Air Belgium will be introducing flights to the US and a Asia from next winter season, Belga news agency reported. The specific destinations have not yet been disclosed as the permits are not yet finalized. It is also unclear whether the flights will depart from Brussels or Charleroi.
Last November, Air Belgium cancelled almost all flights to the Antilles starting from March, citing high kerosene prices. This currently leaves only the connections between Brussels and Mauritius and the connection to South Africa, from Brussels to Johannesburg and Cape Town, which was launched in September.
At this point, no decision has yet been made on the possible resumption of flights to the Antilles. That will depend, among other things, on the further drop in the price of kerosene, which accounts for more than 40 percent of the price of an airline ticket.
We are now drawing up a business plan for the next five to six years.
Niky Terzakis, Air Belgium CEO
In late December it became known that Air Belgium had raised 10 million euros with new loans from shareholders, but the airline is looking for additional money. “We are now preparing a business plan for the next five to six years,” CEO Niky Terzakis told Belga. “The airline will have to recapitalize this year.” The money is needed to expand the fleet and launch new connections. How much capital Air Belgium is seeking, the CEO would not disclose.
Most of Air Belgium’s revenue comes from cargo flights. It also operates as a charter airline, the German airline Condor and governments. The airline also secured the flights for the Belgian state visit to South Africa. King Philippe, Queen Mathilde and their entourage took off from the military airport in Melsbroek on an Airbus A330-200. Last year, the airline offered services to the Royal family on the official visit to Congo and the state visit to Lithuania.
