Air Belgium will fly to America and Asia from autumn

Read more. State visit to South Africa: King Philip and Queen Mathilde arrive in rain-soaked Cape Town

In November, Air Belgium decided to make deep cuts to its offering. The Belgian airline has canceled almost all flights to the Antilles since March, citing high kerosene prices. As a result, the connections between Brussels and Mauritius, which began in September, and the connection with South Africa – from Brussels to Johannesburg and Cape Town – remain limited.

Derzakis had predicted new locations. Now the CEO confirms that Air Belgium will start flights to the US and one country in Asia from this coming winter. The company does not yet want to say exactly which cities Air Belgium will fly to because, among other things, approvals are not yet complete. It is also unclear whether the flights will depart from Brussels or Charleroi.

No decision has yet been made about resuming flights to the Antilles from winter – summer is the low season in that region. This depends, among other things, on a further fall in the price of kerosene, which accounts for more than 40 percent of the cost of an air ticket.

“to believe”

At the end of December it was announced that Air Belgium had raised 10 million euros with new loans from shareholders, but the company is looking for additional cash. “We are now developing a business plan for the next five to six years. Yes, the company will have to recapitalize itself this year,” Terzakis said. Money is needed to expand the fleet and launch new connections. The CEO did not want to say how much capital Air Belgium is looking for. A good one. Dersakis says he is “hopeful” of the outcome.

Most of Air Belgium’s turnover now comes from cargo flights. In addition, it also works as a charter company, including cruise lines, German airline Condor and governments.

Air Belgium also secured flights for the Belgian government mission to South Africa. King Philip, Queen Mathilde and their entourage left the military airfield at Melsbroke on Wednesday in an Airbus A330-200 and landed there again on Monday.

Belgian ‘Air Force One’

This is the third time the airline has operated flights to the palace. This was already the case for an official visit to the Congo and a state visit to Lithuania last year. Terzakis says the company is “extremely proud” to deliver the Belgian ‘Air Force One’. “Coming with the plane in Belgian colors also gives the head of state a certain allure.”