BRU Summer 2026: news, new routes, airlines

[BRU_AV_123]

Seems like the 2nd EWR flight from UA is bookable next year as from the start of the Summer Season (29/03) instead of June.

Also, Air Canada’s YYZ flight seems to be 4 weekly from the start instead of 3 weekly, all with 789.

[Atlantis]

Seems like the 2nd EWR flight from UA is bookable next year as from the start of the Summer Season (29/03) instead of June.

Also, Air Canada’s YYZ flight seems to be 4 weekly from the start instead of 3 weekly, all with 789.

If it will stay like this, it's all part of growth. 2026 will be the year where SN will add a new long haul destination, will add nr 12 long haul plane and the partners are growing together with SN.

[nordikcam]

Seems like the 2nd EWR flight from UA is bookable next year as from the start of the Summer Season (29/03) instead of June.

Also, Air Canada’s YYZ flight seems to be 4 weekly from the start instead of 3 weekly, all with 789.

If it will stay like this, it's all part of growth. 2026 will be the year where SN will add a new long haul destination, will add nr 12 long haul plane and the partners are growing together with SN.

A new long haul destination ! An african destination I guess. An old SN (Sabena) destination as Kano, Niamey, Nouakchott, Bamako or Dar-es-Salaam for example ?
An old one SN ( Brussels ) destination as Luanda ? A completely new one as Lubumbashi Kilimanjaro Libreville ( maybe Sabena was flying Libreville I do not remember ) ?

[rwandan-flyer]

For 2024 here is the 5 biggest market in Sub-Saharan Africa not served from Brussels. Of course it's only point to point, you have to add the connecting pax via BRU.

Cape Town : 54 800 pax (Discover + Edelweiss + Lufthansa)
Johannesburg : 51 400 pax (Swiss + Lufthansa)
Windhoek (Namibia) : 31 121 pax (Discover)
Zanzibar : 26 700 pax (Discover + Edelweiss)
Mauritius : 24 400 pax (Austrian + Edelweiss + Discover)
Kilimanjaro : 20 400 pax (Edelweiss)

These destinations are already well covered by Lufthansa Group but it doesn't mean that SN won't able to serve these destinations. For me, Zanzibar is probably one of destinations in Africa with the stronger chance to see, because it's leisure destinations with a huge demand from Europe is well served by SkyTeam (Air France, KLM and Kenya Airways). LH Group has selected East Africa (mainly Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda) as a priority in Africa to expand.

Dar Es Salaam ? I don't think. British Airways ended flights 10 years ago. Air France resumed flights in 2023, but they ended the route this year. Saudia also failed in 2023. Swiss didn't resume its Zurich Nairobi Dar Es Salaam tag service after covid.

The competition is very stiff with Ethiopian, Kenya Airways, Oman Air, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways and a little bit RwandAir

Kano ? KLM was the only European operator till 2010s. Lots of insecurity in the region and Qatar Airways, Egytpair, Ethiopian, Saudia serve Kano.

Niamey ? The market is too small and the point to point demand with Europe fallen since 2 years.

Nouakchott ? Bigger market than Niamey, but not a huge market. Royal Air Maroc, Air Algerie and Tunisair provide flights. Air France serves Nouakchott, but not a daily flight. The flight is tagged via Conakry. Turkish Airlines also serves Nouakchott.

Lubumbashi ? Biggest point to point demand is with China : Guangzhou (42 000 pax), Chengdu (22 000 pax), Beijing (14 000 pax). Point to point demand with Brussels is 7 000 pax in 2024.

Libreville ? Why not, their main market outside Africa is Paris CDG 75 000 pax in 2024. For SN destinations in France, the point to point demand is between 4 000 et 6 000 pax in 2024 for Marseille, Lyon & Toulouse. However outside France, the demand is very very low for the rest of Europe and North America (most of time between 1000 & 3000 pax in 2024).

Bamako ? Also why not, Paris is by the far their biggest market : Orly : 105 000 pax CDG : 30 000 pax despite that AF has suspended flights. Decent demand from Spain (Madrid 11 500 pax in 2024, Barcelona 11 700 pax, Malaga 5 400 pax ). Also from Italy with Rome (7 400 pax) and Milan ( 6 600 pax).

[Atlantis]

If I remember well, Bamako was already served by SN.

Also a completely new destination for SN but there was some time ago a rumor that SN would fly to Kilimanjaro. Not sure if they still think about it.

[BRU_AV_123]

If I remember well, Bamako was already served by SN.

Also a completely new destination for SN but there was some time ago a rumor that SN would fly to Kilimanjaro. Not sure if they still think about it.

