During
2007 76.264 persons lost their luggage while travelling
via Brussels Airport. During 2004 there were only 51.667
claims. 92 % of this luggage is ‘reunited’ with the
owner within five days. 2,3% of the lost luggage is
never found again. At Brussels Airport Flightcare and
Aviapartner are responsible for luggage-handling.
Runway 25L closed at Brussels Airport
Starting
on 04 August, runway 25R will be closed for three weeks
due to maintenance work, including resurfacing. This is
good news for the enthusiasts as the arriving traffic
will use one runway. This period will be the ideal
opportunity to see (and photograph) the arriving
cargo-aircraft and bizjets that normally always use this
runway.
July 24th
Brussels Airlines not to fly on
New Year
Brussels
Airlines announced todat that they will not fly on New
Year's Eve nor on New Year itself. This way the company
will be able to realize a considerable cut in operating
costs. Probably other carriers will follow this example
from which also the environment will profit.
Nevertheless
there will be 4 Brussels Airlines arrivals on New Year's
Day.
July 17th
Ryanair to put certain flights on hold
Ryanair
today announced that it will cancel a number of
scheduled flights during winter months, due to the high
price of fuel and airport taxes. For Brussels South
Charleroi this means the cancellation of the line to
Valencia during November and December.
July 12th
Sabotage at
Antwerp Aiport
Antwerp
Airport has become victim of sabotaging activities when
on Thursday last, power cables of the approach lighting
on runway 29 (Borsbeek side) were cut through, thus
creating a security risk for pilots and passengers.
Besides this
the council of Borsbeek again refuses to cut down and
maintain the trees on Fort III, although the airport
pays them 30.000eur to do so.
On the other
hand the mayor of Borsbeek talked the Flemish Minister
of Transport - with false arguments - into the banning
of all training activities on Sundays. The minister
obliged in order to keep other operations possible.
All this fits
in the never ending actions orchestrated by a handful of
activists who agitate against the airport and try to
compromise its operations.
July 9th
Financial support
for aviation sector
The Belgian
aviation industry receives financial support from the
federal government. This must help them to secure
subcontract orders for the new Airbus A.350. Flemish
companies will receive a total of 95,4 million Euros or
54% of the total budget.
(source : De
Tijd)
Traffic figures May 2008
Belgocontrol
managed a total of 107.186 movements (+ 6.84%) during
May 2008.
Brussels
Airport handled 23.055 movements during this period or
2,09% less than during May 2007.
Antwerp Airport
counted 8.072 flights (2.397 IFR and 5.675 VFR) and
increase of 22,45% compared with the same period in
2007.
Charleroi/Brussels South handled 9.844 flights (3.753
IFR and 6.091 VFR). This number is even 30,89% higher
than last year.
Bierset
received 5.457 movements (2.949 IFR and 2.508 VFR) or
29,13% more than in May 2007.
And Ostend
airport handled 10,34% more flights than previous year
or 8.225 flights (1.422 IFR and 6.803 VFR) (source :
Belgocontrol)
Martinair
considers flights from Brussels Airport
Martinair
is studying the possibility to start operations at
Brussels Airport. This move will allow them to escape
the new ‘flight tax’ introduced in Holland earlier this
year.
At this moment
is not clear if en when this operations will start.
July 7th
22% more passengers for Brussels South
Charleroi/Brussels
south Airport handled 1,38 million passengers during the
first six months of this year. That is an
increase of 22%. During June 2008 the growth rate was
even 31%, with 246.982 passengers travelling through
this airport.
The
airport management hopes to count 2,8 million passengers
during 2008.
July 3rd
6,3% passengers rise during first 6 months
During
the first six months of 2008 some 93.408
passengers (+6,3%) used Antwerp International Airport.
The number of flights also rose with 7,8% to a total of
27.866.
Passengers on
scheduled flights were 4000 units down, mainly due to
the cancelling of a number of flights to London City
Airport
The European
business man on the other hand seems to have found
Antwerp Airport. Flights here went up with 12,3% (total
of 3.741) with passengers rising to 6.157 (+6,9%)
(source:
Antwerp Airport/ Kathleen Pittevils)
The Westland Lysander OO-SOT will soon fly
Restoration work on the Westland
Lysander of the Sabena Old Timers is nearing its end.
The wings and fuselage will be put together in July.
This operation will be followed by engine tests in order
to receive a certificate of restricted flight. The
painting will also be completed to represent a Lysander
of Squadron 161 flown by the godfathers of Lysander
MA-D, (Group Captain Hugh Verity DFC, Captain Sir Brian
Hooper DFC and pilot of the MA-D, Lt. Col. Lewis Hodges
DFC) and according to the testimony of Jean Depraetere
"Georges" during the operation "Scenery" (November 16th
and 17th, 1943).
All being well, the Lysander could
accomplish its first trial flight during September of
this year under a reserve of approval of the BCAA
(Administration of Belgian aeronautics).
The Oldtimers are also restoring a
second Lysander for the Royal Army Museum in Brussels.
This aircraft will be painted in the yellow and black
colours of a target tug.
Any information can be obtained at
Sabena Old Timers:
or
(source: Yves Duwelz)
New
management structure for Kortrijk and Ostend Airport
Today
the Flemish Parliament accepted a proposal issued by
Minister Hilde Crevits regarding the management of both
airports.
A group of private investors will be
responsible for the management, while the government
will remain part of another group (airport development
company) that will own the airport infrastructure. The
government will also pay the costs in order to maintain
the security-level up to international standards. The
plan is to implement this new management structure early
2008.
