I see that on Saturday 21 April, Air Belgium will operate 2 "dress rehearsal" flights, each a 3-hour trip around Europe, departing from and returning to CRL. Y-class fare is €25! Free parking at CRL included! Business is only €50! All ticket revenues will be donated to charities
https://www.airbelgium.com/en/flytogether
Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
sassiciai wrote:I see that on Saturday 21 April, Air Belgium will operate 2 "dress rehearsal" flights, each a 3-hour trip around Europe, departing from and returning to CRL. Y-class fare is €25! Free parking at CRL included! Business is only €50! All ticket revenues will be donated to charities
https://www.airbelgium.com/en/flytogether
that actually sounds like really good value for those of us that want to ride on a 343!
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- CarbonFibre
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Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
The 8pm finish of the 2nd flight ruined it for me as it's too late to get over to BRU for the flight back to LHR.
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- B747forever
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Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
sassiciai wrote:I see that on Saturday 21 April, Air Belgium will operate 2 "dress rehearsal" flights, each a 3-hour trip around Europe, departing from and returning to CRL. Y-class fare is €25! Free parking at CRL included! Business is only €50! All ticket revenues will be donated to charities
https://www.airbelgium.com/en/flytogether
The first flight is already sold out!
Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
Seat selection at extra cost in business class. Up to EUR 75,00 extra just to select your seat.
Almost as bad as BA...
Almost as bad as BA...
Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
The first dress rehearsal flight is airborne, currently flying close to Hannover at FL390. Just turned to the North, heading in the general direction of Copenhagen.
Well, it proves that the runway at CRL is enough for an A340-300 with fuel for a planned 3 hour flight. Add the fuel necessary to make it to HKG, that will be heavy.
The airline claims that CRL is committed to lengthening the runway in a couple of years, which will remove the restriction on the HKG-bound flight of blocking off seats
FR24 call sign is ABB340
Well, it proves that the runway at CRL is enough for an A340-300 with fuel for a planned 3 hour flight. Add the fuel necessary to make it to HKG, that will be heavy.
The airline claims that CRL is committed to lengthening the runway in a couple of years, which will remove the restriction on the HKG-bound flight of blocking off seats
FR24 call sign is ABB340
Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
Acording to Dutch aviation site Luchtvaartnieuws.nl The Air Belgium inaugural flight to Hong Kong is postponed again . Apperntly they are not yet allowed to fly in Russian airspace.
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- InnsbruckFlyer
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Air Belgium Delays Lauch By Over A Month
Wow, who saw that coming! Email they sent to passengers (source: One Mile at a Time):
[i][i]"Dear passenger,
We are very sorry to announce to you that Air Belgium has decided to reschedule its flights of May 2018 to Hong Kong including yours. Circumstances have forced us to reschedule the launch date – which was originally planned on April 30th – towards June 3rd 2018. There are two main reasons that made it unavoidable for us to make this hard decision, which we will explain to you further on in this letter.
But first allow us to express our sincere apology for this unfortunate set-back and to assure you that we are doing everything we can to find a satisfying solution for you. This solution will consist of three compensation proposals:
A seat on a flight of another airline, so you can reach Hong Kong as planned without any additional cost.
A deferred travel date with Air Belgium, with financial compensation.
A full reimbursement.
Our team will call you as of tomorrow to explain these proposals and to discuss which one you prefer.
There are two reasons behind this decision. Despite all efforts of our teams and the Belgian authorities, we are still expecting to receive the overflight permit from the Russian Authorities, knowing that overflying Russian airspace is unavoidable. Air Belgium did secure all other required permits well in advance. However, the Russian permit has not yet been granted. The second issue is that the uncertainty created by the above together with complicated and delayed GDS implementation – GDS is the system which should make our flights visible to third parties such as tour operators or travel agencies worldwide – prevented Chinese tourist groups from being directed to our flights.”
We sincerely hope you understand that we had no other option and we hope you will fly with us soon!"[/i][/i]
InnsbruckFlyer
[i][i]"Dear passenger,
We are very sorry to announce to you that Air Belgium has decided to reschedule its flights of May 2018 to Hong Kong including yours. Circumstances have forced us to reschedule the launch date – which was originally planned on April 30th – towards June 3rd 2018. There are two main reasons that made it unavoidable for us to make this hard decision, which we will explain to you further on in this letter.
