Brussels Airlines flies high as Ryanair threatens cuts and price hikes

October 21, 2026

Starting in late March 2027, Brussels Airlines will fly to Cairo 5 times a week. The airline is responding, in part, to the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum. In addition, starting at the end of June, a weekly flight to Kilimanjaro will be added, and there will also be increased capacity to popular European […]

Can 35 electric aircraft by 2030 keep Deurne flying?

October 20, 2026

Starting in 2030, 35 new electric passenger aircraft are expected to be deployed from Deurne. The aircraft were ordered by ASL Group and Flying Group, respectively, two Antwerp-based companies that both specialize in the management and operation of private jets. Electric aviation offers the financially struggling Deurne Airport opportunities, but whether it will be enough […]

Belgian to lead global transport union representing 16.6 million workers

October 19, 2026

Belgian trade union leader Frank Moreels will become president of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) on January 1, 2027. He will lead one of the world’s most influential international labor organizations, representing 16.6 million workers across shipping, ports, road transport, aviation, railways and logistics. The appointment was formally confirmed by ITF’s Executive Board during […]

Airbus expects increasing compettion from Chinese Comac

October 15, 2026

Just a few years ago, European aircraft manufacturer Airbus wasn’t particularly concerned about the rise of Chinese aircraft manufacturer Comac. These days, however, Airbus is carefully adjusting its language. “Hardly a week goes by without us discussing competition in China,” said Lars Wagner, Airbus’s Head of Commercial Aircraft, during a recent press conference in Toulouse. […]

Lufthansa, not Air France-KLM, acquires a stake in TAP

October 15, 2026

The Portuguese government has chosen Lufthansa as TAP’s strategic partner. Lufthansa is acquiring a 44.9% minority stake in TAP Air Portugal, winning it from Air France-KLM. The deal is valued at approximately 1.2 billion euros. By choosing Lufthansa, the German group, which already owns Swiss, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, and ITA Airways, will expand its presence […]

Six Benelux projects join Europe’s battle to reduce reliance on China

October 13, 2026

The European Commission has selected 46 new strategic projects to strengthen the extraction, processing, and recycling of critical raw materials in the European Union, to reduce dependence on countries such as China. Two Belgian projects – one by Umicore in Hoboken and one by Comet Traitements in La Louvière – were also selected, as were […]

Friday strike chaos: 40% of Brussels Airlines flights canceled

October 07, 2026

Brussels Airlines expects major disruptions on Friday due to the union protests against federal government measures. About 4 in 10 scheduled flights to and from Brussels Airport have been canceled due to disruptions expected at the ground-handling provider Alyzia. Service provided by the Flemish public transportation company De Lijn will also be severely disrupted that […]

Minister requires airplanes flying over Brussels to change their flight paths

October 02, 2026

Federal Minister of Mobility Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) has proposed a series of operational and structural measures to reduce noise pollution around Brussels Airport. The minister was backed into a corner: he had to submit a proposal to the court by October 1, or risk a penalty of 10,000 euros for each new noise violation. Crucke […]

Maiden flight for Airbus’s newest cargo aircraft, the A350F

September 30, 2026

The A350F, the newest cargo aircraft from European aircraft manufacturer Airbus, made its maiden flight yesterday. The A350F is the largest cargo aircraft Airbus has built to date. Airbus calls the first test flight “an important milestone.” To date, 115 A350Fs have been ordered. Airbus promises up to 40% lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions […]

European first: Brussels Airport tests mobile blending facility for SAF

September 24, 2026

Brussels Airport is the first European airport to test a mobile blending facility to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The project is the final phase of the Stargate project, established with the support of the European Commission, through which the airport has explored more than 30 sustainability measures in recent years. “We remain committed to […]

CAE to close training center, Brussels Airlines to train pilots abroad

September 22, 2026

The Canadian aviation training provider CAE will close its pilot training center at Brussels Airport at the end of this year. The company, which has been operating at a loss, confirmed this in discussions with the unions. Brussels Airlines, which had all its pilots trained at the center, has found alternatives abroad. Active in Brussels […]

