Air Belgium Explained

Airline:Air Belgium S.A.
Iata:KF
Icao:ABB
Callsign:AIR BELGIUM
Fleet Size:5
Key People:Niky Terzakis (CEO)
Num Employees:345 (2021) [1]
Revenue: €140,547,477 (2021)
Profit: – €11,988,500 (2021)

Air Belgium S.A. is a Belgian charter and cargo airline headquartered in Mont-Saint-Guibert and based at Brussels Airport. Founded in 2016, it initially launched as a scheduled passenger airline on 3 June 2018, before transitioning to charter and cargo operations on 3 October 2023.

History

Foundation and early years

In the summer of 2016, the company was started with CEO Niky Terzakis, who worked previously for ASL Airlines Belgium, formerly TNT Airways.[2] [3] [4] The intention was to link Belgium to destinations in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Wuhan, Zhengzhou and Taiyuan from its base at Brussels South Charleroi Airport.

The first flight from Brussels to Hong Kong was planned to take off in October 2017,[2] however this was postponed as the airline lacked an air operator's certificate (AOC).[5] In December 2017, Air Belgium announced that the first flight should now take place in March 2018 from Brussels South Charleroi Airport instead of Brussels Airport due to lower airport taxes and easy accessibility; it was also announced that, for business class and premium passengers, the airline would operate from a new dedicated terminal which would be built at the executive terminal, while economy passengers would use the regular terminal.[6] [7]

On 14 March 2018, it was announced that the airline had received its AOC from the Belgian civil aviation authority and planned to begin operating scheduled flights from mid-April.[8] On 29 March 2018, the airline flew its first revenue service by operating its Airbus A340-300 in Air Belgium livery on behalf of Surinam Airways from Amsterdam to Paramaribo.[9] On 25 April 2018, the airline announced a delay to its own inaugural flight (to Hong Kong) from 30 April to 3 June 2018 due to not having the rights to operate in Russian airspace.[10]

Since the commencement of the service for the first destination, it started operating a scheduled service between Charleroi and Hong Kong. Moreover, the other aircraft of the fleet was provided to Air France for a daily service between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Libreville during the 2018 summer season.

On 21 September 2018, the airline announced that scheduled operations between Charleroi and Hong Kong would be suspended during winter,[11] [12] and the airline would instead focus on charter operations. The route should have restarted at the end of March 2019, but two weeks before the planned date Air Belgium instead announced that they would be terminating the route and working towards starting new services to mainland China in mid-2019, and the Americas in late 2019 or early 2020.

On 16 July 2019, the airline announced plans for flights to Fort de France and Pointe-à-Pitre by December 2019, with further plans to fly to Kinshasa and Miami.[13]

Developments since 2020

On 30 January 2021, Air Belgium announced that cargo flights would start with four Airbus A330-200F based in Liège Airport, on behalf of French shipping company CMA CGM, which purchased the airframes and contracted with Air Belgium to fly them.[14] These four planes are progressively re-matriculated in France during the 2022-2023 winter. [15] On 1 July 2021, Air Belgium announced it would add two Airbus A330-900s to its fleet and operate services between Brussels Airport and Mauritius from 15 October 2021.[16]

In November 2022, Air Belgium announced the need of a recapitalisation to avoid bankruptcy after accumulating severe losses.[17] The airline already received €19 million during the same year from its Chinese minority owners which have been already used up as the airline's primary charter business did not fully recover in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.[18] The airline subsequently also announced it would cut and suspend several passenger routes.[19] [18] In January 2023, Air Belgium announced that sufficient funding has been secured from private investors to keep operations running while there was no further financial support from the state.[20]

In September 2023, Air Belgium announced that all scheduled passenger flights would end on 3 October 2023, and their fleet would be operated for other airlines on an ACMI basis as part of the termination of passenger services.[21]

In January 2024, it has been reported that Air Belgium significantly downsized its workforce and plans to phase out both of their barely two year old Airbus A330-900 due to ongoing engine issues.[22]

Destinations

As of 3 October 2023, Air Belgium operated scheduled passenger flights to the following destinations,[23] after which the airline's scheduled operations ended.[24] The following table does not include destinations operated to by the airline's charter or cargo services.

