BRU Summer 2026: news, new routes, airlines

[rwandan-flyer]

Where on CAAC website, i can't find the link to your stats. Thanks

[Atlantis]

Almost one month before Summer season 2026 will start. Time to make an overview of what we can expect.

Short and medium haul:

Transavia: opening a crew base in Brussels and adding a fourth plane in BRU.

Brussels Airlines: Copenhagen: 5 extra flights. Praque: 4 extra weekly flights. Budapest: 2 extra weekly flights and 17 extra flights to Spain and Portugal (Barcelona, Malaga, Porto and Alicante).

SAS: Copenhagen: 5 times a day. Stockholm: 2 times a day. Oslo: 2 times a day.

GP Aviation: route to Pristina on 30th March with 2 weekly flights with the B734.

LOT Polish Airlines: new flight to Gdansk from 29th April with 4 weekly flights. Aircraft with be the B737Max.

TUI: new flight to Kayseri as from 19th June with 2 weekly flights.

Volotea: new airline and destination: Asturia on 31st March, 3 weekly flights with the A320.

Air Serbia: increase on the Belgrade route from 3 to 5 weekly flights.

Vueling: new flight to Palma on 26st March with 4 weekly flights and up to 6 weekly flights before the Summer season.
Many increases from them on several routes.

Royal Air Maroc: flight to Tetouanon 27th March with 2 weekly flights with the E190.

KM Malta: adding an extra early departure. 8 weekly flights.



Long haul:

Air Canada: YYZ 4 times a week with the B789

Air Canada: bigger aircraft on the YUL route: B77W as from 1st June

Air Canada: new flight from Halifax on 19th June. 3 weekly flights with the B737Max.

Delta Airlines: Flight to Atlanta as from 9th March with daily flights.

ANA: increase to 3 weekly flights

Brussels Airlines: as of 3rd June, new flight to Kilimanjaro with 2 weekly flights.

Brussels Airlines: from 31st March till 31st May, only 4 times a week to IAD instead of 5 times a week.

LATAM: New airline and destination as from 1st June 2026 to Sao Paulo with the B789. 3 Times a week

Air Transat: increase from 4 to 5 weekly flights with the A321LR to YUL.

Air Senegal: flights to Dakar. Continuation from Winter 2025-2026.

Air China: daily to Beijing with the A332 as from 24th March.

Air China: flights to Chengdu: 3 times weekly with the A333 as from 26th March

A bit more details:

The extra early departure flight, Tuesday morning, of KM Malta Airlines is as from end of March.

The extra flights of Air Serbia are on Tuesday as from 30th March and on Thursday as from May.

Extra update:

1. Air Transat will increase the number of flights from previous 4 weekly flights to 5 weekly flights as from 24 June to Montréal. Extra flight on Wednesday

2. Dan Air will increase the number of flights from 2 weekly flights to 3 weekly flights to Bacau. Extra flight on Wednesday.

[Miqvell]

Air Sénégal is doubling its frequency in July and August, offering 6x weekly.
This will make a total of 14x weekly with SN and TUI.

[Atlantis]

Air Sénégal is doubling its frequency in July and August, offering 6x weekly.
This will make a total of 14x weekly with SN and TUI.

Very nice to see this progress of a new player.

[rwandan-flyer]

Don't know if Brussels Airport will be included. United Airlines will suspend some international routes due to the war in Middle East and the rising cost of fuel.

United Airlines warns rising oil prices will pressure the aviation industry

Investing.com – United Airlines Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:UAL) warned that rising fuel costs linked to the Iran conflict are beginning to pressure the aviation industry, even as travel demand remains strong.

In a message to employees, United CEO Scott Kirby said the airline is preparing for a period of elevated oil prices, which could drive higher operating costs and force adjustments to capacity and pricing.

Kirby said United is planning for a scenario where oil could rise to $175 per barrel and remain elevated through 2027, though he added it may not get that severe.

He said the airline will cut about 5% of planned capacity in the near term, including trimming off-peak flights and suspending select international routes, to manage higher fuel costs. https://www.investing.com/news/economy- ... ry-4574057

[Atlantis]

I was thinking the same the last couple of days.

The history is repeating itself. We have a super great SS26 in front of us, but several wars, high fuel prices, etc can destroy a great season.

We had the same when Covid came.

Of course, a lot of airlines and airports will suffer, but when we think about BRU, it can be again a survival. Always something

What do you guys and girls think?

[BRU_AV_123]

I was thinking the same the last couple of days.

The history is repeating itself. We have a super great SS26 in front of us, but several wars, high fuel prices, etc can destroy a great season.

We had the same when Covid came.

Of course, a lot of airlines and airports will suffer, but when we think about BRU, it can be again a survival. Always something

What do you guys and girls think?

I was more seeing the risk of Delta’s Atlanta or Air Canada’s Halifax route being cut or reduced as these are basically ‘new’. I don’t think United can really reduce further at Brussels at the moment.

