Brussels Airlines welcomed 108.000 additional passengers in 2007
During the year 2007 Brussels Airlines had the pleasure of serving some 5.85 m passengers. On its own flights, this is an increase of some 108,000 passengers on the 2006 figures, with the bulk of the increase coming from higher passenger numbers on the African network.
2007 marked an important transformation for Brussels Airlines. On the 25th March, SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express became one company - Brussels Airlines, with an entirely new philosophy backing up an innovative new business model.
In total some 5.85m passengers chose to book a flight with Brussels Airlines during 2007 – with a substantial increase of some 8 per cent on Brussels Airlines’ Africa operations compared to 2006. In Europe, a marginal increase was also recorded.
This growth compares to a backdrop of increased competition on a number of routes, and shows that the new business model, as well as the company’s new low fares, have been well accepted by the market.
For 2008, Brussels Airlines is looking forward to increasing its passenger figures by a further 4 per cent. The extended Africa network – both in terms of frequency and capacity, the attractively-priced European offer and the new collaboration with quality partners such as Jet Airways, are expected to contribute greatly to growth in 2008.
The airline will also be taking a further 2 new aircraft into its fleet – an Airbus A319 and a Boeing 737-400 – both of which will enter into service on the European network in spring.
In November last, the Belgian travel agencies voted Brussels Airlines as Airline of the Year 2007, a distinction that simply encourages us to go farther for our customers in 2008. For example, we will be promoting on an international scale our web check-in, which allows passengers to check-in for their flight from their home, hotel or office. We will also be rolling out other time-saving advantages such as our fast-track through security.
Last but not least is the upcoming launch in spring 2008 of the new Congolese carrier airDC; in which Brussels Airlines has both a financial and operational involvement. In 2008, thanks to airDC, Brussels Airlines passengers arriving in Kinshasa will be able to transfer easily to both domestic Congolese connections and to destinations in neighbouring countries.
