The Belgian national airline, Brussels Airlines, has announced its plans to expand its long-haul fleet, invest in cabin refurbishment, and utilise the services of another carrier based on the recently extended wet lease agreement with Lufthansa Group.
Brussels Airlines claims to be the “Africa expert” within the Lufthansa Group. To further strengthen that position, the carrier will induct three Airbus A330 aircraft, bringing its widebody fleet to 13. This move will help the airline focus primarily on the increasing traffic from the sub-Saharan Africa network. The idea is to make Brussels a European hub for flights to and from Africa.
Of course, with the new aeroplanes coming in, more manpower will be required. Hence, Brussels Airlines will hire over 250 new employees, including pilots, cabin crew, maintenance & engineering experts, and airport and office personnel. This also paves the way for present airline staff to move to a different or higher role.
In addition to inducting new aircraft, the Belgian carrier plans to gradually introduce all-new cabin interiors. While specific details are still under wraps, a complete overhaul of all three classes – Business, Premium Economy and Economy – is part of the plan. The airline says this project will attract an investment of more than 100 million euros.
Lastly, Brussels Airlines will operate four Airbus A220-300 aircraft with Latvian carrier airBaltic between March and October 2025. Each aircraft has 148 seats, and they will be deployed on routes with lower demand.
