Belgium's major airline Brussels Airlines is adding Funchal, on the Portuguese island of Madeira, to its list of destinations. The company will also create more than 300 new jobs as part of its planned expansions in the summer of 2025.
Brussels Airlines will deploy more aircraft next summer, allowing it to increase capacity by 18% compared to the summer of 2024. By next summer, Brussels Airlines will have six additional aircraft (for a total of 50 aircraft serving 91 destinations). Next summer, the focus of the European network will be on Spain and Portugal. Madeira's Funchal will be added as a new summer destination in the Belgian airline's network.
"From April 2025 Brussels Airlines will operate weekly direct flights to this island known for its wonderful nature," a statement from the company read. Brussels Airlines now flies to four destinations in Portugal. It also will increase the number of flights to Faro and Porto.
In Spain, Brussels Airlines serves 15 destinations. Fuerteventura, in the Canary Islands, was a new addition in the winter season and will now also be served in the summer network.
Meanwhile, Brussels Airlines has confirmed it will fly year-round to Birmingham (United Kingdom), a destination restarted during the winter season.
Related News
On the long-haul network, Brussels Airlines is adding an 11th Airbus A330-300, but full details of the long-haul network will be announced later. It is already clear that the extra capacity will serve African destinations, which Brussels Airlines specialises in.
The expansion will lead to a new recruitment drive with the airline planning to hire 370 additional people: 190 additional cabin crew, 50 pilots, 60 airport staff, 40 technicians and 20 head office staff. From next summer, Brussels Airlines plans to use job students on flights for the first time in the summer of 2025.