Tackling contrails buys the Earth 10 years

September 22, 2026

As poetic as a contrail – or condensation trail – may be, the white trails left behind by high-altitude aircraft are not nearly as harmless as they appear. Although they come from only a small fraction of flights, they contribute to global warming at a level comparable to aviation’s CO2 emissions. A new report by […]

An internal report states that struggling KLM must make urgent strategic decisions

September 19, 2026

The Dutch airline KLM, which merged with Air France in May 2004 to form Air France-KLM, is currently facing difficult times. That’s why it prepared an internal report outlining what KLM’s situation might look like in 2030. And with options ranging from downsizing and transferring control to Air France-KLM to remaining independent through a single […]

Belgian and EU airport expansions undermine climate targets

September 15, 2026

Most of Europe’s biggest airports plan to expand to accommodate more passengers in the coming years. Transport & Environment (T&E), a European NGO focused on sustainable transportation, assessed the expansion plans and traffic forecasts of twenty of Europe’s largest airports in ten countries against a Paris Agreement-compliant 1,7°C carbon budget. And guess what? By 2050, […]

ICE connects Antwerp, Leuven and Brussels Airport directly with Cologne

September 08, 2026

Antwerp, Leuven, and Brussels Airport are now connected to Germany – specifically Cologne – by high-speed train. This is the first-ever high-speed train service between Antwerp and Germany. Deutsche Bahn is operating its newest ICE neo trains on this route, which can accommodate over 400 passengers and reach speeds of up to 300 km/h. Thanks […]

Strike averted at Brussels Airlines over flights to Tel Aviv (update)

September 07, 2026

Brussels Airlines plans to resume operating one to two daily flights to Tel Aviv starting in September. Unlike in the past, the airline no longer wants to rely exclusively on volunteers for these flights and instead intends to require staff to work them through the standard scheduling process. According to the ACV Puls union, Brussels […]

Supersonic is back, the business case isn’t – yet

September 04, 2026

Travelers, aircraft manufacturers, aviation enthusiasts, and those nostalgic for the Concorde are dreaming aloud of a comeback for supersonic flight. Now that regulations in the U.S. are being amended to lift the absolute ban on supersonic flight over the country, nothing seems to stand in the way of a return of commercial flights at speeds […]

Record summer for aviation despite high prices

September 04, 2026

On July 23, Flightradar24 recorded 153,359 commercial flights worldwide within 24 hours – the busiest day ever recorded, well above the previous record set in 2023. That figure – 16,134 more flights than the old record – also sets the tone for the entire month of July, as global demand for air travel rose by […]

AirBaltic will not be serving Liège Airport after all

August 26, 2026

The Latvian airline AirBaltic will not, after all, be launching flights from Liège Airport to the Canary Islands starting in late October. AirBaltic cites insufficient demand, combined with financial difficulties due to rising fuel costs, as the reason for the cancellation. This is a blow to Liège Airport, as the airport had not had a single […]

Brussels Airport tests autonomous e-tractor for cargo transport

August 25, 2026

Brussels Airport is testing a self-driving electric tractor in the cargo zone that transports cargo trailers between the warehouses and the tarmac. In the past, Brussels Airport and De Lijn have already tested a self-driving shuttle bus, and there is also an ongoing project involving a self-driving e-shuttle that transports airport staff. However, according to […]

Transavia turns Brussels Airport into its fourth home base

August 21, 2026

The Dutch airline Transavia plans to establish a long-term presence at Brussels Airport. It has opened a new crew center there and stationed a fourth aircraft. From now on, it will also employ Belgian staff, and the plan is to expand further the base, which currently employs 150 people. “Brussels has become a full-fledged fourth […]

Belgium’s 12,000-liter Seagle wants to become Europe’s new fire bomber

August 18, 2026

From the High Fens in the Belgian Ardennes to the island of Skyros in Greece: Europe is desperate for every drop of water to put an end to wildfires, but amphibious firefighting aircraft are, of course, also crucial for extinguishing large-scale forest fires. Unfortunately, Europe is currently facing a severe and critical shortage of these […]

