Brussels Airlines registers 9.9% passenger growth in April

Pressure on ticket prices remains very high

Following the continuing offer of competitive fares, Brussels Airlines recorded a passenger growth of 9.9%. This means, however, that the pressure on the yield remains very high. The Seat Load Factor increased slightly, with 1.8 percentage points to a total of 82.8%.

In April, 920,816 passengers flew with Brussels Airlines, which is a 9.9% increase compared to the same month last year. The number of passengers traveling on a European flight grew by 10.5% to 763,882. The African flights recorded a growth of 11.9%, while the number of passengers flying to North America decreased slightly with -0.4%. The Middle Eastern and Asian flights recorded growths of respectively 1.5% and 2.2%.  Thanks to its increased offer (+8.8% more seats), Brussels Airlines was able to continue to propose competitive fares and attract more customers. This means, however, that the pressure on the yield remains very high.

On the 7,152 flights in April 2018, Brussels Airlines recorded a Seat Load Factor of 82.8%, which is a slight increase of 1.8 percentage points. The Cargo Load Factor increased by 7.8% to an average of 73.1%, while the Revenue Ton-Kilometers (RTK) grew by 11.0%. The transported cargo volumes amounted to 5,000 tons, the highest in the history of the company.

The number of flights operated in April increased slightly (0.3%) compared to the same month last year. Nevertheless, the Available seat-Kilometers (ASK) rises more strongly with 8.8%, due to the replacement of the last AVRO Jets (100 seats) by Airbus aircraft with a greater capacity (180 seats).

These statistics do not include the passengers on board of the many charter flights Brussels Airlines operates on behalf of tour operators.

 

April 2018

April 2017

difference in %

Flights

7,152

7,130

0.3%

Total Passengers

920,816

837,646

9.9%

-- Passengers Europe

763,882

691,120

10.5%

-- Passengers Africa

94,669

84,571

11.9%

-- Passengers North America

35,312

35,456

-0.4%

-- Passengers Middle East

18,865

18,583

1.5%

-- Passengers Asia

8,088

7,916

2.2%

Available seat-kilometers  (ASK)

1,884,965,430

1,732,103,375

8.8%

Revenue Passenger-Kilometers  (RPK)

1,560,898,624

1,403,686,142

11.2%

Passenger Load Factor (%)

82.8%

81.0%

1.8 %pt

Available Ton-Kilometers (ATK)   

221,257

207,090

6.8%

Revenue Ton-Kilometers  (RTK)

179,994

162,192

11.0%

Cargo Load Factor (%)

73.1%

65.3%

7.8  %pt

These results are based on figures currently available

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About Brussels Airlines

About Brussels Airlines

Brussels Airlines is Belgium's home carrier and one of the network airlines of the Lufthansa Group. From its hub at Brussels Airport, the airline connects Belgium and Europe with more than 90 destinations worldwide, including 18 destinations in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Belgian airline employs more than 3,500 people and operates a fleet of 46 aircraft.

Brussels Airlines is committed to reducing its environmental footprint and works together with Lufthansa Group on a range of initiatives. The airline participates in the Stargate project led by Brussels Airport, signed the Circular Economy agreement of Antwerp Management School, and was the first airline to - early 2023 - transport Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) through the CEPS pipeline to Brussels Airport. Between November 2023 and June 2026, Brussels Airlines has welcomed eight brand-new Airbus A320neo aircraft, significantly reducing fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions and noise levels across its European network.

As an ambassador for its country, Brussels Airlines brings the world to Belgium and the best of Belgium to the world. The airline showcases Belgian culture through collaborations with Belgian Star Chefs, the promotion of Belgian products on board, and its Belgian Icons aircraft, which celebrate unique elements of Belgium's culture and heritage.

More information on brusselsairlines.com 


About Star Alliance

Established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, the Star Alliance network was founded on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition, and seamless service. Since its inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a strong emphasis on enhancing the customer experience throughout the entire Alliance journey.

Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers almost 18,000 daily flights to over 1,160 airports in more than 190 countries.

Star Alliance Press Office: +65 8729 6691; mediarelations@staralliance.com
More information on staralliance.com

Contact

b.house Kompaslaan 26 1831 Diegem

+32 2 723 89 90

press@brusselsairlines.com

www.brusselsairlines.com