But first allow us to express our sincere apology for this unfortunate set-back and to assure you that we are doing everything we can to find a satisfying solution for you. This solution will consist of three compensation proposals:
A seat on a flight of another airline, so you can reach Hong Kong as planned without any additional cost.
A deferred travel date with Air Belgium, with financial compensation.
A full reimbursement.
Our team will call you as of tomorrow to explain these proposals and to discuss which one you prefer.
There are two reasons behind this decision. Despite all efforts of our teams and the Belgian authorities, we are still expecting to receive the overflight permit from the Russian Authorities, knowing that overflying Russian airspace is unavoidable. Air Belgium did secure all other required permits well in advance. However, the Russian permit has not yet been granted. The second issue is that the uncertainty created by the above together with complicated and delayed GDS implementation – GDS is the system which should make our flights visible to third parties such as tour operators or travel agencies worldwide – prevented Chinese tourist groups from being directed to our flights.”
We sincerely hope you understand that we had no other option and we hope you will fly with us soon!"[/i][/i]
InnsbruckFlyer
Re: Air Belgium Delays Lauch By Over A Month
I have no problem believing they don't yet have the overflight permit for Russia. That can be more time consuming then elsewhere in the world & since their Air Operator Certificate came through only last month, March 14th apparently, they may have just hit the bureaucratic wall in Russia.
Not too sure about GDS, perhaps a case of too little too late for right now ? But June 3rd is still a fair way away. Staying tuned.
Not too sure about GDS, perhaps a case of too little too late for right now ? But June 3rd is still a fair way away. Staying tuned.
Re: Air Belgium Delays Lauch By Over A Month
I believe there is already a topic chatting about this
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- Dominion301
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Re: Air Belgium Delays Lauch By Over A Month
Sounds like they’re handling it very professionally with multiple options to the affected passengers.
I certainly wish them a successful launch on the second attempt.
I certainly wish them a successful launch on the second attempt.
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- A380MSN004
- Posts: 852
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Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
FlyRow wrote:Acording to Dutch aviation site Luchtvaartnieuws.nl The Air Belgium inaugural flight to Hong Kong is postponed again . Apperntly they are not yet allowed to fly in Russian airspace.
Russians are waiting for the money
Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
Seems like everything is set as far as Russian airspace is concerned:
http://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air-b ... thorities/
Air Belgium confirms its first flight to Hong Kong on 3 June
Air Belgium confirms that the first flight to Hong Kong will take place on June 3, 2018. The airline also announces the acquisition of the Russian overflight permit, allowing it to fly through Russian airspace, and that it has taken care of the last arrangements in order to welcome Chinese passengers in the best possible way.
Given the impact of the delayed launch, Air Belgium has been forced to adapt the frequency of its flights to Hong Kong during the launch phase. The company will offer two flights per week in June, followed by three per week from July onward and, finally, four per week from October onward.
It is expected that, very soon, Air Belgium will launch additional flights to China, starting with Wuhan, and other Asian destinations. Two more A340 aircraft are expected to join the current fleet of two A340s.
http://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air-b ... thorities/
Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
they have yet 2 aircarfts, so why will they operate only 2 weekly flights?
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- BrusselsSouth
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Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
I visited CRL today (May 3rd) to watch the first scheduled departure to HKG.
OO-ABB took off about 1 hour late (estimated into HKG 15 minutes late).
She's about to enter Russian airspace as I write.
There were more spotters than I had anticipated (although a good number of them, who had settled at the western end of the runway, were fooled by a wind and runway direction change just a few minutes before her departure - the runway was switched from 25 to 07, I barely had time to drive all the way to the eastern end to snap a couple of pictures).
Here are some of my (non professional!) photos:
Regards
BrusselsSouth
OO-ABB took off about 1 hour late (estimated into HKG 15 minutes late).
She's about to enter Russian airspace as I write.