Brussels Airlines chases the Northern Lights with new Arctic routes

August 17, 2026

Starting this winter, Brussels Airlines will operate scheduled flights to the Far North, specifically to Evenes in Norway and to Kemi and Kittilä in Finland. “Winter vacations in the Arctic are becoming increasingly popular,” the airline says. In addition to scheduled flights, Brussels will continue to partner with travel agencies for charter flights to the […]

Chinese C199 aims to break the Airbus/Boeing duopoly

August 13, 2026

A C919 aircraft from the Chinese state-owned company Comac made its first international flight yesterday between Beijing and Mongolia. The flight marks an important milestone for China: after all, the C919 is set to compete with the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737 MAX, medium-sized aircraft that have dominated the market for decades. Yet this […]

One million flights, zero serious incidents in Belgian skies

August 11, 2026

Last year, the Belgian air traffic control provider Skeyes handled 1,035,084 flights, an average of about 2,740 per day. With this total of over 1 million, it has returned to 2019 levels – pre-pandemic – for the first time. Compared to 15 years ago, there are 20 times as many reports of safety-related incidents, but […]

Belgium blocks Chinese acquisition of helicopter operator NHV

August 10, 2026

The Belgian Interfederal Screening Committee, a body tasked with ensuring that major investments by foreign, non-European organizations do not lead to geopolitical surprises, has decided to block the acquisition of the Ostend-based helicopter operator Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen (NHV) by a Chinese investor. These concerns relate to “risks to national security, Belgium’s strategic interests, and possible […]

Fuel shock forces Brussels Airlines to ground A330 growth plans

August 05, 2026

High fuel prices, an Ebola outbreak in East Africa, and strikes by third parties led Brussels Airlines to have a difficult start to 2026, with an adjusted operating loss of 70 million euros. This represents a 50% decline compared to the same period last year. In response, the airline has scrapped its fleet expansion plans. […]

Growth and higher fares cushion Air France-KLM’s €800m fuel shock

July 31, 2026

Air France-KLM saw its net profit decline by 71% to 190 million euros in the second quarter. This is due to the sharp rise in kerosene prices caused by the war in the Middle East. On the other hand, the airline group managed to pass on the lion’s share of those higher kerosene costs to […]

De Ridder stands firm as secret airport settlement sparks outrage

July 24, 2026

Last week, the Flemish government reached an agreement on subsidies for regional airports – a long-standing “headache” because these airports have been operating at a loss for years despite receiving operating subsidies. Pursuant on this agreement, the Flemish Parliament was provided with documents for debate in the Finance Committee. However, the document also inadvertently included […]

Belgian tax climbdown fails to stop Ryanair capacity cuts

July 23, 2026

The Irish low-cost airline Ryanair will, after all, withdraw 5 airplanes from Charleroi and cut 2 million seats for the 2026 winter and 2027 summer seasons in Belgium due to the federal government’s increase in the boarding tax. By actually pulling planes out of service now, Ryanair is effectively sending the message that its threats […]

European transportation network not ready for increasing climate extremes

July 22, 2026

Last June, Western Europe was hit by the most widespread heat wave on record, and several countries in Southern Europe are currently still grappling with persistent, intense heat and wildfires. UNECE, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, then called on countries in Europe, North America, and Central Asia to urgently make their transportation infrastructure […]

As von Boxberg lands at BMW, Maggio takes off in Brussels

July 22, 2026

The board of directors of parent company Lufthansa has appointed Lorenza Maggio as the new CEO of Brussels Airlines. Maggio will replace Dorothea von Boxberg, who is leaving the company on August 31 to join BMW. Maggio (48), an Italian national, has been a member of the ITA Airways board of directors since January 2025, […]

Belgium lands on €7 flight tax compromise to appease Ryanair

July 20, 2026

The flight tax for flights longer than 500 km, which the Belgian government had planned to raise from 5€ to 10€ starting in 2027, has ultimately been set at 7€. The inner cabinet decided it. “This change better protects Wallonia’s economic interests while also meeting the federal government’s budgetary targets”, says the office of Walloon […]

Airbus expects passenger number to double by 2045, to 10 billion

July 10, 2026

The number of airline passengers is projected to more than double by 2045, following an average annual growth rate of 3.9%, reaching approximately 10 billion per year. This is according to Airbus’s new Global Market Forecast 2026-2045, the European aerospace corporation. Although the aviation industry has set a net-zero goal for 2050, the forecast also […]