Country / TerritoryCityAirportStart dateEnd dateNotesRefs
BelgiumBrusselsBrussels Airport15 October 2021 - [25]
CharleroiBrussels South Charleroi Airport3 June 2018November 2022[26]
BonaireKralendijkBonaire International Airport4 November 2022November 2022[27] [28]
CuraçaoWillemstadCuraçao International Airport3 July 2021November 2022[29]
Dominican RepublicPunta CanaPunta Cana International Airport15 December 2021November 2022[30]
GuadeloupePointe-à-PitrePointe-à-Pitre International Airport6 December 2019November 2022
Hong KongHong KongHong Kong International Airport3 June 20181 October 2018[31] [32] [33]
MartiniqueMartinique Aimé Césaire International Airport6 December 2019November 2022
MauritiusPort LouisSir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport15 October 20213 October 2023[34] [35]
South AfricaCape TownCape Town International Airport14 September 20223 October 2023[36]
JohannesburgO. R. Tambo International Airport14 September 20223 October 2023

Fleet

Current fleet

, Air Belgium operates the following aircraft:[37] [38]

Air Belgium fleet
AircraftIn
service
OrdersPassengersNotes
BPETotal
Airbus A330-9001 - 3021235286To be phased-out.[39]
Air Belgium Cargo fleet
Airbus A330-200/P2F2 - CargoOperated for Hongyuan Group[40]
Boeing 747-8F2 - Cargo
Boeing 777-300ER/SF - 11[41] Cargo
Total511

Former fleet

The airline previously operated the following aircraft:[38]

