Saturday, 6 April, saw the return of Singapore Airlines to Brussels Airport, after the carrier had not operated any passenger flights to the Belgian capital since 2003.
With an inauguration and a water salute, the first Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight for the new service departed from Brussels Airport at 12:10 pm on Saturday. After a 20-year absence, SIA is reconnecting the heart of Europe with this metropolis in Asia. The addition of Brussels increases the number of European gateways in SIA’s network to 13, reflecting the airline’s commitment to improving connectivity for its customers and offering more choices.
Brussels is an important European economic and political centre, and the launch of this service adds another historical and charming city to SIA’s list of destinations.
Dai Hao Yu, Singapore Airlines Acting Senior Vice President Marketing Planning
Singapore Airlines will operate four weekly flights between Brussels Airport and Singapore. The flights are operated with the long-haul variant of the Airbus A350-900 aircraft, one of the most energy-efficient and quietest aircraft in its category. Passengers will be able to choose between 253 seats in three cabin classes, including 42 seats in Business Class, 24 in Premium Economy Class and 187 in Economy Class.
“Belgium lives off contacts with the rest of the world”, Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo said at the launch event. “Flights to Southeast Asia are important to develop those contacts.”
Singapore is an important destination for the Belgian export economy. Currently, about 9% of Belgian exports go to Asia. Thanks to the configuration of the A350-900 plane, the new flights will not only make it easier for vacationers to reach Singapore and wider Southeast Asia region, but also serve many Belgian companies and a large Belgian community already present in Singapore.
The relaunch for direct flights to and from Brussels was initially planned for 2020, but was postponed due to the pandemic. Following the Belgian capital, SIA will be restarting flights to Londin’s Gatwick Airport on 21 June, reaching a total of 14 European airports, 3 more than last year, but still one short of pre-pandemic connectivity.
