Brussels Airlines to Expand Long-Haul Network with 10th Airbus A330-300
Brussels Airlines, the Belgian flag carrier and a member of the Lufthansa Group, has revealed plans to expand its long-haul network by adding a 10th Airbus A330-300 to its fleet in the summer of 2024. This addition will allow the airline to restore its long-haul capacity to pre-pandemic levels and launch new flights to Africa, which is a core market for the carrier.
The 10th Airbus A330-300 will be sourced from within the Lufthansa Group and will be configured with 30 flat-bed seats in business class, 32 seats in economy privilege, and 226 seats in economy class. The aircraft will also feature an upgraded in-flight entertainment system with a wide selection of movies and touch screen features.
With the extra aircraft, Brussels Airlines will be able to increase the frequency of flights to some of its existing African destinations. For example, Kigali in Rwanda will become a daily service starting in June 2024. Additionally, the airline will resume flights to Nairobi, Kenya, which were suspended in 2015. There will be six weekly flights to Nairobi starting in June 2024.
As of September 2023, the airline has an all Airbus fleet:
- A319-100 operating 16 Older aircraft to be retired and replaced by Airbus A320neo in 2023.
- A320-200 operating 18
- A320neo on order 5 Deliveries to begin from 2023 to replace older Airbus A319-100.
- A330-300 operating 10
Brussels Airlines CEO Peter Gerber expressed confidence in the recovery of travel demand and the potential of the African market, emphasizing the airline’s commitment to strengthening its position as a leading European carrier to and from Africa. The expansion aims to provide customers with more travel options, greater comfort, and increased choice.
Currently, Brussels Airlines operates flights to 17 destinations in Africa, along with flights to New York (USA) and Toronto (Canada) in North America. The airline also offers connections to various other destinations in Europe, Asia, and Australia through its Brussels hub and partnerships within the Lufthansa Group.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, msn.com, economyclassandbeyond.boardingarea.com