Brussels Airlines

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Brussels Airlines
IATA
SN		 ICAO
BEL		 Callsign
BEE-LINE
Founded 7 November 2006
Hubs Brussels Airport
Frequent flyer program Privilege
Member lounge Business Centre
Fleet size 49
Destinations 114 (with codeshare)
Company slogan Flying your way
Headquarters Zaventem (Brussels), Belgium
Key people Philippe Vander Putten (CEO); Etienne Davignon, Chairman
Website: brusselsairlines.com

Brussels Airlines is a airline based at Brussels Airport in Belgium. It operates to over 50 destinations in 20 European countries, as well as long-haul flights to East, Central and West Africa. It also operates charter services, maintenance and training of cockpit and cabin crew[1]. The airline is a member of IATA and the Association of European Airlines (AEA).

Contents

[edit] History

Brussels Airlines was created following the merger of SN Brussels Airlines (SNBA) and Virgin Express. On 12 April 2005, SN Airholding, the company behind SNBA, signed an agreement with Richard Branson, giving it control over Virgin Express. On 31 March 2006 SNBA and Virgin Express announced their merger into a single company. On 7 November 2006, the new name, Brussels Airlines, was announced at a press conference at Brussels Airport. Brussels Airlines began operations on 25 March 2007.

In January 2007, the company announced it had acquired a fourth Airbus A330-300, from the defunct company Air Madrid.

Avro RJ85 in SN Brussels Airlines Livery
Avro RJ85 in SN Brussels Airlines Livery

Through its Mauritius based subsidiary Pan African Airlines Leasing Company Ltd, Brussels Airlines founded the congolese airline airDC, of which it owns 49%, and partner airline Hewa Bora Airways owning the remaining 51%[2].

In December 2007 the airline expressed its interest to join one of the major airline alliances, considering it a priority for the airline.[3]

In April 2008 Handelsblatt reported that Brussels Airlines was on the top of the list for possible acquisitions by Lufthansa. These rumours were neither confirmed nor denied by Brussels Airlines representatives. [4]

In June 2008, the ICAO code will no longer be DAT but BEL.[citation needed]

On june 3rd 2008, the CEO, Philippe Vander Putten resigned.

[edit] Service

On European flights, the airline offers two types of ticket, b-flex and b-light:

  • b-flex is the more expensive ticket, offering full service, such as free newspapers and catering.
  • b-light is the cheapest option, with snacks and drinks available for purchase.

On long-haul flights (Africa and Tel Aviv) Brussels Airlines continues to offer the traditional economy and business classes.

[edit] Destinations

Further information: Brussels Airlines destinations

There is also a possibility that the airline will begin services to Montreal.

[edit] Fleet

The Brussels Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft as of June 2008:[5]

Aircraft Total Passengers Notes
Airbus A330-300 4 264
Airbus A319-100 4 132
Boeing 737-300 5 142 4 fitted with winglets
Boeing 737-400 6 164
Avro RJ85 14 82
Avro RJ100 12 97
BAe 146-200 3 (currently in operation), 1 (out of operation), 2 (airDC) 84

Airbus A319

Avro RJ85

Avro RJ85

[edit] Livery

The livery is similar to SN Brussels Airlines', with minor changes. The tail now sports the airline's new 'dotted B' logo instead of the Sabena 'S-tail'. The orange cheatline on the fuselage has been removed. The light blue belly has been extended to cover the whole aircraft's length. The name 'Brussels Airlines' is written in dark blue on the upper fuselage, preceded by the airline's 'b' logo. Most planes have an altered 'b' logo after superstitious travelers complained about the thirteen dots bringing bad luck.[6] The logo now contains fourteen dots. The callsign changed to BRUSSELS AIRLINES and later to BEE-LINE.

[edit] Codeshare agreements

Brussels Airlines has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:[7]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Flight International 27 March 2007
  2. ^ Brussels Airlines press release December 3, 2007
  3. ^ Belgian Airliner to join alliance? December 4, 2007
  4. ^ Lufthansa prüft Übernahme April 28, 2008
  5. ^ Brussels Airlines Fleet Information
  6. ^ BBC News: 'Unlucky' airline logo grounded
  7. ^ Brussels Airlines Codeshare Agreements

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
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Airlines of Belgium
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Members of the Association of European Airlines