Kilimanjaro would make a lot of sense as they could tag it on to well established destinations as EBB, KGL and NBO without too much risk while increasing EBB and NBO to daily probably. I also assume demand to USA will be quite healthy with relatively high fares as it is a famous safari destination.

[quote=BRU_AV_123 post_id=440626 time=<a href="tel:1750155131">1750155131</a> user_id=62041]
Seems like the 2nd EWR flight from UA is bookable next year as from the start of the Summer Season (29/03) instead of June.

Also, Air Canada’s YYZ flight seems to be 4 weekly from the start instead of 3 weekly, all with 789.

If it will stay like this, it's all part of growth. 2026 will be the year where SN will add a new long haul destination, will add nr 12 long haul plane and the partners are growing together with SN.
[/quote]

Even though I read somewhere in an article that bookings by Belgians to Canada have increased a lot, I don’t see much more growth possible than making YYZ Daily. Vancouver I believe competition is too stiff. Quebec City would be really nice, but that Seems a bit too much out of the comfort zone for Air Canada.

For UA, I believe Los Angeles makes most sense, but I am expecting Houston first.

[Conti764]

If I remember well, Bamako was already served by SN.

Also a completely new destination for SN but there was some time ago a rumor that SN would fly to Kilimanjaro. Not sure if they still think about it.

Kilimanjaro would make a lot of sense as they could tag it on to well established destinations as EBB, KGL and NBO without too much risk while increasing EBB and NBO to daily probably. I also assume demand to USA will be quite healthy with relatively high fares as it is a famous safari destination.

[quote=BRU_AV_123 post_id=440626 time=<a href="tel:1750155131">1750155131</a> user_id=62041]
Seems like the 2nd EWR flight from UA is bookable next year as from the start of the Summer Season (29/03) instead of June.

Also, Air Canada’s YYZ flight seems to be 4 weekly from the start instead of 3 weekly, all with 789.

If it will stay like this, it's all part of growth. 2026 will be the year where SN will add a new long haul destination, will add nr 12 long haul plane and the partners are growing together with SN.

Even though I read somewhere in an article that bookings by Belgians to Canada have increased a lot, I don’t see much more growth possible than making YYZ Daily. Vancouver I believe competition is too stiff. Quebec City would be really nice, but that Seems a bit too much out of the comfort zone for Air Canada.

For UA, I believe Los Angeles makes most sense, but I am expecting Houston first.
[/quote]

For UA I suppose stateside connections play a huge role as well for a connection like IAH-BRU since that market is smaller then IAD (intergovernment) or NYC (huge market on itself).

I don't think UA would funnel traffic through its southern hub at IAH if it hurts either one of their East Coast hubs... I see LAX or SFO create more traffic without hurting IAD/ORD/EWR

[Dan]

Years ago, LBV was indeed served by Sabena

[Atlantis]

If I remember well, Bamako was already served by SN.

Also a completely new destination for SN but there was some time ago a rumor that SN would fly to Kilimanjaro. Not sure if they still think about it.

Kilimanjaro would make a lot of sense as they could tag it on to well established destinations as EBB, KGL and NBO without too much risk while increasing EBB and NBO to daily probably. I also assume demand to USA will be quite healthy with relatively high fares as it is a famous safari destination.

[quote=BRU_AV_123 post_id=440626 time=<a href="tel:1750155131">1750155131</a> user_id=62041]
Seems like the 2nd EWR flight from UA is bookable next year as from the start of the Summer Season (29/03) instead of June.

Also, Air Canada’s YYZ flight seems to be 4 weekly from the start instead of 3 weekly, all with 789.

If it will stay like this, it's all part of growth. 2026 will be the year where SN will add a new long haul destination, will add nr 12 long haul plane and the partners are growing together with SN.

Even though I read somewhere in an article that bookings by Belgians to Canada have increased a lot, I don’t see much more growth possible than making YYZ Daily. Vancouver I believe competition is too stiff. Quebec City would be really nice, but that Seems a bit too much out of the comfort zone for Air Canada.

For UA, I believe Los Angeles makes most sense, but I am expecting Houston first.
[/quote]

The growth for AC comes first in additional frequencies and bigger aircraft. That's the first stage. Later an additional destination. Quebec is not that odd and attract French speakers from South of Belgium and France. It's in general popular. Don't forget that not long time ago, Canada organized each year in Belgium a job fair for French speakers in Quebec.

There is a shift now from people who wanted to travel to the USA to Canada

[sn26567]

Years ago, LBV was indeed served by Sabena

Kano has also been served by Sabena, many more years ago!

[Airwave]

And not to forget Brazzaville...

[rwandan-flyer]

Indeed Brazzaville is growing market. Corsair will start flights from Paris Orly this year (Congo was planned to get some stake into Corsair).

