Brussels Airlines launches new long haul service to Burundi
Brussels Airlines will operate a weekly Brussels – Bujumbura (Burundi) long haul service starting 22 April 2007. This new route is the only direct service between Burundi and Europe. Passengers travelling between the 2 countries save several hours travel time.
By launching this new service, Brussels Airlines meets the strong market demand for direct air travel between Burundi and Europe. This new service will also contribute to the trade relations between Belgium and Burundi.
The strong Burundese community in Belgium can finally enjoy the advantages of a direct flight to Bujumbura, whilst Brussels Airlines offers the Burundese population a non-stop service to the European capital and onward connections to all parts of Europe, the States and Asia. Connections to New York, Geneva, London, Paris, and several other cities are very smooth.
Flight time will be 8 hours 20 minutes for the outbound flight (Brussels-Bujumbura) and 11 hours for the overnight return flight that makes a short stop in Nairobi. The time saving is significant. Until now passengers had to travel over 16 hours and change flights after long waiting times and stopovers in airports.
Schedule (Local time, flights every Sunday)
Departure Brussels : 10h20 | Arrival Bujumbura : 19h00
Departure Bujumbura : 20h00 | Arrival Brussels : 07h00 Monday morning
The new service will be operated by Airbus 330-300 aircraft in a business and economy class configuration. Passengers can enjoy a full service long haul in flight experience including the award winning catering offer. The Airbus 330-300 fleet was completely revamped last year with new comfortable flat beds in business class, state of the art audio/video entertainment and new economy class seats.
Thanks to the belly capacity of the Airbus 330-300, Brussels Airlines will also start cargo sales on the Brussels-Bujumbura service and welcome perishables, consumer and other goods.
Bujumbura (Burundi) is the fourteenth African long haul destination of Brussels Airlines. By adding Bujumbura to its network, Brussels Airlines reinforces its position in East Africa. Next to Bujumbura, Brussels Airlines also offers in the East Africa region direct services to Nairobi (Kenya, 6 times/week), Entebbe (Uganda, 3 tiomes/week) and Kigali (Rwanda, 2 times/week).