Brussels Airlines introduces local Sub-Saharan African languages on board
Flights will feature announcements in ten widely spoken local languages, creating a more personalized experience
Brussels, April 2, 2025 - Brussels Airlines launches local language announcements on flights to Sub-Saharan Africa. Since April 1st, passengers hear take-off and landing messages in a local language of their destination - making the onboard experience more personal and connected to the region.
Since the start of April, both departure and arrival announcements are made in one of ten selected languages spoken across Brussels Airlines’ Sub-Saharan network.
With this new approach the Belgian airline wants to be closer to its African passengers, making each journey feel more personal and closer to home. It adds a recognizable element to the onboard experience, creating a connection from the moment passengers board until they reach their destination.
Brussels Airlines currently serves 17 destinations across Sub-Saharan Africa, covering both popular destinations and smaller markets. For the airline, the African continent is more than just a destination; it is part of its identity, reflecting the Belgian carrier’s essential role in connecting people, cultures, and economies. This language initiative is a small but meaningful gesture of its deep-rooted commitment and enduring relationship with the continent.
These ten languages were selected for their prominence in the airline’s Sub-Saharan African destinations, either as widely spoken languages or as officially recognized national languages. Moreover, the messages were recorded by Brussels Airlines’ employees, adding a personal and authentic touch to it.
Benin - Fon | Rwanda - Kinyarwanda |
Brussels Airlines celebrates aviation heritage: 100 years of connecting with Africa A century ago, a pioneering flight linked Belgium and the African continent. On February 12, 1925, three Belgian aviators took off on an ambitious journey from Brussels to Léopoldville (now Kinshasa). They completed the 8,000-kilometer trip in 51 days, arriving on April 3, 1925. Their journey marked the beginning of a lasting connection, one that Brussels Airlines continues to honor and strengthen today. This milestone is not just about the airline’s past, it is also a promise for the future. The carrier’s connection with sub-Saharan Africa has always been, and will always remain, part of its DNA. More details in this press release. |
Joëlle Neeb
