BRU Winter 2026 - 2027: news, new routes, airlines

[sn26567]

Finnair will start twice-weekly flights between Brussels and Kittilä

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/finn ... nter-2026/

[Miqvell]

Thai Airways celebrates the successful resumption of the Bangkok–Brussels route

Kittiphong Sansomboon, Chief Commercial Officer of Thai Airways, confirms that the route is now performing extremely well. The daily flight, operated by a Boeing 787-8 with two classes of service, achieved an average load factor of 85% between January and November 2025.

"The market responded faster than expected. Belgian leisure travellers and the large Thai community in Belgium immediately embraced the route again. We are also seeing growing demand from the business travel sector. Brussels is a strategic gateway to Europe for us, and the figures prove that confidence has been fully restored."

Thai Airways is ready to increase capacity to Brussels by deploying a larger aircraft. The airline is considering switching to aircraft such as the Airbus A350, but delivery of new long-haul aircraft is not scheduled until 2027.

"Europe will have to be patient a little longer, but increasing capacity to Brussels is already part of our strategic planning for winter 2026-2027. The demand is there. Now it's a question of getting the right aircraft at the right time."

Source : TravMagazine

[luchtzak]

Ryanair to cut 1 million passengers and five aircraft in Belgium after new tax hikes

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/ryan ... tax-hikes/

[koninckske]

Ryanair is just a lot of blablabla

11 routes:
1/ Barcelona on sale for Winter 26/27
2/ Girona Summer seasonal
3/ Madrid on sale W26/27
4/ Malaga seems cancelled
5/ Palma Summer seasonal
6/ Valencia seems cancelled
7/ Dublin on sale W26/27
8/ Pisa Summer seasonal
9/ Rome on sale W26/27
10/ Marakkech seems cancelled
11/ Porto seems cancelled

4 routes on sale for next Winter
4 seem cancelled (but all still available from CRL)
3 were seasonal anyway

[lumumba]

Ryanair is just a lot of blablabla

11 routes:
1/ Barcelona on sale for Winter 26/27
2/ Girona Summer seasonal
3/ Madrid on sale W26/27
4/ Malaga seems cancelled
5/ Palma Summer seasonal
6/ Valencia seems cancelled
7/ Dublin on sale W26/27
8/ Pisa Summer seasonal
9/ Rome on sale W26/27
10/ Marakkech seems cancelled
11/ Porto seems cancelled

4 routes on sale for next Winter
4 seem cancelled (but all still available from CRL)
3 were seasonal anyway

No problem, the competition will fill the void. Transavia is an example already.

[Atlantis]

Ryanair is just a lot of blablabla

11 routes:
1/ Barcelona on sale for Winter 26/27
2/ Girona Summer seasonal
3/ Madrid on sale W26/27
4/ Malaga seems cancelled
5/ Palma Summer seasonal
6/ Valencia seems cancelled
7/ Dublin on sale W26/27
8/ Pisa Summer seasonal
9/ Rome on sale W26/27
10/ Marakkech seems cancelled
11/ Porto seems cancelled

4 routes on sale for next Winter
4 seem cancelled (but all still available from CRL)
3 were seasonal anyway

No problem, the competition will fill the void. Transavia is an example already.

And Brussels Airlines, Vueling, TUI, etc

[lumumba]

Ryanair is just a lot of blablabla

11 routes:
1/ Barcelona on sale for Winter 26/27
2/ Girona Summer seasonal
3/ Madrid on sale W26/27
4/ Malaga seems cancelled
5/ Palma Summer seasonal
6/ Valencia seems cancelled
7/ Dublin on sale W26/27
8/ Pisa Summer seasonal
9/ Rome on sale W26/27
10/ Marakkech seems cancelled
11/ Porto seems cancelled

4 routes on sale for next Winter
4 seem cancelled (but all still available from CRL)
3 were seasonal anyway

No problem, the competition will fill the void. Transavia is an example already.

And Brussels Airlines, Vueling, TUI, etc

Sure but Transavia is almost new,targeting the same market and is opening a base in Brussels the others are here already some years and Brussels Airlines doesn't currently have the capacity to fill the gap; it doesn't have enough planes.

[Atlantis]

No problem, the competition will fill the void. Transavia is an example already.

And Brussels Airlines, Vueling, TUI, etc

Sure but Transavia is almost new,targeting the same market and is opening a base in Brussels the others are here already some years and Brussels Airlines doesn't currently have the capacity to fill the gap; it doesn't have enough planes.

During the Summer, SN is flying a lot leisure flights. Business is much less. They have also signed the renewed contract with the leisure company. SN is flying really a lot leisure.

Transavia will base 3/4 planes, just to start. We will see how it goes, bcs then they come, then they develop again more in The Netherlands. Also don't forget that the tax will be doubled as from 2027. Just see it season by season. In aviation it can go fast. Rely first on the fixed ones

[lumumba]

And Brussels Airlines, Vueling, TUI, etc

Sure but Transavia is almost new,targeting the same market and is opening a base in Brussels the others are here already some years and Brussels Airlines doesn't currently have the capacity to fill the gap; it doesn't have enough planes.

