99% of all Brussels Airlines flights operated as scheduled during July and August

99% of the flights operated as scheduled, almost 3 out of 4 flights departed with less than 15 minutes delay so far this year.

Brussels Airlines is looking back to a successful summer. Numerous efforts to ensure reliable operations have worked out well, ranking Brussels Airlines in the top 5 of most punctual major airlines in Europe. The Belgian national airline will keep investing together with its partners to improve reliability even further in the future.

During the summer months, July and August, Brussels Airlines transported more than 1.7 million passengers on almost 12,000 flights. As always, summer is the busiest season in the aviation industry. This year, Brussels Airlines is happy to announce improved regularity and punctuality numbers.

99% of all Brussels Airlines flights operated as scheduled during July and August. Some cancellations occurred, mainly due to external factors like the tensions in the Middle East that led to flight cancellations on the route to Tel Aviv.

72% of all flights departed within 15 minutes from the scheduled departure time so far this year. Amongst all major European airlines, Brussels Airlines is in the top 5 most punctual airlines so far in 2024 according to data from aviation analytics agency Cirium.

Flight delays were mainly caused by weather (e.g. thunderstorms), shortage of Air Traffic Control staff in some European countries and occasionally long lines at border control at Brussels Airport.

Tilman Reinshagen, Chief Operating Officer, Brussels Airlines said: “At Brussels Airlines, we want to be the most reliable airline operating from the most reliable hub. We’ve taken numerous initiatives together with all our partners such as Brussels Airport and the Belgian federal police to improve our regularity and punctuality. I’m happy to see that our efforts paid off. There are still areas of improvement such as the further roll out of the electronic gates for passport control for flights to Sub-Saharan Africa. This will lead to shorter waiting times at border control and thus less flights we have to delay while waiting for some passengers.”

Not only did more flights leave as scheduled and on-time, Brussels Airlines and its partners also improved other parameters. The number of delayed luggage has dropped by 14% compared to last year. Less than 0.8% of all checked bags didn’t get to their destination on-time.

Brussels Airlines ranked amongst the most reliable major European airlines during a busy summer season

99% of the flights operated as scheduled, almost 3 out of 4 flights departed with less than 15 minutes delay so far this year.

Brussels Airlines is looking back to a successful summer. Numerous efforts to ensure reliable operations have worked out well, ranking Brussels Airlines in the top 5 of most punctual major airlines in Europe. The Belgian national airline will keep investing together with its partners to improve reliability even further in the future.

During the summer months, July and August, Brussels Airlines transported more than 1.7 million passengers on almost 12,000 flights. As always, summer is the busiest season in the aviation industry. This year, Brussels Airlines is happy to announce improved regularity and punctuality numbers.

99% of all Brussels Airlines flights operated as scheduled during July and August. Some cancellations occurred, mainly due to external factors like the tensions in the Middle East that led to flight cancellations on the route to Tel Aviv.

72% of all flights departed within 15 minutes from the scheduled departure time so far this year. Amongst all major European airlines, Brussels Airlines is in the top 5 most punctual airlines so far in 2024 according to data from aviation analytics agency Cirium.

Flight delays were mainly caused by weather (e.g. thunderstorms), shortage of Air Traffic Control staff in some European countries and occasionally long lines at border control at Brussels Airport.

Tilman Reinshagen, Chief Operating Officer, Brussels Airlines said: “At Brussels Airlines, we want to be the most reliable airline operating from the most reliable hub. We’ve taken numerous initiatives together with all our partners such as Brussels Airport and the Belgian federal police to improve our regularity and punctuality. I’m happy to see that our efforts paid off. There are still areas of improvement such as the further roll out of the electronic gates for passport control for flights to Sub-Saharan Africa. This will lead to shorter waiting times at border control and thus less flights we have to delay while waiting for some passengers.”

Not only did more flights leave as scheduled and on-time, Brussels Airlines and its partners also improved other parameters. The number of delayed luggage has dropped by 14% compared to last year. Less than 0.8% of all checked bags didn’t get to their destination on-time.

Many passengers transfer in Brussels, for example to one of the 18 sub-Saharan African destinations of Brussels Airlines. 96.6% of the transfer passengers made their connection, which is an improvement of 26% compared to last year.

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Digital innovations to take care of passengers

Despite an already very high regularity, Brussels Airlines remains committed to continue decreasing the number of cancelled flights and taking care of passengers who are confronted with irregularities.
During summer, some digital innovations have been rolled out in the Brussels Airlines’ app, in order to better assist passengers at all stages of their journey, and certainly during irregularities.
Chatbot “Charlie” on brusselsairlines.com has been enhanced with new features, allowing the chatbot to assist guests better during irregularities. The easier people can find answers to their questions via these digital tools, the more customer care agents are available for more complicated cases, leading to shorter waiting times.
Brussels Airlines is also implementing a new system that automatically detects changes in flights and sends messages to guests. Soon, passengers will receive notifications for events such as gate changes, boarding times, and delayed baggage.

Lufthansa Group set to head back to Tel Aviv from Thursday morning.

