New routes from Zaventem: Colombo, Phuket, Maldives

A318 · Post by **A318** » 24 Sep 2005, 21:48

Flights will be flown by Martinair 767-300ER equipment and correctly, after the stop in Colombo the flight will continue to Male (Maledives).

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 30 Nov 2005, 21:40

The first flights to Colombo and Thailand are almost sold out, some seats are available. The first flight is on Sunday 18 December.

According to the bookings for the winter, Sri Lanka and Phuket are doing very well. So it seems that TC made the right decision to start with those destinations.

I have at this moment no news about the route to Male, Maldives. This is a direct flight from Male to BRU. Perhaps for the Summer schedule?

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 08 Dec 2005, 18:00

Good news. Male is also available from 18 december 2005. The only thing you can not book it online. You have to reserve by phone. When they fly to Male it goes via Colombo.

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 17 Dec 2005, 18:31

Finally, tomorrow the first flight of Thomas Cook, operated by Martinair 767-300, will fly to Sri Lanka and Phuket. Departing 19.00H.

On the first flight some seats are still available also for the return flight. But the next coming weeks the flights are almost completely sold.

I think this will be also a very popular route.

Post by **sn26567** » 17 Dec 2005, 19:00

I would have preferred to see a Belgian carrier on that route from Brussels. Sobelair for example: the highest court in Belgium decided yesterday that the bankruptcy was not justified. Meanwhile, the airline is gone forever and 350 people lost their job.

bravo767 · Post by **bravo767** » 17 Dec 2005, 19:23

The return flight from Phuket will be tough with a B767. Lots of headwind on that route. SLR had somletimes to perform a fuel stop at VIE or MUC. For MLE and CMB there should be no problem for a pax only flight but you'll miss the cargo. Lots of cargo possibilities on those return flights.
An A330 would be better, having a longer range and larger cargo hold.
There are easily 15 tons of cargo on MLE-MXP (GJ or L4) plus the usual 272 pax.
Thomas Cook Belgium could think of having their own long haul AC and why not flying MFF A320/330.

Happy landings

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 17 Dec 2005, 19:25

That's the problem for the moment.

SNBA expand it's services to the Middle East and Canada, USA. In some months to Asia, China. But it's al in a codeshare agreement and no own metal.

Jetair and Thomas Cook aswell.

And we know their business is doing very well. They all are making profits. Time has come to invest in aircrafts for long haul.

jal · Post by **jal** » 18 Dec 2005, 11:32

sn26567 wrote:I would have preferred to see a Belgian carrier on that route from Brussels. Sobelair for example: the highest court in Belgium decided yesterday that the bankruptcy was not justified. Meanwhile, the airline is gone forever and 350 people lost their job.

I totally agree with you sn26567. The juridical system is not living in the real world.

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 19 Dec 2005, 17:15

Sunday evening there was a little party at the B-terminal of BRU for the first flight to Colombo and Phuket.

There were some representatives of Thomas Cook, BIAC and the representatives of Thailand in Belgium. Also the Martinair cockpitcrew and cabincrew were there.

For the first flight 237 people were on board; 51 for Colombo and 186 for Phuket.

Source: Travel Magazine newsletter.