Air Belgium retired fleet
AircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredNotes
Airbus A330-200220222024
Airbus A330-200F420212023Operated for CMA CGM Air Cargo[42]
Airbus A340-300420182022Replaced by Airbus A330-900[43]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Air Belgium Central Balance Sheet Office. nbb.be. National Bank of Belgium. 21 June 2022. 19 December 2022.
  2. Web site: Air Belgium will start flying from Brussels Airport from October 2017 and unveils travel classes: economy, premium class and business class. 31 May 2017. Aviation24.be.
  3. Web site: Air Belgium is one step closer to its launch: now hiring cabin and cockpit crew. 5 December 2016. Aviation24.be.
  4. Air Belgium. Airliner World. October 2016. 7.
  5. Web site: Two investment companies have taken a 25 percent share in Air Belgium - Aviation24.be. 28 October 2017.
  6. News: Air Belgium to launch operations from Brussels South Charleroi Airport in March 2018. 2017-12-21. Aviation24.be. 2018-01-15.
  7. News: Air Belgium selects Brussels South Charleroi Airport. 2018-01-31. Aviation24.be. 2018-03-14.
  8. News: Air Belgium secures AOC, preps for launch. 2018-03-14. ch-aviation.com. 2018-03-14.
  9. http://www.dhnet.be/actu/economie/on-connait-la-date-du-vol-inaugural-de-la-compagnie-air-belgium-5ac229b6cd709bfa6b22b041 dhnet.be - On connaît la date du vol inaugural de la compagnie Air Belgium
  10. https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air-belgium/air-belgium-reschedules-first-flight-from-brussels-south-charleroi-to-hong-kong-to-3-june-2018/ aviation24.be - Air Belgium reschedules first flight from Brussels South Charleroi to Hong Kong to 3 June 2018
  11. News: French. Air Belgium suspend pour l'hiver sa liaison vers Hong Kong. Belga. RTBF. 2018-09-21.
  12. Web site: Media Statement Air Belgium (English). AirBelgium.com. 2018-09-21.
  13. Web site: Air Belgium launches flights from Brussels South Charleroi to French Antilles, mulls more destinations. 2019-07-16. www.aviation24.be. en-US. 2019-07-16.
  14. Web site: UPDATE: Air Belgium to launch full-cargo flights with four Airbus A330-200F planes based at Liège Airport. Aviation24.be. 2021-01-30. 2021-02-11.
  15. Web site: CMA CGM Air Cargo Fleet Details and History. Planespotters.net. January 24, 2023.
  16. Web site: 2021-07-03. Air Belgium modernises its fleet, inducts 2 new A330-900; will fly from Brussels to Mauritius. 2021-07-03. AVIATION A2Z. en-US.
  17. https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air-belgium/by-the-end-of-this-year-air-belgium-needs-at-least-e10-million-to-recapitalize-the-airline/ aviation24.be - By the end of this year, Air Belgium needs at least €10 million to recapitalise
  18. https://www.brusselstimes.com/319918/charter-airline-air-belgium-needs-e10-million-to-stay-afloat brusselstimes.com - Charter airline Air Belgium needs €10 million to stay afloat
  19. https://www.rci.fm/deuxiles/infos/Economie/Air-Belgium-reduit-la-voilure-vers-la-Caraibe rci.fm - Air Belgium réduit la voilure vers la Caraïbe
  20. https://www.aerotelegraph.com/air-belgium-kann-insolvenz-abwenden aerotelegraph.com
  21. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/air-belgium-ceases-passenger-flights aerotime.aero - Air Belgium ceases passenger flights to focus on cargo and ACMI
  22. https://www.aerotelegraph.com/air-belgium-muss-ihre-beiden-airbus-a330-neo-stilllegen aerotelegraph.com
  23. Web site: Flight Schedule. Air Belgium. 18 May 2023.
  24. Web site: Air Belgium is cancelling all scheduled passenger flights to focus on ACMI and freight . 18 September 2023 .
  25. Web site: Air Belgium revises NW20 operations as of 16OCT20. Liu. Jim. Routesonline. Informa Markets. 16 October 2020. 16 October 2020.
  26. Web site: Air Belgium reschedules first flight from Brussels South Charleroi to Hong Kong to 3 June 2018. Orban. André. Aviation24.be. 25 April 2018. 1 November 2022.
  27. Web site: Air Belgium to Fly to Bonaire Starting November 2022. Deen. Tanya. InfoBonaire. 15 March 2022. 1 November 2022.
  28. https://www.rci.fm/deuxiles/infos/Economie/Air-Belgium-reduit-la-voilure-vers-la-Caraibe rci.fm - Air Belgium réduit la voilure vers la Caraïbe
  29. Air Belgium starts regular flights between Belgium and Martinique to Curaçao. Air Belgium. Curaçao Chronicle. July 7, 2021.
  30. AirBelgiumFans. 1441463342158188548. @Airbelgium to start flights to Punta Cana from Brussels and moves Curaçao from Charleroi to Brussels ! . 24 September 2021. 27 September 2021.
  31. Web site: Air Belgium to suspend Brussels-Hong Kong. McWhirter. Alex. Business Traveller. Panacea Media Limited. 22 September 2018. 1 November 2022.
  32. Web site: Air Belgium sagt den Neustart ab. 2019-03-14. de. Air Belgium cancels the restart. Nowack. Timo. aeroTELEGRAPH.
  33. Air Belgium renounces to resume its Hong Kong service, but remains committed to its development plans . Air Belgium. 14 March 2019. 14 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190919093835/https://www.airbelgium.com/en/press/air-belgium-renounces-to-resume-its-hong-kong-service-but-remains-committed-to-its-development-plans. 19 September 2019.
  34. Web site: Air Belgium launches new route from Brussels to Mauritius. anna.aero. 1 November 2021. 1 November 2022.
  35. Web site: Air Belgium discontinues scheduled passenger service in early-Oct 2023. anna.aero. 1 November 2021. 1 November 2022.
  36. Web site: Air Belgium To Begin Flights To Johannesburg And Cape Town From September . 2022-03-14 . Aviation Ghana . en-US . 11 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230611160102/https://aviationghana.com/air-belgium-to-begin-flights-to-johannesburg-and-cape-town-from-september/ . dead .
  37. Web site: Seat Map | On Board.
  38. Web site: Air Belgium Fleet Details and History. Planespotters.net. 9 April 2024.
  39. https://www.aerotelegraph.com/air-belgium-muss-ihre-beiden-airbus-a330-neo-stilllegen aerotelegraph.com - "Air Belgium forced to phase-out both Airbus A330neo"
  40. Web site: Hongyuan Group- Planespotters.net . 22 December 2023 .
  41. Web site: China's Hongyuan Group orders 11+9 B777-300(SF)(ER)s . 2023-05-26 . ch-aviation . en.
  42. Web site: Air Belgium retires last A330-200F. ch-aviaion.com. 21 November 2023.
  43. https://www.aerotelegraph.com/air-belgium-beendet-das-kapitel-airbus-a340 aerotelegraph.com