Airbus and MTU to jointly develop hydrogen propulsion for aviation

July 09, 2026

The European aerospace corporation Airbus plans to establish a joint venture with aircraft engine manufacturer MTU Aero Engines to produce hydrogen-powered engines. These engines are intended to eventually serve as an alternative to fossil-fuel-powered internal combustion engines, thereby reducing CO2 emissions from aviation. Fuel cells Through the joint venture, which is expected to become operational […]

LETEC cancels 2 bus routes to Charleroi Airport

July 06, 2026

The Walloon transportation company LETEC has canceled two of its three bus routes to Charleroi Airport. Especially the cancellation of the bus service from Fleurus Station raises questions. Both the railway company NMBS/SNCB and the railway infrastructure manager Infrabel invested heavily in the station to turn it into an intermodal hub for travel to the […]

Brussels Airlines cuts noise pollution in half over 12 years

July 04, 2026

Brussels Airlines has taken delivery of its 8th Airbus A320neo aircraft. Thanks to its investment in this quieter aircraft model, the Belgian airline has halved its fleet’s noise pollution since 2014. Although Brussels Airlines’ approach to reducing noise pollution is sincere, its legal strategy is moving in the opposite direction. Indeed, it recently vehemently opposed […]

Belgian Dieter Vranckx takes on triple chairmanship role at Lufthansa

June 29, 2026

Belgian Dieter Vranckx (53), who has been building his career at Lufthansa for some time, is now chairman of three airlines within the German group, one of the largest in Europe. In addition to Brussels Airlines, these are Swiss and Austrian Airlines. Vranckx’s appointment is part of a reorganization at Lufthansa, in which decision-making regarding […]

Liège Airport soars toward record year, but turbulence looms

June 11, 2026

Liège Airport, Belgium’s largest cargo airport, started 2026 on a growth trajectory and expects to set a record this year. And why wouldn’t it, when a recent study by the University of Liège shows that the airport is at the heart of an ecosystem comprising nearly 150 companies and supports an estimated 12,600 direct, indirect, and […]

Airlines fly into record demand, but profits lose altitude

June 08, 2026

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has nearly halved its profit forecasts for airlines. This is primarily due to higher fuel prices, but also because the war in the Middle East has severely disrupted flights through aviation hubs such as Dubai. Nevertheless, IATA estimates that this year the number of passengers will exceed 5 billion […]

Night trains to Brussels Airport starting in late 2027

June 08, 2026

Starting in December 2027, there will be an improved train service to and from Brussels Airport, with additional early-morning trains from cities including Bruges and Ghent. This is outlined in the new transport plan from the Belgian national railway company NMBS/SNCB, which the Council has approved with Ministers. Other notable changes include a 3% expansion […]

Gust from the past: Renault revives Rafale aircraft behind its SUV name

May 27, 2026

Renault has put one of the most evocative names in its back catalog back into the air. Almost 90 years after entering French aviation history, the Renault Caudron Rafale C.460 flew again on 23 and 24 May at the ‘Le Temps des Hélices’ air show at La Ferté-Alais, near Paris. The flight is more than […]

Air Congo to compete with Brussels Airlines on the Kinshasa-Brussels route

May 21, 2026

Air Congo will begin operating flights from Brussels Airport in early July. This will also bring an end to Brussels Airlines’ more than 15-year monopoly on the Brussels-Kinshasa route. The news was reported by flightlevel.be and has also been confirmed by the Federal Public Service Mobility. Air Congo intends to operate five flights per week […]

Lufthansa acquires 90% stake in ITA

May 15, 2026

Lufthansa, Europe’s largest airline group, will exercise its option to increase its stake in the Italian airline ITA Airways from 41% to 90%. The German airline group will pay 325 million euros for the second tranche. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027. In 2028, Lufthansa will be able […]

Lowest jet fuel stocks in years put pressure on aviation

May 13, 2026

The war in Iran is disrupting oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. This is not only driving up pump prices but also pushing up jet fuel prices. What’s more, analysts say there is a real risk of a physical shortage of jet fuel in the future. Lufthansa and Brussels Airlines, among others, are downplaying […]

