ready yet to start operations in June.

The planned schedule for June maybe provided for 10 l/h flights per day, with 1 spare.

On the s/h and m/h side, the Air Baltic A220s flying only part time for SN; they also fly a lot for BT and even for LX.

I'm not suffering anymore from SN cancelations because they don't fly to Luanda anymore,but next year I will make the difference with of cancelations between the 2 till now it's still 0 for TAP.

[Boeing767copilot]

Will SN's wet lease contract with BT be extended in the winter?
Someone told me that there might be up to 7 BT-aircraft (A220) flying for SN but it is not clear during the winter or the summer season.