The Lufthansa Group has decided it is safe to restart services to Tel Aviv the build-up of drones by Iran and the ongoing volatility in the region.  

Austrian Airlines is operating a flight on Thursday morning at 01:50 from Vienna International Airport, touching down at Ben Gurion International at 06:15. Later in the morning Brussels Airlines will be departing at 9:20 and heading to Tel Aviv for an eta of 14:50. SWISS has a flight leaving at  12:00 from Zurich, getting to Tel Aviv at 17:00, whilst Lufthansa is starting flights from Frankfurt and Munich on Friday.  

The rapid deployment of U.S. fighter jets and support aircraft, along with hundreds of extra missiles in the last two weeks has no doubt contributed to the safety considerations by airline managers.  Air France recently reintroduced its flights to Tel Aviv. 

Brussels Airlines launches design contest and public vote

New Belgian Icon to be more Belgian than ever

A new Belgian Icon is set to join the Brussels Airlines fleet soon. The Belgian national airline has launched a contest where the Belgian Public can submit designs that represent the best of Belgium. In early October, everyone will be able to vote to decide how the next Belgian Icon will look. The Belgian Icons remain some of the most photographed aeroplanes in the world and are an important way for Brussels Airlines to bring its Belgitude to the world.

Brussels Airlines has launched a campaign to find its newest Belgian Icon. This time around, it will be more Belgian than ever: not only will the aircraft connect Belgium to the world, but the aeroplane livery will also be designed by Belgians and chosen by the airline’s public in Belgium.

Everyone who lives in Belgium or holds Belgian nationality can enter the contest, as long as the participant is over the age of 16. Like with all other Belgian Icons, the plane should represent Belgium in an original and artistic way.

Michel Moriaux, Head of Marketing, Brussels Airlines said:  “The design has to be something Belgium is known for, and Belgians are proud of, without entering too much into clichés. The next Belgian Icon will not feature beer, fries, or waffles, for example, but we love to showcase our culture, nature or history. As with all our previous Belgian Icons, the design must have a ‘wow factor’ and inspire people to visit Belgium.” 

People have until September 27 to submit their designs; an internal jury will make a preselection afterwards. At the beginning of October, everyone will be able to vote for their favourite design

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Brussels Airlines first Belgian Icon, Rackham, was introduced in 2015 and pays tribute to Tintin, the world-famous Belgian comic.

Brussels Airlines wins prestigious wine awards

First place for “Top Red Wine International Business Class” and third place for overall Top International Business Class Wines on the Wing

Brussels Airlines has won two prestigious awards for its wine offering in Business Class. At a blind tasting in New York, Global Traveler awarded Brussels Airlines first place for Top Red Wine in International Business Class and third place for "Top International Business Class Wines" in the Wines on the Wing competition. Brussels Airlines focuses on unique wines from smaller producers to offer an exclusive experience.

In long-haul Business Class, Brussels Airlines serves up to 900 bottles of wine per reference per month. That might sound like a lot, but compared to other larger carriers these are still relatively small quantities, allowing Brussels Airlines to work with unique, smaller wineries.

 Philip Mortier, Inflight Product Manager, Brussels Airlines said: “Our overall strategy on long-haul flights is to offer an experience like a boutique hotel, but in the air. Our wine list is no exception. We often work with small independent wineries, and we try to make a very varied wine lists that always includes some more classic, French wines and some more unique or exceptional wines. This way passengers can choose for something they know they will like, or explore new tastes. And as the Belgian flag carrier, it is only natural that we also offer Belgian wines.”

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To design the on-board menu, a panel of wine experts organizes once a year a two-day tasting, where over 200 wines are tasted and selected in no less than 15 different categories. The wines on offer rotate regularly and are paired with the Belgian Staf Chef menus. In total, Brussels Airlines selects 24 different wine references to serve on long-haul Business Class flights throughout the year.

Wines on the Wing Awards

This strategy for a top-notch wine list didn’t stay unnoticed. In the Wines on the Wing airline wine survey 2024, Brussels Airlines was awarded in two categories: Top Red Wine International Business Class, with Chateau Clement- Pichon Cru Bourgeois Superieur Haut Medoc 2018. The second category is Top International Business Class Wines on the Wing, there Brussels Airlines was able to score the third place.

Brussels Airlines and Skywings Flight Training start new training for cadet pilots

Future pilots can be recruited by Brussels Airlines even before their pilot training starts.

                        Brussels Airlines launches a new partnership with Skywings, a flight training academy based in Antwerp. The program allows cadet pilots to be recruited by the airline even before they have started their training. Skywings will train these future pilots according to the high standards of Brussels Airlines and familiarize them to the airlines’ procedures.