Air France will add 3 more weekly flights to BZV this summer. BZV will be served 10 times a week instead of 7 times a week via Kinshasa. https://corporate.airfrance.com/en/pres ... d-roll-out

It seems also that Brazzaville could the next destination of Emirates Airlines in Africa with tag service via Kinshasa. https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/ ... nd-africa/

Competition is not yet stiff. Turkish Airlines serves only Pointe Noire while Kenya Airways ended its service during the covid and RwandAir has suspended its service due to the ban to overfly the DR Congo. Only Ethiopian and Royal Air Maroc are the others strong competitors.

But I don't believe it that Brussels Airlines can fill an A330 with only Brazzaville. Of course you can a make a tag service with Kinshasa but you will cannibalize the seat capacity to and from Kinshasa. And i don't see Brussels Airlines to resume Luanda. Flights can be tagged with Douala or Yaounde or maybe with Pointe Noire which an Oil destination, but about Pointe Noire I don't believe it.

Top 5 point to point market for Brazzaville (2024), served by Brussels Airlines or its partners at BRU :

Paris Cdg : 77 700
Geneva : 2 200
London Heathrow : 2 100
Rome : 1 500
Washington : 1 400
Montreal : 1 400

Brussels : 1 300

[Atlantis]

Delta Airlines uploaded the schedules for Summer 2026. The recent started Atlanta to Brussels is not there anymore. One of the first reactions is that they want to consolidate around AMS, CDG and LHR. Maybe it's still early, but the first prediction is mostly correct.

[Miqvell]

Delta Airlines uploaded the schedules for Summer 2026. The recent started Atlanta to Brussels is not there anymore. One of the first reactions is that they want to consolidate around AMS, CDG and LHR. Maybe it's still early, but the first prediction is mostly correct.

Weird cuz I did read they would make it daily year-round.

[lumumba]

Delta Airlines uploaded the schedules for Summer 2026. The recent started Atlanta to Brussels is not there anymore. One of the first reactions is that they want to consolidate around AMS, CDG and LHR. Maybe it's still early, but the first prediction is mostly correct.

But normally you now about this information?

[Atlantis]

Delta Airlines uploaded the schedules for Summer 2026. The recent started Atlanta to Brussels is not there anymore. One of the first reactions is that they want to consolidate around AMS, CDG and LHR. Maybe it's still early, but the first prediction is mostly correct.

Weird cuz I did read they would make it daily year-round.

Somehow weird indeed bcs ATL just started. But with the upload of the new Summer season 2026 they will remove 2 destinations and this is Gatwick and Brussels. Gatwick is also strange bcs DL had even 15% more pax from there. 4 new seasonal destinations they will add which are in Italy and Greece.
Maybe it's preliminary and still it can appear. But this was the first conclusion when they published the new schedule

[lumumba]

Delta Airlines uploaded the schedules for Summer 2026. The recent started Atlanta to Brussels is not there anymore. One of the first reactions is that they want to consolidate around AMS, CDG and LHR. Maybe it's still early, but the first prediction is mostly correct.

Weird cuz I did read they would make it daily year-round.

Somehow weird indeed bcs ATL just started. But with the upload of the new Summer season 2026 they will remove 2 destinations and this is Gatwick and Brussels. Gatwick is also strange bcs DL had even 15% more pax from there. 4 new seasonal destinations they will add which are in Italy and Greece.
Maybe it's preliminary and still it can appear. But this was the first conclusion when they published the new schedule

Anyway, in terms of the number of passengers it doesn't change much, there is still one Delta flight per day.

Maybe this could push United to open Houston.

[Miqvell]

Delta Airlines uploaded the schedules for Summer 2026. The recent started Atlanta to Brussels is not there anymore. One of the first reactions is that they want to consolidate around AMS, CDG and LHR. Maybe it's still early, but the first prediction is mostly correct.

Looks like ATL will be back next year, with the first flight scheduled for June 10th.

[Atlantis]

Delta Airlines uploaded the schedules for Summer 2026. The recent started Atlanta to Brussels is not there anymore. One of the first reactions is that they want to consolidate around AMS, CDG and LHR. Maybe it's still early, but the first prediction is mostly correct.

Looks like ATL will be back next year, with the first flight scheduled for June 10th.

Very good to know. Thanks.
The same as this year. They started on the 11th June

[Miqvell]

Delta Airlines uploaded the schedules for Summer 2026. The recent started Atlanta to Brussels is not there anymore. One of the first reactions is that they want to consolidate around AMS, CDG and LHR. Maybe it's still early, but the first prediction is mostly correct.

Looks like ATL will be back next year, with the first flight scheduled for June 10th.

Very good to know. Thanks.
The same as this year. They started on the 11th June

Exactly. However, European expansion is usually announced around September, so hopefully we will get more news.