Brussels Airlines is preparing to bring its long-haul fleet up to full strength as its 10th Airbus A330-300 returns to the fleet.
The 10th aircraft will become operational in the Summer of 2024, allowing it to launch further flights to Africa – a specialism of Brussels Airlines, with the extra aircraft enabling them to relaunch the Brussels – Nairobi Route.
It marks the return of the route pair, which was last operated between 2002 and 2015.
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 will be hired to support this, along with ground staff.
The first flight is planned for 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.
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, with the following schedules published:
This will bring the number of Brussels Airlines’ destinations in Sub-Saharan Africa to 18.
In Quotes
Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO of 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 for East Africa, Lufthansa Group added
“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.”
Strengthening African services, as well as Brussels Airlines
Combined, the Lufthansa Group will operate 13 flights a week to Keyna during the summer season and 11 in the winter – a big increase on the current capacity offered.
However, it is bigger for Brussels Airlines, which sometimes sits in the shadow of its owners – Lufthansa Group, with the chance for it to shine on routes it can deliver traffic on, as well as the route development knowledge that allows the network to flourish. As well as providing connectivity to Belgium, it will provide onward connectivity – be it onto the USA or through Europe via the short-haul network.
And for passengers – it will offer something important – choice.
Images, Brussels Airlines.
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