SkyStef's aviation page
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SkyStef's aviation page |
Brussels Airlines
Taken at Brussels on November 28 2006, Airbus 319 "OO-SSG" was the first aircraft to wear the full colors of Brussels Airlines which became operational on March 25 2007. It resembles a lot to the color scheme of SN Brussels Airlines, but with a different logo and the red color is the input of Virgin Express. In December it was decided to put 14 red balls in the tail instead of the so-called "unlucky" 13 (Photo: Skystef) |
| Base: Brussels |
| IATA: SN |
| ICAO: BEL (DAT till October 25 2008) |
| Website: brusselsairlines.com |
| Fleet of Brussels Airlines: 26x Avro RJ85/100 (OO-DJK, OO-DJL,OO-DJN, OO-DJO, OO-DJP, OO-DJQ, OO-DJR, OO-DJS, OO-DJT, OO-DJV, OO-DJW, OO-DJX, OO-DJY, OO-DJZ, OO-DWA, OO-DWB, OO-DWC, OO-DWD, OO-DWE, OO-DWF, OO-DWG, OO-DWH, OO-DWI, OO-DWJ, OO-DWK, OO-DWL), 5x A319 (OO-SSC, OO-SSG, OO-SSK, OO-SSM, OO-SSP), (+1 expected July 2010), 5x A330 (OO-SFM, OO-SFN, OO-SFO, OO-SFV, OO-SFW), 9x B737 (OO-LTM, OO-VEG, OO-VEH, OO-VEK, OO-VEN, OO-VEP, OO-VES, OO-VET, OO-VEX) +2x history (OO-VBR, OO-VEJ), 6x BAe146 all history (OO-DJE, OO-DJF, OO-DJG, OO-DJH, OO-DJJ, OO-MJE) |
| History: on November 7 2006, Brussels Airlines became the product of a merger between SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express and they went operational on March 25 2007. The roots of this newbie is SN Brussels Airlines and its history goes back as far as June 1 1966, when Delta Air Transport was formed. During 1988 it was renamed to DAT (Belgian Regional Airline) and during 1996 became a wholly owned subsidiary of Sabena. With the demise of the flag carrier on November 7 2001, DAT took over most of the European network from November 10 on. After its take over by SN Air Holding, it was rebranded to SN Brussels Airlines on February 15 2002. Part of the African network was restored from April 26 2002 on, via a contract with Birdy Airlines which supplied three long haul aircraft. During early 2003, the 32 strong Avro RJ/BAe146 fleet was accompanied by three ex Sabena A319 introducing a new corporate identity. On October 27 2004 Birdy Airlines and their fleet was absorbed into SN Brussels Airlines. On April 12 2005 SN Holding took full stake in Virgin Express which led to a merger of the two airline companies. On October 31 2007, the Brussels Airlines group and Hewa Bora Airways (HBA) announced the creation of a new Congolese company with name of AirDC. By means of Brussels Airlines Mauritius subsidiary Pan African Airlines, this company would start (mainly domestic) operations by Spring 2008, but this project failed. Brussels Airlines will make a new attempt in the Summer of 2010, under the name of Korongo, this time in cooperation with the George Forrest International Group. Operational base will be Lubumbashi and start-up airframe will be an ex B737-300 of Brussels Airlines, later followed by some BAe146s. In December 2007, Brussels Airlines expressed their interest to join one of the three major airliner alliances. On September 15 2008, it was announced that Lufthansa will take 45 % of the stakes in SN Holding, strengthening the (financial) position of the Belgian carrier and this move was a first step in joining the Star Alliance Group. On December 11 2008, at the annual Board Meeting of Star Alliance member airlines, the application of Brussels Airlines was accepted and on December 9 2009 sealed in an official ceremony. During 2011, the partnership with Lufthansa could ultimate lead to a full takeover by the German carrier, but the identity of Brussels Airlines would be retained. |