Brussels Airlines has entered an exciting new era with growth and opportunities. New aircraft are joining the fleet and new destinations are being added to the network. To foster this growth, Brussels Airlines is hiring new recruits across the board. ​

To accelerate the onboarding process of first officers, Brussels Airlines launches a partnership with Skywings Flight Training in Antwerp. In close cooperation, a “Multi Pilot Licence-program” is created. This means candidates are being recruited together with the airline even before training starts. During the training, cadets immediately start the process for a Multi Pilot Licence (MPL), allowing them to fly planes with more than one pilot, which is the case of all aircraft Brussels Airlines operates. The candidates will also be trained on simulators and be familiarized with the procedures of the Belgium’s national airline.

Once the training is completed, these pilots can join Brussels Airlines as first officer on the A319 and A320 fleet, hereby making a lengthy selection process or an Ab Initio training within the airline redundant.

Brussels Airlines takes delivery of its first A320neo

Brussels Airlines takes delivery of its first A320neo

Brussels Airlines, Belgium’s national airline and member of the Lufthansa Group, has taken delivery of its first out of five new A320neo aircraft.

The A320neo is part of the airline's fleet renewal strategy to operate the latest state of the art, efficient aircraft in order to meet Brussels Airlines’ ambitious sustainability targets.

The A320neo incorporates the latest technologies, including new-generation CFM International LEAP-1A engines for more efficiency and Sharklets for improved aerodynamics, which together reduce fuel burn and CO2 emissions by at least 20 per cent. The aircraft is also a good neighbour at airports with a 50 per cent lower noise footprint compared to  previous generation aircraft.

The Brussels Airlines A320neo features a single class layout with 180 seats.

Equipped with the Airbus Airspace cabin, the A320neo will take the passenger experience to new highs in comfort, ambience and service. Unique and customisable lighting sets the mood for all phases of the flight, maximising passenger relaxation in the widest and quietest cabin in its class.

The new A320neo will join Brussels Airlines' all Airbus fleet of 43 aircraft, including 34 A320 Family aircraft and nine A330-300s. Perfectly sized for the European market, the new aircraft will enter into service on the carrier’s short- to medium-haul network.

With over 9,700 orders from more than 130 customers worldwide, the A320 Family is the world’s most popular aircraft.

New unique amenity kits for Brussels Airlines

After successful collaborations between Brussels Airlines and famous Belgian brands such as Natan and Rainpharma, it is now time for three eminent entrepreneurs from Ghent to design the amenity kit for business class passengers on Brussels Airlines’ long haul flights. Handbag designer Griet Aesaert, skincare expert Barbara Geusens of Nomige and artist Elisia Poelman worked together to create an exceptional item.

Brussels Airlines aims to create a boutique hotel experience in the sky. “A collaboration with three independent entrepreneurs fits perfectly. It also underlines our Belgitude, where we show the world the best of Belgium”, says Sandy Coenen, Inflight Product Equipment Manager at Brussels Airlines. “These three ladies understood perfectly what we need. They were so enthusiastic and had such a positive attitude during each interaction we had. They have different backgrounds, and a shared passion for design, style, and comfort. They created a unique collector’s item.”

The collaboration between Brussels Airlines and the craftswomen is set-up for two years. Every six months, a new design and colour will be introduced. During the collaboration, four different amenity kits will thus be revealed.

Aesaert, a timeless pouch

​Griet Aesaert of handbag label Aesaert is known for her timeless designs from high-quality Belgian leather. She created the pouch of the amenity kit. Griet has her own collection of handbags and creates tailor-made bags, fully personalized for her customers. One of the unique features of her work are the extraordinary inner linings. They give her designs a unique appearance. “Tailoring is part of our DNA. As soon as I heard about the idea to create colourful amenity kits for Brussels Airlines, I immediately thought about Elisia Poelman”, says Griet Aesaert.

​www.aesaert.be

Elisia Poelman, dreamy inner linings

​Artist Elisia Poelman likes to stimulate the imagination with her paintings. Her contribution to the amenity kit is no exception. Travelers are encouraged not only to travel physically, but also to take a trip in their imagination. The inner linings of the amenity kit are an extraction from the artwork “A tourist in a dream”, a painting by Elisia Poelman. The eye masks of the amenity kit will also be an impression of her work. A few of her artworks will soon be showcased in The Loft, a Brussels Airlines’ lounge in Brussels Airport.

​elisiapoelman.com

Nomige, tailor made skincare

​Dr Barbara Geusens, skincare expert and founder of Nomige, adds her scientific expertise to this collaboration. Nomige is known for personalized and innovative personal care products. The lip balm and lotion in the amenity kit are created especially for Brussels Airlines. “Both skincare and travelling have always been my passions. This collaboration, where my products travel the world and gain international fame is a dream coming true,” says a proud Barbara Geusens. “These products are designed specifically to take care of your skin during a long flight.”

Practical information

​Each business class passenger on Brussels Airlines’ long-haul flights to sub-Saharan Africa and the United States will soon be presented with this exclusive gift.

Brussels Airlines adds a tenth long-haul aircraft to its fleet

This brings the number of A330’s back to pre-covid level. The new aircraft allows the Belgian national airline to add Nairobi and to increase flights to Kigali.