Mainly on the Asia side it will be interesting to see the developments. In theory, you would expect to see volumes at CX, Hainan, SQ, Thai, ANA, Air China increasing but that counts for every European destination of these companies. You already see some of these companies taking benefit of the situation and (temporarily) increasing London, Paris … Very curious to see whether Brussels as a destination for these Asian carriers is strong enough or they will chose to seize the opportunity of decreasing capacity of the ME3 to increase their own capacity at more profitable places such as London, Amsterdam, Paris …

Anyways, for the Chinese companies this should be a very good summer at BRU I expect. Where I initially thought the entrance of Air China would severely impact Hainan, they should now be able to co-exist for at least this summer.

[larsV]

Just booked Hainan BKK-BRU-BKK beginning of April for 1800 EUR in business class. Economy was only 540 EUR. Few people know this airline as the regulars are full or charge crazy prices (Thai / Cathay / Singapore)

[Atlantis]

Just a quick reminder.

This week, RAM will start up Tetouan and Vueling Palma.

From long haul, tomorrow and 2 days after, the 2 flights of Air China to Beijing and Chengdu.

[Atlantis]

Quick update. By the end of this week, Air China will already upgrade the Beijing route from the current A332 to the A333.

[Miqvell]

Quick update. By the end of this week, Air China will already upgrade the Beijing route from the current A332 to the A333.

Indeed, until May so far.

[Atlantis]

I was thinking the same the last couple of days.

The history is repeating itself. We have a super great SS26 in front of us, but several wars, high fuel prices, etc can destroy a great season.

We had the same when Covid came.

Of course, a lot of airlines and airports will suffer, but when we think about BRU, it can be again a survival. Always something

What do you guys and girls think?

I was more seeing the risk of Delta’s Atlanta or Air Canada’s Halifax route being cut or reduced as these are basically ‘new’. I don’t think United can really reduce further at Brussels at the moment.

Mainly on the Asia side it will be interesting to see the developments. In theory, you would expect to see volumes at CX, Hainan, SQ, Thai, ANA, Air China increasing but that counts for every European destination of these companies. You already see some of these companies taking benefit of the situation and (temporarily) increasing London, Paris … Very curious to see whether Brussels as a destination for these Asian carriers is strong enough or they will chose to seize the opportunity of decreasing capacity of the ME3 to increase their own capacity at more profitable places such as London, Amsterdam, Paris …

Anyways, for the Chinese companies this should be a very good summer at BRU I expect. Where I initially thought the entrance of Air China would severely impact Hainan, they should now be able to co-exist for at least this summer.

Regarding Delta's flight, they also upgraded already from the B763 to B764.

[lumumba]

Quick update. By the end of this week, Air China will already upgrade the Beijing route from the current A332 to the A333.

They are starting at the right time; a large proportion of passengers going to Asia will still be able to transit via China instead of the Middle East to Asian destinations.
And what's more, they're part of the Star Alliance group.


Good also for the airport.

[lucas]

Quick update. By the end of this week, Air China will already upgrade the Beijing route from the current A332 to the A333.

They are starting at the right time; a large proportion of passengers going to Asia will still be able to transit via China instead of the Middle East to Asian destinations.
And what's more, they're part of the Star Alliance group.


Good also for the airport.

Their fares are also really cheap! I remember checking prices in January for a flight from Indonesia to Belgium in April, and base fares were only around €250! I ended up not booking because of the incredibly long wait time in Beijing, but no other airline can compete with those fares! This was of course before the new war in the Middle East, so I would have to check again what the prices are now.

[larsV]

I checked business class fares in December and not cheap at all. Double the price of Hainan for BKK-BRU-BKK

[BrightCedars]

Having experienced transferring at PEK, I hope they will improve the flow because when connecting with HU from BRU to NRT via PEK last Summer there was just one funnel and few agents for all transit passengers. Reminded me of old IST some years ago where everyone had to funnel into a narrow transfer check.

[Miqvell]

Solid load factors for Air China's two inaugurals (to BRU)

Beijing 86% (228 pax)
Chengdu 89% (267 pax)

Source : Xiaohongshu

[rwandan-flyer]

It seems that Air Congo wants to serve Brussels from late May 2026 or early June 2026. Paris and Dubai (when the situation will be better) are also in project. I guess they could use Ethiopian B787 as Air Congo is member of Ethiopian Airlines Group, because all DR Congo airlines (aircraft registered in the Democratic Republic of Congo) are banned to serve UE.

https://deskeco-com.translate.goog/2026 ... r_pto=wapp

[brabel]

It seems that Air Congo wants to serve Brussels from late May 2026 or early June 2026. Paris and Dubai (when the situation will be better) are also in project. I guess they could use Ethiopian B787 as Air Congo is member of Ethiopian Airlines Group, because all DR Congo airlines (aircraft registered in the Democratic Republic of Congo) are banned to serve UE.

https://deskeco-com.translate.goog/2026 ... r_pto=wapp

From this article:

'There is also a Chinese company that should be flying directly to Lubumbashi. It has not been announced yet, but we will also have Brussels Airlines which will be flying direct to Lubumbashi with 7 rotations per week," the minister specified.'

Is SN going to fly to Lubumbashi? And daily? I would be surprised.

[rwandan-flyer]

What is the current BASA between DR Congo and Belgium ? I guess rights are very limited : 7 flights / week for Belgians airlines and 7 flights / week for DR Congo airlines.