As part of a wide ranging strategy to update and streamline fleet operations, Brussels Airlines will introduce the Sukhoi SSJ100 Superjet on several routes beginning March 26. Three SSJ100s will will be wet-leased from CityJet (Irish carrier) meaning that the aircraft will be operated by CityJet crew. CityJet is the only Western European airline to operate the Russian-made aircraft.
CityJet’s Sukhoi SSJ100 SuperJet. Photo Courtesy of CityJet
The lease arrangement is in place for 2 years as Brussels Airlines transitions away from the Avro RJ100 ‘Jumbolino’ and awaits A320 aircraft to be brought in as replacements for the Avro. As it stands today, the last 8 of Brussels Airlines Avro’s are scheduled to be removed from service by November 2017.
The Brussels Airlines destinations that will see the SuperJet will be Basel, Berlin Tegel, Birmingham, Bologna, Bordeaux, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Geneva, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Krakow, Milan Linate, Milan (Linate AND Malpensa), Nice, Prague, Venice, Vienna, and Warsaw.
Brussels Airlines has added 6 new destinations to their summer timetable that will extend their reach within Europe and add another destination to Russia.
Nearly each of the new destinations is what I would consider a ‘Niche’ destination in that some of the new cities that have been added are quite small, very quaint and offer a lot of charisma for visitors to appreciate.
The new destinations for Europe are Dubrovnik, Lourdes, Calvi, Olbia and Bullund. For Russia, St. Petersburg has been added. The new routes should be available for booking soon on BrusselsAirlines.com with fares starting as low as €69 for a round trip ticket.
The timing of the routes is as follows (departure from / return to Brussels (BRU)) :
Calvi (Corsica): Will operate 1x/week between May 30 and September 26, 2015.
Dubrovnik (Croatia): Will operate 2x/week between April 25 and October 3, 2015.
Olbia (Sardinia): Will operate 1x/week between May 27 and September 19, 2015.
Billund (Denmark): Will operate 2x/day beginning March 29, 2015.
Lourdes (France): Will operate 2x/week between May 11 and September 25, 2015.
St. Petersburg (Russia): Will operate 3x/week between March 30 and October 23, 2015.
In the coming days, Brussels Airlines will be announcing the availability of a package for fans of Belgium’s National Football Team, the Red Devils celebrating the World Cup Tournament taking place in Brazil this summer.
Brussels Airlines will be releasing for sale 150 packages that will include travel to Sao Paulo with the team aboard an A330 as well as tickets to each game that Belgium will play in, up to and including the Final. Each package is priced at €3499 and includes the flights between Belgium and Sao Paulo and tickets to the games.
Hotel accommodations are not included in the package to give you flexibility to arrange your own hospitality. Once you book your package however, Brussels will share with you special hotel deals that will be available to you. Additionally, you’ll be responsible to arrange your own transportation between you hotel and the games.
Brussels’ A320 painted in a Red Devils tribute livery.
Here is the tentative schedule of departing Belgium and returning home based on how well the team does:
Departure from Brussels will be on June 10.
If the team does not advance from the Group Matches, you’ll fly back on June 27.
If the team is eliminated in the ‘Sweet 16’ you’ll fly back on July 3 or 4.
If the team is eliminated in the ‘Quarter Finals’ you’ll fly back on July 7.
If the team advances to the ‘Semi-Finals’ you’ll fly back on July 15. This factors in the team playing in the 3rd place game on July 12, or the Final on July 13.
The sale has yet to open, but Brussels is accepting early indications of interest and they will let you know when the packages are available to book. If you are interested in this package, visit this link to sign up, and you’ll be notified when sales begin. It looks as though the sale should start on or around March 25, with Miles & More members having access to the sale 1 day ahead of everyone else.
BRUSSELS AIRLINES has announced that it will be expanding its portfolio of ‘leisure destinations’ when it begins its summer timetable on March 30, 2014.
New for 2014 will be 4 weekly flights to Corsica with service to Bastia, Ajaccio and Figari. Additionally, Greece makes it back onto the timetable for next summer after a 1 year absence with 3 flights per week between Brussels and Athens.
Brussels will also increase their service to Tel Aviv, Israel by adding 3 additional weekly flights bringing the total 11 flights per week for the summer timetable.
2013 destinations including Catania and Palermo in Sicily along with Naples, Florence, Faro, Marrakech, Agadir and Porto will also be included in the 2014 timetable.
I expect more announcements in the coming weeks as most airlines start to think about Summer 2014.
If you are in a position to plan in advance, the pricing is attractive. For example, roundtrip between Brussels and New York is only €499 and between Brussels and Washington DC is only €529. Service to New York is daily and service to Washington will be 5 times a week.
If you’re wondering why Washington DC is involved, please remember that Brussels Airlines service to Washington DC starts June 18.
A few Terms and Conditions apply and are as follows:
Flights must be operated by Brussels Airlines
Changes are not permitted.
Fare is non-refundable
Six night minimum stay required, including a Saturday night.