Brussels Airlines adds a tenth aircraft to its long-haul fleet and commits to growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, its most important market. With the extra capacity, the Africa expert of Lufthansa Group reopens the route to Nairobi and increases its connections between Brussels and Kigali to a daily service. This brings the number of Brussels Airlines’ destinations in Sub-Saharan Africa to 18.

Brussels Airlines continues to invest in its intercontinental network and fleet, as a tenth Airbus A330 will become operational in the Summer of 2024.

​Travelers will thus have even more options to fly between Europe and Africa, and benefit from a direct connection between Brussels Airport and the Kenyan capital. Nairobi is not unknown territory to the airline as it already served this destination between 2002 and 2015.

Extra destination and increased flights to East and West Africa

​Brussels Airlines will not only add a new destination, the new long haul plane allows the airline to increase the flight frequency to Kigali (Rwanda) to a daily connection. To crew this A330 about 60 pilots and cabin crew members will be hired. Also on the ground extra colleagues will be recruited.

Tickets for flights between Brussels and Nairobi are on sale as of tomorrow, the first flight is planned in June 2024. It will operate six days a week during the summer schedule. In the winter schedule, the route will be flown four times weekly. During the winter, an extra direct flight to Dakar and an extra rotation to Banjul / Conakry and Monrovia / Freetown will be added to the planning.

​Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO, Brussels Airlines said: “With the addition of Nairobi to our network, daily frequencies to Kigali and extra flights to West Africa, we offer more choice to our passengers travelling to and from Africa than ever. The tenth intercontinental aircraft is a clear sign of Lufthansa Group’s trust in Brussels Airlines and strengthens our role as the hub to Africa for the Group.”

 

Kevin Markette, General Manager East Africa, Lufthansa Group said:  “Kenya remains a focus market for Lufthansa Group in East Africa, largely driven by the significant increase in demand and resurgence in travel, coupled with the immense support of the local community within the region. I am pleased that we continue to grow our presence in Kenya, underlining Lufthansa Group’s commitment to Kenya and the region as a whole. With the addition of the six weekly Brussels Airlines’ flights to Nairobi, Lufthansa Group will offer 18 weekly connections to Kenya in summer 2024, including daily Lufthansa flights to the capital and five weekly direct Discover Airlines flights to Mombasa.”

About Kenya and the schedule

​Kenya has a rapidly growing population of more than 50 million. The country is renowned internationally for its scenic landscapes and vast wildlife preserves. Its leisure market is also continuously expanding, with currently more than 2 million annual tourists.

​Moreover, Kenya is referred to as the “Silicon Savannah” and became a technological epicenter attracting many start-ups innovating in the digital sector in the past decade.

Outbound flights will leave Brussels in the morning and arrive in Nairobi in the evening. Inbound flights will depart from Nairobi in the evening and arrive in Brussels in the morning.

Taking into account the connection between Frankfurt and Nairobi operated by Lufthansa, this will bring the weekly number of Lufthansa Group flights to the capital of Kenya to 13 in the summer season and 11 in the winter season.

From 1 October 2023, Business Class travellers on Brussels Airlines' long-haul flights will enjoy a gastronomic experience by Michelin-starred chef Michaël Vrijmoed

From 1 October 2023, Business Class travellers on Brussels Airlines' long-haul flights will enjoy a gastronomic experience by Michelin-starred chef Michaël Vrijmoed of the eponymous Ghent restaurant Vrijmoed**. Vrijmoed thus becomes the fourteenth Michelin-starred chef in a string of Belgian top chefs, with whom the airline has been delighting its passengers with exquisite cuisine since 2013. Belgian vegetables will take centre stage in the gourmet menus in the coming year. At Brussels Airlines, the East Flanders two-star chef succeeds chef Mario Elias.

What started ten years ago with gourmet menus by Michelin-starred chef Geert Van Hecke has grown into a true tradition for travellers on intercontinental flights with Brussels Airlines in 2023. Every year, a Belgian Star Chef creates a three-course menu based on typical Belgian recipes and ingredients. From October, these menus will be created by Michelin-starred chef Michaël Vrijmoed and rotate every three months. As in previous years, the accompanying Belgian wines are carefully selected by Master of Wine, Jan De Clercq and beer sommelier Sofie Vanrafelghem selected the Belgian, local beers.

"As a Michelin-starred chef, it is a privilege to be allowed to cook for the business class travellers of Brussels Airlines. I am following in the footsteps of Peter Goossens, one of my tutors. He served as a star chef for the airline in 2015. Through my creations for Brussels Airlines, I will introduce the world amongst others to tasty Belgian vegetables, accompanied by some East Flemish regional beers and cheeses from cheese refiner Van Tricht."

​- Michaël Vrijmoed, chef of the East Flemish restaurant Vrijmoed**

 

Second East Flanders Star Chef

​Vrijmoed began his culinary career as a sous-chef at Hof van Cleve where he was the right-hand man to top chef Peter Goossens. In 2013, he started his own restaurant in Ghent. In recent years, it has grown into one of the best vegetable restaurants in the world. After Peter Goossens, Michaël Vrijmoed is the second East Flanders chef with whom Brussels Airlines collaborates.