Strong passenger demand limits losses at Lufthansa and Brussels Airlines

May 08, 2026

Despite a substantial operating loss (EBIT) of 612 million euros for the first three months of the year, the Lufthansa Group has little cause for concern.  Due to seasonally weaker demand in Europe, the first quarter is structurally loss-making for Europe’s largest airline group, the parent of Brussels Airlines. What’s more, the loss is 15% […]

Alcohol in the morning at airports? Ryanair wants a ban

May 07, 2026

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary wants to ban alcohol in airports in the morning, before regular restaurant and bar opening hours. The Irish low-cost airline reportedly has to divert a flight almost daily due to the behavior of some passengers. In addition to the morning ban on alcohol before 10 a.m., he also advocates limiting each […]

Brussels Airport causes sleep disturbances for over 104,000 residents

May 06, 2026

A total of 104,298 people living in the wider vicinity of Brussels Airport have their sleep severely disrupted by aircraft taking off and landing. This is according to the annual, mandatory study on the airport’s noise impact conducted by the Dutch firm To70. That represents a 2,5% increase compared to 2024. And whether by coincidence […]

New Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport officially opened

April 23, 2026

Frankfurt Airport, Germany’s largest, has opened a new, third terminal. The first flight from the new terminal is expected today. Terminal 3 will be able to handle up to 19 million passengers per year. The terminal features three new piers totaling 1,400 meters in length, at least 33 aircraft parking positions, 112 check-in counters, and […]

CAE pilot training center in Brussels faces closure

April 21, 2026

Canadian aviation training provider CAE plans to close its training center at Brussels Airport by the end of this year. This is reported by the business newspaper De Tijd. Due to declining demand, outdated simulators, and structural losses, 22 of the 27 jobs are at risk. CAE Brussels is the direct successor to the historic […]

Dubai opens the world’s first commercial airport for passenger drones

April 21, 2026

Is this the beginning of the air taxi era? In Dubai, the first international airport for eVTOL aircraft has been completed. But those eager to take their first drone flight will need to exercise some patience until the end of the year. In Dubai, construction of the world’s first commercial vertiport (vertical airport) is ready: […]

Another strike casts shadow over Lufthansa’s 100th anniversary

April 15, 2026

Just on the day Lufthansa is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its first flight, an event Chancellor Merz is set to attend, the airline is once again hit by a strike – the fifth major strike at Lufthansa this year. After hundreds of flights were canceled due to a pilots’ strike on Monday and Tuesday, […]

Brussels Airport Ombudsman Philippe Touwaide fired

April 14, 2026

What had been in the works for a while has now become official: Brussels Airport Ombudsman Philippe Touwaide has been fired. Touwaide had come under fire for his lack of neutrality and his personal conduct toward the airport’s top management. The dismissal comes as no surprise. The Federal Public Service Mobility has recommended Touwaide’s dismissal […]

IATA-boss warns rise in airfare prices is still inevitable

April 09, 2026

Higher airfare prices are inevitable. That’s what Willie Walsh, CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said at a meeting in Singapore. Even after a cease-fire in Iran. According to Walsh, the aviation industry will likely continue to face disruptions in jet fuel supply for months to come, even if Iran does reopen the […]

TAP sale heats up: Air France-KLM vs Lufthansa, with IAG dropping out

April 06, 2026

Both Air France-KLM and Lufthansa have submitted bids to Parpublica, the Portuguese state holding company, for a minority stake in TAP Air Portugal. The Portuguese government intends to sell up to 49,9% of the shares, with a 5% tranche reserved for employees. The state formally retains control but has indicated its intention to sell the […]

Skydiving from an e-plane? For now, it remains Cerfontaine’s dream

April 02, 2026

The Société Wallone des Aéroports (SOWAER) has appointed a new manager for Cerfontaine airfield, located in the province of Namur. The new manager aims to make the site more environmentally friendly, in part by using an electric aircraft for the skydiving school operating there. However, it’s not that simple: Fully electric aircraft specifically designed for […]

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