Airline to launch flights in April

In response to customer and market demand, SN Brussels Airlines will, as of 26 April, launch services to Africa, a statement from the airline said recently. It said three Airbus 330-300 would be put in operations in a phased manner.

The first destinations to be served would be the Democratic Republic of Congo capital, Kinshasa, Entebbe in Uganda, Rwanda's capital, Kigali, Kenya's capital, Nairobi, Senegal's capital, Dakar, Gambia's capital, Banjul, Guinea's capital, Conakry and Liberia's capital, Monrovia, the statement said.

By mid-June, the destinations of Douala and Yaounde in Cameroon and Luanda in Angola would be added, it said. To operate these flights, the airline had signed a letter of intent for a cooperation ("wet lease") contract with a new Belgian airline to be created by G. Gutelman and V. Hasson, the statement said. "The operation is conditional to all parties getting the necessary authorisations and Board approvals."

The launching of African operations would create employment opportunities for about 200 people in Belgium and 150 in Africa, the statement added. The airline's core business, however, would remain focused on Europe.

The agreement signed with Gutelman and Hasson will allow to provide employment to 50 Belgian pilots, who will be hired by Gutelman and Hasson's new airline. Service on board will be ensured by SN Brussels Airlines cabin personnel. About 150 ex-Sabena (the Belgian airline which folded last year) cabin crew members would be offered employment, it said.

In Africa, SN Brussels Airlines will hire some 150 staff, mostly ex-Sabena. The launching of long-haul flights will also make it possible to create additional jobs for ground personnel at Brussels airport.