Philip Mortier, Inflight Product Manager, Brussels Airlines said:  "Brussels Airlines is the flying ambassador of the best Belgium has to offer. As an airline, we introduce the world to delicacies originating from our country. We are happy that with Michaël Vrijmoed we can again put our local products and recipes in the spotlight. Next to the food, our passengers also discover regional beers such as Steenuilke, Liefmans Goudenband and Adriaen Brouwer Oaked. All three are brewed by traditional Belgian breweries such as De Ryck, Liefmans and Roman."

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Leading role for Belgian vegetables

​The fact that restaurant Vrijmoed is one of the best vegetable restaurants in the world is also reflected in the menus that Michaël Vrijmoed has created for Brussels Airlines. Long-haul Business Class travellers will be able to choose a fish or meat dish or a vegetarian alternative for both the starter and main course.

​The menu will evolve every three months to make the most of seasonal produce.

​Michaël Vrijmoed said: "Passengers can choose from two starters, one of them being my signature dish: beetroot (with Doyenné du Comice pear, mustard seed and horseradish sauce). As a main course, we serve a celeriac variation (with soil-grown chicory and crispy Jerusalem artichoke) as a vegetarian choice. There is also a choice between Pheasant (with soil-grown chicory, wild mushrooms, cranberries, pearl onions, Jerusalem artichoke, fine champagne sauce and Jerusalem artichoke puree) or Eel in Green (with herb salad and chateau potatoes). To conclude, passengers can choose from a cheese platter with East Flanders classics like Belgian Wittekop or Biloete, two cheeses from East Flanders' Lotenhulle, or Hazelnut chocolate cake with a vanilla-coffee sauce for dessert."

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Brussels Airlines expands summer programme......

Brussels Airlines is expanding its summer 2023 schedule which runs from this weekend until 28th October 2023.

 

As part of the expansion, the carrier has agreed on a wet-lease agreement with CityJet for the new summer season for two CRJ-900 aircraft. 

"This cooperation allows us to grow our fleet in a flexible manner and increase our European offer," said Jan Derycke, Head of Network Strategy & Planning at Brussels Airlines. On top of the cooperation with CityJet, two additional Airbus A320s will join the airline’s fleet. This will see Brussels Airlines' European operations grow by 10% this summer.

The CRJ-900s will seat 88 passengers and will operate daily flights to European destinations, including Bordeaux, Milan, Lyon, Geneva and Vienna.

​Jan Derycke, Head of Network Strategy and Planning, Brussels Airlines said: "In addition, we can add Billund to our network and increase frequency to and from Copenhagen and Berlin. We will also be able to serve regional (business) routes such as Hamburg and Birmingham even more. In total, we will serve nine destinations in cooperation with CityJet. Thanks to this wet-lease agreement, a smooth and broad connection with Brussels Airlines' intercontinental network will be created during the summer season."

The agreement with CityJet, one of Lufthansa Group's trusted wet-lease partners, was signed at the end of January.

"At CityJet, we are looking forward to working with Brussels Airlines in growing its network and delivering excellent service to its passengers throughout this summer season."

​Cathal O’Connell, Chief Commercial Officer, CityJet

Ten percent extra European flights

​All in all, Brussels Airlines' European operations are up by ten per cent this summer season. This is due not only to the cooperation with CityJet, but also to the arrival of two additional Airbus A320s. These aircraft will join the fleet permanently and will be deployed across the entire medium-haul network, with a focus on new leisure destinations such as Djerba and Monastir.

Derycke said: "In total, our fleet now grows to 36 medium-haul and 9 long-haul aircraft. With this fleet and network expansion, Brussels Airlines is achieving its targeted growth three years ahead of schedule."

Dorothea von Boxberg is set to become the new CEO of Brussels Airlines.

Subject to the pending resolution by the Board of Directors of SN Airholding, Dorothea von Boxberg, who is currently Chairperson of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Cargo AG, will take over in Belgium as of 15 April, 2023. Next to her role as CEO of Brussels Airlines, she will also take on the function of "Representative of the Executive Board to the European Commission."

​Christina Foerster, Member of the Executive Board of the Lufthansa Group and Chair of the Board of Directors of SN Airholding said: "I am very pleased that Dorothea von Boxberg, an experienced and skilled airline manager from within Lufthansa Group, is assuming the leadership position at Brussels Airlines. With her extensive knowledge and broad understanding of cargo and passenger airlines, she will continue to drive the successful transformation of Brussels Airlines, Belgium's national airline in the coming years."

The long-term successor for Dorothea von Boxberg at Lufthansa Cargo is to be announced as soon as possible.

Dorothea von Boxberg (1974) began her professional career in 1999 at the Boston Consulting Group. In 2007, Dorothea von Boxberg moved to the Lufthansa Group, where she has held various management positions. From 2012, she was responsible for Customer Experience Design at Lufthansa Airline. During this time, she and her team introduced a new generation of Business Class seats. In 2015, Dorothea von Boxberg moved to Lufthansa Cargo AG and headed the Global Sales Management department. In 2018, she was appointed to the Executive Board of Lufthansa Cargo AG. Initially, she was responsible for global sales, network planning, product management and product development, and since 2021 she has led Lufthansa Cargo AG as Chairperson of the Executive Board.

