Brussels Airlines is getting a fleet upgrade, with the airline being allocated three factory-fresh Airbus A320neo.
The move was authorised by the Lufthansa Group Executive Board and the Board of Directors of SN Airholding, as part of the move to modernise the Brussels Airline fleet.
They will join the fleet during 2023.
It is also a big step for Brussels Airlines, as it will be the very first time in the history of that the company will phase in brand new aircraft, coming right from the manufacturer.
The A320neo aircraft will take the place of existing Airbus A319 aircraft. In numbers provided by the airline, the Airbus A320neo burns on average 11% less fuel and reduces noise emissions by 50%. Thanks to a significantly higher seating capacity (+27%), the fuel use per seat reduces by 30%. Compared to an A320ceo (current engine option), the brand-new model uses 16% less fuel for the same seating capacity and thus reduces the CO2 emissions by 16%.
In Quotes
Peter Gerber, CEO of Brussels Airlines said
“As a responsible airline with ambitious sustainability targets, it’s crucial for us to continue our path of further modernizing our fleet. Thanks to our mother company Lufthansa, we are for the very first time in our 19 year-long history able to replace older A319 Airbus by three modern and fuel-efficient aircraft that will leave the Airbus factory by summer 2023. Compared to our A319 aircraft, the three A320neo will allow a noise contour reduction of 50% and reduce fuel use and CO2-emissions by 11% per flight. Thanks to the higher seating capacity of this ultra-modern Airbus, the fuel use and CO2 emissions per seat decrease with 30%”.
Edi Wolfensberger, COO of Brussels Airlines
“Needless to say, that we are extremely enthusiast to welcome the Airbus A320neo in our fleet. The modern General Electric CFM engines of the Airbus A320neo are renowned for their fuel efficiency and lower noise contour. Next to that, the three new aircraft will bring us closer to our target of a fully harmonized A320 medium-haul fleet to aircraft only, herewith not only further reducing the complexity of our Maintenance & Engineering activities but as well the whole operation. Due to the high similarity with the current fleet, the crews are able to operate the new aircraft after a short familiarization, this makes the integration seamless”.
A win for the Red Dots
Brussels Airlines Airbus A320 “Aerosmurf” at Brussels Airport – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
For Brussels Airlines, it is a win to get new aircraft to their fleet. The airline operates an all-Airbus fleet, with eight Airbus A330, 16 Airbus A320 and 14 Airbus A319 in its operations.
The newest aircraft the airline had operated was the Sukhoi Superjets that the airline leased from CityJet – these did not last long, and were returned in 2019.
With older and smaller aircraft in its fleet, it is a chance to begin a fleet renewal, that will hopefully see more renewals in the Brussels Airline fleet in the longer term – and hopefully grow as the pandemic eases.
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