During the Summer, SN is flying a lot leisure flights. Business is much less. They have also signed the renewed contract with the leisure company. SN is flying really a lot leisure.

Transavia will base 3/4 planes, just to start. We will see how it goes, bcs then they come, then they develop again more in The Netherlands. Also don't forget that the tax will be doubled as from 2027. Just see it season by season. In aviation it can go fast. Rely first on the fixed ones

I understand But Brussels Airlines will not be able to increase its capacity compared to last summer anyway.

[DannyVDB]

Not sure that is correct ...

They will have the three A320neo of which two will replace two A319 (extra capacity) and one is for expansion if I got it right ...

Maybe they can also have an additional Air Baltic plane flying for them. I think the LHG has an overall contract for x planes, so they might use this depending on where the capacity is mostly needed.

If there is a gap, they can try to take over at least partially ...

Just my 2 cents,
Danny

[Miqvell]

IndiGo mulling delays in international expansion amid domestic regulatory pressures
IndiGo, which was earlier planning to add five new international destinations to its direct roster by the end of March 2026, is now planning to delay international expansion to the start of 2026-27, after it has added sufficient pilots to its roster, a senior airline executive told FE. He added that the airline was in advanced discussions to add direct flights to Paris, Brussels and Birmingham before the end of 2025-26, but those plans have been shelved for the new financial year.

Source : Financial Express

[BRU_AV_123]

Etihad seems to be on an expansion drift and sending 321LRs throughout major European airports to beef up frequency. Wouldn’t be surprised if also Brussels will soon get a 2nd Daily frequency with the 321LR considering they are already sending one of their highest capacity aircrafts into Brussels many times in the year (77W).

[Atlantis]

Etihad seems to be on an expansion drift and sending 321LRs throughout major European airports to beef up frequency. Wouldn’t be surprised if also Brussels will soon get a 2nd Daily frequency with the 321LR considering they are already sending one of their highest capacity aircrafts into Brussels many times in the year (77W).

It would be nice bcs it's already a few years silent about the ME carriers to BRU. Extra frequencies with a smaller aircraft would give more flexibility.

[Miqvell]

Etihad seems to be on an expansion drift and sending 321LRs throughout major European airports to beef up frequency. Wouldn’t be surprised if also Brussels will soon get a 2nd Daily frequency with the 321LR considering they are already sending one of their highest capacity aircrafts into Brussels many times in the year (77W).

This was announced last year but never came to fruition. I wonder if there are any limit on movements between BEL and UAE.

[Established02]

I wonder if there are any limit on movements between BEL and UAE.

According to GROK traffic rights with UAE are negotiated on an EU level and not on a bilateral level. "The air traffic rights regime is liberal and not a barrier. Expansion is limited by commercial realities—competition, demand, and costs—rather than exhausted limits. If demand surges (e.g., via tourism or trade), the framework supports growth, as seen in Etihad's recent European additions."

[Thomaaas]

Etihad seems to be on an expansion drift and sending 321LRs throughout major European airports to beef up frequency. Wouldn’t be surprised if also Brussels will soon get a 2nd Daily frequency with the 321LR considering they are already sending one of their highest capacity aircrafts into Brussels many times in the year (77W).

It would be nice bcs it's already a few years silent about the ME carriers to BRU. Extra frequencies with a smaller aircraft would give more flexibility.

I think the silence of the ME carriers is linked to the growth of Asian carriers at BRU: CX, HU, CA, TG, SQ and HO have all started new routes or additional frequencies so more direct flight instead of having to stop over at DXB, DOH or AUH.

[Miqvell]

AEGEAN extends Larnaca beyond the Cyprus presidency and will also be available next year.

[JOVAN2]

Etihad seems to be on an expansion drift and sending 321LRs throughout major European airports to beef up frequency. Wouldn’t be surprised if also Brussels will soon get a 2nd Daily frequency with the 321LR considering they are already sending one of their highest capacity aircrafts into Brussels many times in the year (77W).

It would be nice bcs it's already a few years silent about the ME carriers to BRU. Extra frequencies with a smaller aircraft would give more flexibility.

I think the silence of the ME carriers is linked to the growth of Asian carriers at BRU: CX, HU, CA, TG, SQ and HO have all started new routes or additional frequencies so more direct flight instead of having to stop over at DXB, DOH or AUH.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha are not really stop over. With there super modern airports and extensive network plus high frequencies, you can connect to many destinations within a few hours.
I find it nice stops. on the way to Asia.
You can stretch the legs and have an impression of how a modern airport. should look nowadays

[Atlantis]

Due to strong demand, SN will fly also to Kilimanjaro during the Winter.

From 28 October to 16 December, the airline will operate one weekly flight, increasing to two weekly flights between 19 December and 21 February.

Source: homepage

[sn26567]

Transavia will add Las Palmas (Gran Canaria) and Reykjavik to its Brussels network.

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air- ... ki-routes/