Virtual reality and assisted flight to help people with fear of flying....

Brussels Airlines and behavioural therapists The Human Link organize new 'Fear of Flying' course

Now that the travel sector is slowly picking up speed again, people suffering from fear of flying are also seeking help more frequently. That is why behavioural therapists from The Human Link and Belgian carrier Brussels Airlines are again organizing a 'Fear of Flying' course for the first time in four years. Remarkably, participants can now be counselled using Virtual Reality (VR), which is a first. "VR makes the threshold even lower to get on an accompanied flight afterwards and give your fear a place," it is said. More than eight in 10 participants are able to travel by plane carefree after completing the course.

Last summer, people in Belgium already travelled as much as before the Covid pandemic, according to research by Statbel. And the number of plane trips to and from Brussels Airport is also gradually picking up. "Almost logically, there are again more requests for help from people with a fear of flying," says psychologist and behavioural therapist, Marieke Impens of The Human Link. "These are people from all walks of life, from teenagers to those in their seventies. And it's really not just business travellers. Think of parents whose children go abroad to study with Erasmus or people who have found a partner they love dearly and who wants to see the world. Some even work in the aviation industry and are suddenly constrained by fear."

To meet the demand, The Human Link is organizing another 'Fear of Flying' course at the end of March, in collaboration with Brussels Airlines, for the first time in four years. "The course was created back in 2006 in collaboration with the Ghent University and is scientifically based. The success rate was always above 80 per cent," says Marieke Impens. "Due to the Covid pandemic, we put the course 'on hold' for a while, but continued tweaking our approach. This has given us even more insight into how fear works and we are convinced that we can now counsel people with fear of flying even better."

Brussels Airlines and Brussels Airport launches new baggage drop off

At Brussels Airport, passengers of Brussels Airlines can make use of a new system to check in their baggage themselves. Since this summer, passengers who are checked in online can use their boarding pass to print the baggage label for their suitcase at one of the 16 kiosks at the airport and then place the baggage on one of the six luggage belts. The “Baggage drop-off" results in considerable time-saving for the passengers. The new system was gradually taken in use over the summer holidays and is now fully operational.

This summer, Brussels Airport introduced a new system to allow passengers to check in their baggage themselves at the airport. Using their boarding pass, passengers for short and medium haul destinations operated by Brussels Airlines and the other companies in the Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian), can now print out their own baggage label and check in their suitcase themselves. For this, a new zone has been installed near check-in row 4, featuring 16 label kiosks and 6 bag drops where the suitcase is weighed and placed on the belt to the baggage hall. Agents of Brussels Airlines can help the passengers if assistance is desired.

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​This Baggage drop-off offers significant time savings for passengers as more passengers can present their bags at the same time. Since more than 75% of the passengers of Brussels Airlines already check in at home and have their boarding pass with them, they can check in their suitcase and continue their journey quicker using this system. With this Baggage drop-off, up to 400 passengers per hour can check in their baggage. Passengers can of course also still make use of the manned check-in desks.

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​This system was systematically deployed during the summer holidays and is now fully operational. During the months of July and August, already 35.000 suitcases, or almost 10% of the suitcases of the short and medium haul flights of the Lufthansa Group, were checked in using the Baggage drop-off. This is an extensive pilot during which the system will be closely monitored, with a view to expansion possibilities in the future.

Brussels Airlines & Trade Unions......

Maaike Andries, Spokesperson for Brussels Airlines issued the following statement on how the airline and trade unions are working together for a better future. "On July 4th, the management and social partners of Brussels Airlines took a closer look at the economic and market situation and the possible tracks for Brussels Airlines. It was clear that to create the right conditions for a successful future for the company, a constructive collaboration between management and social partners is crucial.

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​During the summer months, both parties, therefore, met in a series of workshops to find common ground on workload issues. These workshops have all taken place in a constructive atmosphere, setting a new standard for collaboration between the Brussels Airlines management and its unions.

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​Today, 23 August, a day-long status meeting takes place to again look at the market situation and the future developments, to review the work that has been done during the summer and to define the way forward, making sure to continue the constructive collaboration that was started in the workshops. Several workload-reducing and/or quality-improving initiatives have already been implemented, while others are under investigation by both parties and will be concluded in the coming months.

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Brussels Airlines improves results.....

Brussels Airlines closes its first semester of 2022 at -89 million euro, an improvement of 38% compared to the previous year. The first months of the year were still impacted by the consequences of Omicron, while June was marked by four days of flight disruptions due to strike actions. Inflation and high fuel costs continue to influence the airline’s results, but thanks to its restructuring, the airline is set up with a competitive cost position to face the future.

In the first half of this year, Brussels Airlines welcomed 2.73 million passengers on board its flights. This is three times higher than the same period last year, when the covid pandemic and subsequent travel bans plummeted air travel demand.

