Air Belgium will launch two new flight connections to the United States and Asia in September, CEO Niky Terzakis told Belga News Agency on Saturday, on the sidelines of the Belgian state visit to South Africa. The Belgian King and Queen also flew to South Africa via Air Belgium.
Back in November, Air Belgium decided to make deep cuts to its offerings and scrapped almost all flights to the Antilles from March, citing high paraffin prices. Therefore, only the connections between Brussels and Mauritius and the connection to South Africa – from Brussels to Johannesburg and Cape Town – are offered.
Now, the CEO confirmed that from the coming winter season, Air Belgium will introduce flights to the US and a country in Asia. The airline does not yet want to reveal to which cities exactly Air Belgium will fly as, among other things, the permits are not yet finalised. It is also unclear whether the flights will depart from Brussels or Charleroi.
No decision has been made on the possible resumption of flights to the Antilles either. That will depend on factors including the further fall in the price of paraffin, which accounts for more than 40% of the price of an airline ticket.
Looking for additional capital
In late December, it became known that Air Belgium raised €10 million with new loans from shareholders, but the airline is looking for additional capital. "We are now drawing up a business plan for the next five to six years. And the airline will have to recapitalise this year," Terzakis said.
The money is needed to expand the fleet and launch new connections. How much capital Air Belgium is looking for, the CEO would not disclose but he did say he is "confident" that the deal will work out.
Most of Air Belgium's turnover, meanwhile, comes from cargo flights. It also operates as a charter airline, including for cruise lines, German airline Condor and governments.
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Air Belgium secured the flights for the Belgian state visit to South Africa. King Philippe, Queen Mathilde and their entourage took off from the military airport in Melsbroek on Wednesday on an Airbus A330-200 and landed there again on Monday.
This is the third time the airline has operated flights for the Palace. Last year, it did so for the official visit to Congo and the state visit to Lithuania. The fact that Air Belgium may deliver the Belgian 'Air Force One' makes the company "very proud," said Terzakis. "Arriving with a plane in Belgian colours also gives a certain allure to the head of state."
