Brussels Airlines' fleet renewal

[oldblueeyes]

Obviously there are various activities/scenarios with respect to medium and longer term fleet development going on behind the scenes.

Some later rumors/ statements from other group arilines:
- Austrian considering exiting the Embraers and getting more A320, as well as A321NEO replacements
- Swiss evaluating exit of the A221 rumored
- factory new 787 rumore for Austrian once all sprinters are transferred

Indeed, yesterda 4xA359 for Brussels and 9xA359 for Discover appeared - just a "coincidence", there are 13 non allocated orders for A359 yet. Altough initial delivery terms were up to 2031, seems that the current deferred take over of Airbusses from Delta due to the ongoing duty tax discussions may open wndows for accelerated deliveries?

Back to the facts:
- once A333 No 13 is delivered to Brussels, there would be no more available A333 at Lufthansa
- any additional growth beyond and replacements for the existing A333s ( the wave needs to start around 2029-30) needs other sources of aircraft - either older A359 from LH or externally supplied aircraft

I would expect the 4xA359 a realistic, but as of today not approved scenario.

[Matt]

I assume it was an error and that those 4 A350's were meant to go to AZ, not SN (error by EAF google site)

[Atlantis]

Obviously there are various activities/scenarios with respect to medium and longer term fleet development going on behind the scenes.

Some later rumors/ statements from other group arilines:
- Austrian considering exiting the Embraers and getting more A320, as well as A321NEO replacements
- Swiss evaluating exit of the A221 rumored
- factory new 787 rumore for Austrian once all sprinters are transferred

Indeed, yesterda 4xA359 for Brussels and 9xA359 for Discover appeared - just a "coincidence", there are 13 non allocated orders for A359 yet. Altough initial delivery terms were up to 2031, seems that the current deferred take over of Airbusses from Delta due to the ongoing duty tax discussions may open wndows for accelerated deliveries?

Back to the facts:
- once A333 No 13 is delivered to Brussels, there would be no more available A333 at Lufthansa
- any additional growth beyond and replacements for the existing A333s ( the wave needs to start around 2029-30) needs other sources of aircraft - either older A359 from LH or externally supplied aircraft

I would expect the 4xA359 a realistic, but as of today not approved scenario.

Don't forget that Swiss has also 14 A333 who are going to be phased out too.
When LH is done with their A333, there is still Swiss.

EAF is messing with the data. Now only one A333 of LH is foreseen for Discover, while the others are now Brussels Airlines and Discover.

I believe that the 4 A359 for ITA were already ordered by themselves and has nothing to do with the group order of LH. ITA just joined the group

[oldblueeyes]

As of today, Swiss would start the retrofit of the Senses/Allegris with the 333 subfleet. Thus i would expect them to fly until they break for Swiss and the A359 should be their new entry size, as already decided for Swiss and Edelweiss. And they are already having some growth planned, with 10xA359 replacing 5 (initially left) A343.

[Boeing767copilot]

The next A330 for SN was supposed to join the fleet next year, but now I hear that this has been postponed until 2027.

[Atlantis]

The next A330 for SN was supposed to join the fleet next year, but now I hear that this has been postponed until 2027.

That would be a surprise and not according to the growth plans. The info I have from a very trustworthy internal person was that the next one, 2026, would be even delivered much earlier in 2026, beginning of the year to be deployed as from the start of SS26.

[crew1990]

The plan to have 13 A330 by 2027 still intact but indeed nr12 is delayed to 2027 and nr13 is still planned for 2027

[Atlantis]

The plan to have 13 A330 by 2027 still intact but indeed nr12 is delayed to 2027 and nr13 is still planned for 2027

OK, that's new. Thanks for sharing. 2026 will be more consolidation with the same destinations. It's a pity bcs the ambition needs to be decreased.

Could the reason be the major national strikes where SN lost a lot of millions?

[DannyVDB]

Don't think so, I see rather two possible other reasons (or a combination of both):

• The further delays with the B789's for LH, hence the need to extent the use of the A333.