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​Brussels Airlines increased its revenue by EUR 314 million or 228% year-on-year to EUR 452 million in the first half year of 2022 (previous year: EUR 138 million), thanks to expanded flight operations and higher yields. The revenues in the first semester of 2022 were still impacted by slow demand at the beginning of the year due to the Omicron wave. Later in June, the airline faced four days of flight plan disruptions due to a national manifestation and social actions. If not taking into account the strike days, June was an EBIT-positive month, in line with the estimations of Brussels Airlines’ restructuring plan.

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​Operating expenses went up by a total of EUR 282 million or 97% to EUR 572 million (previous year: EUR 290 million), due to higher volume and steep increases of costs.

​Nina Oewerdieck, Chief Financial Officer at Brussels Airlines said:  “Not only the strike cut deep into our results, but also the automatic indexation in Belgium has driven up our labor cost by 6% this year alone, by 8% if we consider November’s indexation. The still very high fuel price and more general inflation, combined with the strong position of the dollar make that our costs have risen substantially. The strike impact on our financials shows how crucial social peace is for our company and we are moving in the right direction on this front, creating a renewed partnership with our unions. We continue to work on improvements for the long run in order to make sure we create growth and perspective for Brussels Airlines, while safeguarding our employees’ work-life balance.”

As a result, the Adjusted EBIT in the reporting period amounted to EUR -89 million (previous year: EUR -143 million), an improvement of 38% compared to the first semester of 2021.

​Nina Oewerdieck, Chief Financial Officer at Brussels Airlines said:  "We see a big improvement of our result compared to last year and we will continue to see improvements as we have reached a very competitive cost position thanks to our restructuring program and our positive yield development. Also operationally we are performing quite well given the very challenging circumstances in the aviation sector across Europe due to the very fast recovery of the market demand. This is thanks to the efforts of all our employees as well as all our partners."

Brussels Airlines introduces a Green Fare for passengers flying from Denmark, Sweden and Norway

New fare including full offsetting of CO2 emissions introduced for passengers flying from Denmark, Sweden and Norway as pilot project.

Brussels Airlines introduces a Green Fare for passengers flying from Denmark, Sweden and Norway from August, which includes full offsetting of CO2 emissions using sustainable fuel and investment in climate protection projects. The offer comes now that the willingness for passengers to neutralize their flight has risen significantly. Since the options for CO2-neutral flying were integrated into the booking process on brusselsairlines.com, usage among customers has increased sixfold.

Brussels Airlines, together with the other airlines of the Lufthansa Group, introduce a new Green Fare for its guests booking from Denmark, Sweden and Norway on a trial basis from August 2, 2022. As a contribution to a sustainable way of flying, the Green Fare includes a full offset of the flight's CO2 emissions in the price of the flight. This is achieved by a combination of 20 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and 80 percent through investments in long-term climate protection projects. As an incentive, the Green fare also includes additional status miles and free rebooking options.

The Green Fare is now displayed alongside the familiar fares (Light, Classic, Flex) as an additional fare option in the online booking screen directly after the flight selection. The new offer is available in both Economy Class and Business Class for flights within Europe. In addition, starting in September, B2B travel partners in Scandinavia will also be able to take advantage of this new option. The test phase will last approximately six months.

Increasing success of sustainable options

​At the end of May, Brussels Airlines had already improved its sustainable offer, by integrated the options for CO2-neutral flying directly into the flight booking, simplifying the process for its customers to buy sustainable fuel, investing in climate projects managed by myclimate or opt for a combination of both.

Brussels Airlines launches new eye-catching safety video

Belgian band creates a catchy song with the lyrics of the safety instructions

Brussels Airlines has issued a new eye-catching safety video to draw the attention of passengers to the important safety briefing as well as giving them a true taste of Belgium. From now, the video will be rolled out on all of the airline's long-haul aircraft.

The national airline took the iconic Belgian band Hooverphonic under its wing for this special collaboration that saw the group write a catchy song based on the exact lyrics of the instructions. The result is a unique clip, in which the song is mixed with surrealistic images including an artistic homage to Magritte, another example of Belgian excellence. 

For years now Brussels Airlines has been a flying ambassador for Belgium, offering a selection of Belgian beers, wines and chocolates on board. And, now,  with the new video, it will bring music too! 

Hooverphonic creates a unique song for Brussels Airlines

​In order to keep drawing the attention of its passengers to the crucial safety instructions on board, Brussels Airlines has for many years now created creative videos instead of the classic safety videos. Until recently, the safety instructions were presented with a humorous animated film. Earlier the Red Devils also gave the instructions. 

The video was directed by Jan Boon and the technical part was handled by virtual reality production house Studio Regie in Merelbeke.

“The safety instructions we give on board at departure are essential. Safety is our priority but that is not a synonym for bland at Brussels Airlines. For years we have tried to attract the attention of our passengers with humour and creativity. The result of the unique collaboration with Hooverphonic is the perfect example of this. We are very happy that our Belgian pride has taken up the challenge and pulled out all the stops to create a surprising song and clip that will be going around the world from today.”

