The catchment area is not the issue but the attractiveness of Belgium. It's not bcs you have the EU and NATO here that you will attract the whole world. The international HQ's are there indeed but many moved already away. Brussels is less and less attractive bcs of multiple reasons. ZRH, VIE, FRA, AMS, CDG, ATH are much more attractive bcs of geography, based companies and much stronger oral politicians and diplomats.JOVAN2 wrote: 30 May 2025, 21:19Atlantis wrote: 30 May 2025, 18:24Regarding India, Indigo just announced, besides Amsterdam and Manchester, that they will open flights to Athens and Copenhagen this fiscal year. No BRU.JOVAN2 wrote: 20 May 2025, 21:07
The mission to Brazil brought nothing to BRU while many Belgian companies do excellent business there.
Mission to India so far nothing for BRU.
Belgian companies again successful there and huge traffic to all our neighbouring countries for Indian engineers, IT specialists etc
Ten of thousands of them.
AMS booming and Eindhoven Airport preparing also for India flights.
Why would US mission bring something.
With present BRU management ???
BRU management is one thing but it's not the main factor. The main factor during economic missions or just with simple negotiations without a big mission, is politics and diplomats. It's in this last one that Belgium the last couple of years cutted a lot. Belgium became a very small player, no strong voice, no strong diplomatic corps anymore. Pity but reality. There are 40.000 slots available at BRU at this day.I call this poor salesmanship.Atlantis wrote: 30 May 2025, 18:24Regarding India, Indigo just announced, besides Amsterdam and Manchester, that they will open flights to Athens and Copenhagen this fiscal year. No BRU.JOVAN2 wrote: 20 May 2025, 21:07
The mission to Brazil brought nothing to BRU while many Belgian companies do excellent business there.
Mission to India so far nothing for BRU.
Belgian companies again successful there and huge traffic to all our neighbouring countries for Indian engineers, IT specialists etc
Ten of thousands of them.
AMS booming and Eindhoven Airport preparing also for India flights.
Why would US mission bring something.
With present BRU management ???
BRU management is one thing but it's not the main factor. The main factor during economic missions or just with simple negotiations without a big mission, is politics and diplomats. It's in this last one that Belgium the last couple of years cutted a lot. Belgium became a very small player, no strong voice, no strong diplomatic corps anymore. Pity but reality. There are 40.000 slots available at BRU at this day.
If you can not sell BRU , knowing there is.a catchment area of 25 million, many companies, loval and international headquarters, etc.... and 40.000 Slots !! available.... In the center of Europe....
Look for another job....
Less and less countries are taking Belgium seriously. Look at defense, look at if the big European economies are inviting Belgium or not. They don't or maybe only at the end. As said, the diplomatic corps was cutted the last years so heavily that we don't have the strong support. And this is for a lot of companies.
BRU is also squeezed between the big 4. You can't want to have the same as they. BRU needs completely different destinations, niche.
No need to change the job, that's not my part
. But I try to make clear that it is not as easy as you think. We are not as Dutch people who can really everything sell what they have in mind. Belgians are too soft, to humble. Look at Oman air. They visited The Netherlands, the Dutch government did an amazing job and a week later the route was announced.What is our government doing? Having a debate to withdraw from drinking alcohol in their restaurant. That's what ours is doing unfortunately. In Belgium it takes years and being patient.
It will be for sure, one day
.