There were more spotters than I had anticipated (although a good number of them, who had settled at the western end of the runway, were fooled by a wind and runway direction change just a few minutes before her departure - the runway was switched from 25 to 07, I barely had time to drive all the way to the eastern end to snap a couple of pictures).
Here are some of my (non professional!) photos:
Regards
BrusselsSouth
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- A380MSN004
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Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
15 pax aboard but apparently it's a technical flight. First commercial one is scheduled on 6th June 2018
https://www.deplacementspros.com/Air-Be ... 48586.html (sorry only in French)
https://www.deplacementspros.com/Air-Be ... 48586.html (sorry only in French)
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- ushermittwoch
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Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
So their wet-lease to AF has ended?
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- BestWestern
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Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
I flew with the Air Belgium first flight return cabin crew on the CX BRU HKG on Saturday. What a wonderful bunch of people, really excited about their new jobs. They were in their uniforms for take off and landing. Sitting beside them in Y+, it was great to see their professionalism and knowledge of their product.
This won’t be easy for Air Belgium because the CX fares are already rock bottom.
This won’t be easy for Air Belgium because the CX fares are already rock bottom.
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- oldannyboy
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Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
BestWestern wrote:I flew with the Air Belgium first flight return cabin crew on the CX BRU HKG on Saturday. What a wonderful bunch of people, really excited about their new jobs. They were in their uniforms for take off and landing. Sitting beside them in Y+, it was great to see their professionalism and knowledge of their product.
This won’t be easy for Air Belgium because the CX fares are already rock bottom.
Oh, I for one wish them the very best! I really hope they succeed..
I was in CRL the other day, and their A340s look magnificent!
Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
Good luck to them but painting the cockpit windows black is not going to give the a340 economics on par with the a350 
Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
Saw OO-ABB here in Hong Kong today... can't link the photo as I don't use this site for my photos ...
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- scandinavian590
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Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
ushermittwoch wrote:So their wet-lease to AF has ended?
No, it hasn't. They use their second A340 for this part of their operations. Unfortunately that aircraft is on ground in Libreville (according to www.aviation24.be)
Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
BestWestern wrote:I flew with the Air Belgium first flight return cabin crew on the CX BRU HKG on Saturday. What a wonderful bunch of people, really excited about their new jobs. They were in their uniforms for take off and landing. Sitting beside them in Y+, it was great to see their professionalism and knowledge of their product.
This won’t be easy for Air Belgium because the CX fares are already rock bottom.
if an A340 really beats an A350 ( way lower operating cost + superior products + superior CX product + superior CX lounges + superior CX onward connections)
and Air Belgium is not kicked out of this route.
CX easily has the most incompetent managers on earth.
Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
Kashmon wrote:if an A340 really beats an A350 ( way lower operating cost + superior products + superior CX product + superior CX lounges + superior CX onward connections)
and Air Belgium is not kicked out of this route.
CX easily has the most incompetent managers on earth.
I doubt that at least an Economy passenger will notice much difference. The A340 is a very comfy airplane already.
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- BA777300er
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Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
I thought the a340 had very high operating costs, that’s why it is no longer in production
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- BestWestern
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Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
It seems that Air Belgium is going for the Chinese tour group business to fill most of its seats. They launched after Cathay announced, so know what they are getting into. CX also fills a lot of their European Y cabin with tour groups, but since these tours are built on lowest over all cost - nobody really cares where they fly to.
BRU must be the worst capital city airport in Europe, so CRL isn’t that much of a penalty. It’s closer to CDG to absorb all the CDG cancellations too.
BRU must be the worst capital city airport in Europe, so CRL isn’t that much of a penalty. It’s closer to CDG to absorb all the CDG cancellations too.
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- speedbird52
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Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
BA777300er wrote:I thought the a340 had very high operating costs, that’s why it is no longer in production
Well no. The A340 has always been regarded as a good aircraft. It's just that the 777 and newer A330s are better aircraft.
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- aemoreira1981
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Re: New Airline in Belgium: Air Belgium
Also this month, Air France is using Air Belgium leased capacity on their route to Gabon. OO-ABA is covering this service. If they want to do more ACMI, they'll definitely need the other two ex-AY A343s. Do they have any plans for a Part 129 FACP to offer leased capacity to the USA?
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