What are the plans of SNBA ?

ATC · Post by **ATC** » 02 Aug 2003, 23:34

Hello,

I'm very proud on SNBA, I love SNBA. :dance:

But I'm disipointed in the reaction of foreign people (non-Belgian).
I often communicate with aviation freaks arround the globe and half of them never heard of SNBA and the other half says SNBA will allways be a small airlinecompany with no meaning and will be bankcrupt within 5 years or will be taken over be a huge european airline... :dammit:

I allways defend SNBA :teach: , bacause I think its better to be a small airline with profit than a big airline with loss. (swiss

)
But never the less SNBA must expand its long-haule network (american and asian destinations). For example the route BRU - JFK ?
Otherwise SNBA will not be known on other continents (only Africa).

Does anybody knows what the SNBA plans are for the future ?
reactions ?

greetz,
ATC

Post by **sn26567** » 03 Aug 2003, 11:26

Interesting topic, ATC.

SNBA was built with modest ambitions. It wanted to be an independent company that would not rely on state subsidies (like AF) to survive. These subsidies are now prohibited anyway.

The investors (Fortis, KBC, UCB, Solvay, Electrabel, the Brussels and Walloon regions, etc.) wanted a guarantee that their money would not be lost. That's why the network was limited to 35 destinations at the beginning. Co-operation with other airlines and codesharing enabled the network to be expanded in Europe (BA, OU, TP, DM, IB, LO, OK, etc.) and in North America (AA). With Birdy, part of the African network of Sabena was served again.

SN BA has not sought to be part of a big alliance, but has instead tried to have bilateral agreements to preserve its independence. This could be an advantage as well as a drawback. Time will tell.

The expansion, if any, will be slow and in proportion of the financial possibilities. There will in any case never be a policy like at SWISS.

Be confident in SN BA's management. I think they know what they are doing.

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 03 Aug 2003, 11:51

I allways defend SNBA :teach: , bacause I think its better to be a small airline with profit than a big airline with loss.

I do exactly the same.

Concernig SNBA's ambitions.

First of all they have to be profitable with there current network.
After they've achieved this for one or two years, they could start expanding but very slowley, to be sure not to loose money.

Anyway, if they'll expand they'll probably do it after the fleet renewal.

Greetz
Chris

SAB-OM · Post by **SAB-OM** » 03 Aug 2003, 12:55

ATC - give them some time...
they're doing not bad especially compared to other airlines
(SWISS :finger: )

let's take it step by step..
we don't want another Sabena tragedy

Europe is getting more and more important in the airline industry...

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 03 Aug 2003, 13:30

they're doing not bad especially compared to other airlines
(SWISS :finger: )

I agree that SWISS is doing many mistakes because of bad managment and I also agree that Swissair is partly responsable for the Sabena banckrupcy.
But be carefull when you put that emoticon :finger: SAB-OM. I'm swiss and belgian

Ciao
Chris

ATC · Post by **ATC** » 03 Aug 2003, 14:10

thank you for your reactions...

I find it very well, that so many people still have a lot of confidence in SNBA. I'm one of them !!! :thumbsup2:

Like you said: step by step, slowly and not loose money ...
For the moment we have many other bad examples in the european and
international aviation world

.
SNBA does not copy anyone (whose to copy anyway ?), but preserves its independence (like André said).

I will allways defend SNBA and sorry for the non-SNBA believers but :"Wie laatst lacht, lacht het best" :dance: .

greetz,
ATC

Post by **luchtzak** » 03 Aug 2003, 15:14

SAB-OM wrote: (SWISS :finger: )

Who has uploaded that smily to the website

Oh oh !! 8O

It was me !!

liebensd · Post by **liebensd** » 03 Aug 2003, 17:38

Are there good destinations of Sabena that are still not served by SNBA? Maybe some East European destinations or to the North of Africa?

Greetz,

Dave

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 03 Aug 2003, 17:44

Casablanca
Tunis
Cairo
Moscow
Istanbul
Athens
Tokoyo (I think it worked well during Sabena time)
...

Ciao
Chris

Post by **luchtzak** » 03 Aug 2003, 18:14

Chris,

you are right on 2 new SN Brussels Airlines destinations! But ...

I'm not allowed to tell them

Sorry about that!

ciao,

Bart
:rock:

leon · Post by **leon** » 03 Aug 2003, 18:16

When considering the evolutions in aviation over the past 4-5 years, and the quite static attitude of SNBA, I must say that at this very moment I am very sceptic about the chances for SNBA to survive.

It would be a shame, but I'm afraid we'll see them biting the dust if they continue like this.

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 03 Aug 2003, 18:17

BINGO

Know we'll play "Mastermind"

I'd say Istanbul and Moscow
How many are now right

Bart,

Will there be more new destinations or just two. And I suppose they'll start in october

Ciao
Chris

ATC · Post by **ATC** » 03 Aug 2003, 18:43

leon,

Why so sceptic ?

Which evolutions in aviation do you mean ?

Static attitude of SNBA ?

Continue like this ?

greetz
ATC

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 03 Aug 2003, 18:45

Yeah I relly don't understand you Leo.
give us some examples if you think SNBA is a static Airline

Chris
8)

ATC · Post by **ATC** » 03 Aug 2003, 18:48

I'd say Istanbul and Moscow

I am with Chris...

Bart

:rock:

greetz,
ATC

Post by **luchtzak** » 03 Aug 2003, 19:12

Not correct!!

Playing a difficult Mastermind

TheSpecialist · Post by **TheSpecialist** » 03 Aug 2003, 19:50

Hmm, I can be wrong, but I always heard that Tokyo was not profitable. Somebody told me they would need more then 100% loadfactor on that route to make it profitable? (in the Sabena time)

Is this correct or wrong?

Mastermind game:
Casablanca and Tunis - And the mastermind result is...

Greetz

vliegtuigfreak · Post by **vliegtuigfreak** » 03 Aug 2003, 20:03

Is SNBA allready serving the route BRU-JFK (in partnership with American?) Im allready go twice to New York with Delta! But the are expensive!! So i wanna look for a trip with SNBA.

Greetingzz
Sonny

Sabena_690 · Post by **Sabena_690** » 03 Aug 2003, 20:06

Leon: not only SNBA faces a hard time, but also a lot of other airlines are in trouble.

Just give the economy some time to pick up again, I see no direct problem for SNBA in the near future.

Destinations:
x if they work together with SLR, I go for Cairo and Casablanca

x if they do it on their own, I go for Athens and Moscow.

Regards
Frederic

Dorfmeister · Post by **Dorfmeister** » 03 Aug 2003, 20:14

I'll say Moscow on code-sharing with SU.

For the other... either Istanbul (big turkish community in Belgium... THY and Onur Air on lines Belgium-Turkey, no?) or Casablanca (big Moroccan community in belgium too... and only RAM on this line, no?)

Regards,

-Benjamin