​Michel Moriaux, Head of Marketing, Brussels Airlines

Hooverphonic reveals the new song to passengers at Brussels Airport

​On 1 August Hooverphonic surprised departing passengers at Brussels Airport with a short and intimate set at one of the gates. During that set, they performed, apart from two of their own songs, the song they created for the Brussels Airlines safety video, see below. 

“When Brussels Airlines asked Hooverphonic to write a song with the text of the safety instructions, I really thought it would be impossible. But at the same time, I love that kind of challenge and we went for it. I'm glad I persevered. After a few tries, we are now ready for take-off!”

​Alex Callier, Hooverphonic

Brussels Airlines is bringing nearly 25,000 festivalgoers of more than 130 nationalities to Tomorrowland in Boom

After a two-year hiatus, Brussels Airlines is finally back to bringing nearly 25,000 festivalgoers of more than 130 nationalities to Tomorrowland in Boom. As of 13 July, more than 175 flights will depart from 69 different airports to Brussels Airport, where passengers will already feel the rhythm of the festival thanks to DJ sets amongst others.

For the 16th edition of the world's best music festival, 600,000 festivalgoers from more than 200 different countries will unite in Boom for three weekends of Tomorrowland, this year in the theme "The Reflection of Love." More than 700 artists are programmed across 14 stages. ​

Brussels Airlines brings the world to Belgium and Boom

Brussels Airlines sold nearly 13,000 flight packages to music fans flying out of 69 different airports to Belgium for the festival, accounting for nearly 25,000 Tomorrowland passengers travelling to and from Brussels on more than 350 Brussels Airlines flights. Ten flights will be transformed into exclusive #TMLpartyflights with a live DJ set at an altitude of ten kilometres. The very first party flight brought the first festivalgoers from Oslo to Brussels yesterday evening, 13 July, in the company of the British DJ duo Goodboys. To immediately get into the mood, festivalgoers in Oslo were treated to the first of eight gate parties.

For the fourth time, Amare is bringing music lovers from around the world to Tomorrowland. Amare is one of Brussels Airlines' five Belgian Icons, an Airbus A320 dedicated to Tomorrowland. The aircraft is painted on the outside with a gigantic eagle, and also brings the Tomorrowland atmosphere inside thanks to mood lighting and a Bose music system.

"As Belgium’s home carrier, we are very proud to have been a partner of the globally renowned Belgian festival Tomorrowland for ten years already. In 2012, we organised the first 25 party flights. We also created the Global Journey packages that year, allowing international festivalgoers to combine the festival with both their hotel or camping stay and their transportation by bus, train or plane. In 2017, we unveiled Amare, a plane with a special Tomorrowland livery, entirely dedicated to the festival. And we are convinced that the future will bring even more beautiful realisations together."

​ -Michel Moriaux, Head of Marketing, Brussels Airlines

In total, 46,000 Global Journey packages were sold to festivalgoers of 133 nationalities. The five most common nationalities are American (almost 12%), German (10.5%), Spanish (over 7%), French and British (both just over 6%). Noteworthy is that 2% of the travellers are of Belgian nationality.

Brussels Airport to the rhythm of Tomorrowland

The unique Tomorrowland atmosphere continues upon arrival at and departure from Brussels Airport. Since mid-June, a beautiful Tomorrowland globe was set up on the curb (the area between the departure hall and the car park), which lights up and spins at night.

On 18th and 25th July and 1st August, DJs will be performing in the airport between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. (at Beers & Cheers, Pier A). In addition to the live music, passengers can find the clothing line by Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike in the Fashion Boutique while cosmetics by Anouk Matton will be for sale in the Aelia Duty-Free shop (Pier A).

Nearly three hundred Brussels Airlines’ volunteers ensure the ultimate Tomorrowland experience

As every year, Brussels Airlines is inviting everyone to take a free ride on the Ferris wheel on the festival grounds, with a stunning view of the fairy-tale landscape of Tomorrowland and beyond.

The airline’s employees will also be present at the service desk at the festival site, so that passengers can make adjustments to their flight or get the right information about their trip right away and at the festival.

In order to offer its passengers a carefree return journey after a fantastic Tomorrowland experience, Brussels Airlines has once again set up a mobile bag drop-off at the DreamVille campsite. Partygoers travelling back by plane can already check in their luggage at the campsite and therefore do not have to carry their suitcases and tents to the airport themselves.

“After two postponed editions, dozens of Brussels Airlines employees have been working hard for months to provide music lovers with an exceptional experience. In addition, during the festival weekends we can count on almost three hundred volunteers who will ensure that the festivalgoers have a carefree weekend. This starts with the ordering of their tickets, the departure from their home countries, during the festival itself until their return home. We are pleased to be able to contribute to the ultimate festival experience for the hundreds of thousands of People of Tomorrow, some of whom have been eagerly awaiting it since January 2020.”

​ -Hind Hameurlaine, Manager Strategic Partnerships, Brussels Airlines