• The planning of a big expansion with several new destinations that requires more preparation and alignment with LH, UA, AC

Als the past additions have proven to be too tightly scheduled, with cancellations and many operational problems. I assume they want to avoid that in the future (better to plan less and execute it, then the other way around)

D

[DannyVDB]

I still hope they announce this year their plans though (for 2027)

[Atlantis]

Don't think so, I see rather two possible other reasons (or a combination of both):

• The further delays with the B789's for LH, hence the need to extent the use of the A333.

• The planning of a big expansion with several new destinations that requires more preparation and alignment with LH, UA, AC

Als the past additions have proven to be too tightly scheduled, with cancellations and many operational problems. I assume they want to avoid that in the future (better to plan less and execute it, then the other way around)

D

I agree on some point, but we are talking about 1 single widebody per year. While other airlines receive several widebodies per month and they can do it. I don't think that it was too tightly.
I believe it's more money wise. SN will receive next year 3 new A320neo's and was foreseen for an extra A330 + a new long haul destination. To open a new destination it cost a lot. As SN, together with BRU, was begging the unions not to involve the airport in the strikes bcs of lost of millions of euros, I believe we need to look in that direction. This could be your point nr 3

[Homo Aeroportus]

Not really a "Fleet Renewal" but a welcome "addition" :

OO-SFD is coming back !

Planned to return from WOE as SN9904 tomorrow 25JUL.
Restarting commercial Ops on 26JUL as SN295.
That was in total close to 3 months out of service.
Welcome back Delta.

H.A.

[crew1990]

The plan to have 13 A330 by 2027 still intact but indeed nr12 is delayed to 2027 and nr13 is still planned for 2027

OK, that's new. Thanks for sharing. 2026 will be more consolidation with the same destinations. It's a pity bcs the ambition needs to be decreased.

Could the reason be the major national strikes where SN lost a lot of millions?

No the reason is the lake of long haut aircraft at Lufthansa (787, 777-9 etc)

[crew1990]

Don't think so, I see rather two possible other reasons (or a combination of both):

• The further delays with the B789's for LH, hence the need to extent the use of the A333.

• The planning of a big expansion with several new destinations that requires more preparation and alignment with LH, UA, AC

Als the past additions have proven to be too tightly scheduled, with cancellations and many operational problems. I assume they want to avoid that in the future (better to plan less and execute it, then the other way around)

D

I agree on some point, but we are talking about 1 single widebody per year. While other airlines receive several widebodies per month and they can do it.

The « one aircraft per year for SN is pure additional capacities while airlines you are mentionning are adding adding capacities but mainly having those new aircraft as renewal.

[OO-PDM]

OO-SBF is already taking shape in Hamburg.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194588565 ... 675712409/
https://aviation.flights/aib/A320/12834

[oldblueeyes]

Several mentioned in the fleet renewal are correct:

- SN is transitioning for the first time from "new for SN" mid age aircraft to factory new narrowbodies (now 5 out of 35, next year 8 of 36) and the cost of modernisation needs to be swalloed ; here likely more to come from 2027 onwards

- LH is desperatly delayed with it's 787 and 779, now the 346 are going to be retired as well, thus having lack of metal - postponed hand over of aircraft to other brands eg Austrian is also a consequence of this situation

- LH is always reacting to strikes, even just symbolic, like having a white , non branded aircraft flying for 2 -3 months, like the Austrian 787, as a "can" attitude towards bringing it under another brand

[Atlantis]

SFD is finally back. Tomorrow flight to Kinshasa.
We can say now, besides the maintenances or repaints, that it is the first time that all 11 aircraft are in service.

[Atlantis]

Also SNL will finally come back. Also this one was almost 3 months out of service.
First commercial flight now Tuesday 29.07.

The SN fleet will be complete with no aircraft in maintenance or repaint. Time to earn big money

[Atlantis]

If the data is correct, the fabric new nr 6 A320neo OO-SBF will be delivered 3 months earlier. In December of this year.

[TimTam]

If the data is correct, the fabric new nr 6 A320neo OO-SBF will be delivered 3 months earlier. In December of this year.

Apologies if the question has already been asked and answered earlier. Are the factory new A320neo's equipped with larger hand-luggage bins which can accommodate cabin hand-luggage vertically ? Thx