(source : Het Laatste Nieuws)
Royal Family major user of Air Force bizjets
According to details given by Defence
Minister Pieter De Crem as a reaction on a request for
information in Parlaiment, the Belgian Royal Family is a
major user of the Belgian Air Force bizjet fleet.
Between 2004 and 2007 they flew 782 hours on the Embraer
and Falcon aircraft. King Albert II is the major user
with 122 flights.
July 1st
Reduced flying for Cargo B
Airlines
Cargo
B Airlines cancelled the planned delivery of a third
Boeing 747 because this aircraft was not in the correct
technical condition.
As one of the
other aircraft need a major overhaul, the company will
continue flying with one aircraft for the next two
months.
The company
prefers to continue the service to South America (Sao
Paulo and Quito) which is flown three times a week. The
service to South-Africa will start again early
September. The company also plans flights to Mexico and
the U.S.A. (Atlanta)
Cargo B Airlines hopes to find another additional
aircraft that can join the fleet in October 2008. Due to
the rising fuel-prices, they prefer a more
fuel-efficient Boeing 747 series 400 aircraft.
June 27th
El Al Cargo moves European hub to Liège Airport
After 56 years,
Israeli company El Al Cargo is leaving Amsterdam/Schiphol
for Liège Airport, where the company's night flights
have already been moved to. Decision was made because of
the rising landing taxes at Schiphol. El Al's Boeing
747-200 are cat.3 aircraft and have to pay 140 percent
of basic landing fee.
Agusta A.109
crashes in the Ardennes
An Agusta A.109
of the helicopter wing at Liège/Bierset crashed today at
11.13 am near Halleux a village near Roche-en-Ardenne,
whil on mission. Pilot and co-pilot have severe
injuries, while the passengers were only slightly
wounded.
BAFA donated aircraft to VLOC
Ben
Air Flight Academy (BAFA), the Antwerp based Flight
Training Organisation (FTO), donated Piper PA 28-161
Warrior OO-YAC to the Vlaams Luchtvaart
Opleidingscentrum (VLOC) situated at Ostend Airport. The
25 year old aircraft was one of the ‘founding members’
of the BAFA-training fleet. At this moment the company
operates more up-to-date PA 28-161 Warrior III’s fitted
with ‘glass cockpits’. This aircraft will be used as an
instructional airframe within the VLOC. Last week, on
20.06.09, the aircraft was moved into the VLOC-facilities
at Ostend.
June 25th
Are the Chinese
coming?
Today we had
the first ever Chinese registered aircraft visiting
Antwerp Airport. Wishing that this might be the first of
many, is probably a bit farfetched, but it is
nevertheless a nice asset to our ever growing number of
exotic registrations...
Blue Line renews contract with Sabena Technics
Europe’s leading VIP charter airline, has signed a
4 year component services full support contract with
Sabena Technics. At present, Blue Line’s fleet comprises
two MD83VIP’s, two Fokker 100’s, and two classic MD83’s.
The pool access is operated out of Sabena Technics’
logistics platform present at Charles de Gaulle, which
is also Blue Line’s main base.
Sabena technics is honoured to be Blue Line’s MRO
partner since the airline was founded in 2001 and to
have been able to contribute to its development and
success. The renewal of this contract reaffirms Sabena
Technics’ expertise in these aircraft types as well as
its adaptability to offer customer proximity and
reliability.
Under
this agreement Sabena Technics will perform component
repair & overhaul services for the company’s F100 and
MD83 fleets. The contract also includes pool access
services.
June 24th
New
destinations from Liège Airport
Liège airport
today announced two new destinations: Albanian carrier
Belle Air will fly to Pristina and Tirana as
from June 24th. Flights will be operated on Tuesday and
Friday
June 19th
New codeshare
for Brussels Airlines
Brussels
Airlines annouced a codeshare with Ethiopian Airlines and
will be selling tickets for Ethiopian Airlines flights
to Addis Abeba. Aircraft used : B767-300 on a daily
basis. Flights leave in the evening at both ends.
June 13th
Airbus A.380 spotted
in Port of Antwerp?
ASA member Hugo
De Backer spotted this ship in the Port of Antwerp on
June 12th. We haven't got a clue as to what this boat
was doing in Antwerp. So if anyone could shed some light
on this, it would be much appreciated.
Some
suggestions:
"Came to
pick up the pieces of the Kalitta Air Jumbo..." or "Will
be used as part the new "Lange Wapper"-bridge"
Final call for Air DC
The new
managing directors Michel Meyfroidt and Bernard Gustin, of Brussels Airlines
announced that they want to start up Air DC by the
summer (July?). The management is in place, the pilots have been
trained and two aircraft are on stand by. The
development of the African network is crucial for the
company and working with a local carrier is vital.
Expensive kerosene
Brussels
Airlines announced that it had a very difficult first
quarter, mainly due to the exorbitant fuel prices. This
will result in the annulation of less important
connections and a rise of the ticket pricing. They also
announced a personnel stop.
The
company also announced that it wants to be part of an
alliance by the end of the year. Officially two groups
are still in the running : Oneworld and Star Alliance.
The company seems to prefer Star Alliance as it would
release the pressure imposed by Lufthansa, SAS and BMI
on
Brussels Airport. On the other hand this would mean that
BA has to look for another American code share deal,
because American is a Oneworld company.
June 12th
1st Rosenbauer Panther on a Belgian Airport
The
management of Antwerp Airport today proudly presented
its new fire engines to the press. The Rosenbauer
Panther 6x6 FLF 12000/1500/2x250, at a cost of 571.000
EUR, replaces to the 30 year old Faun crash tender and
the Magirus powder lorry.
The Panther is
a 6 wheel drive, fitted with a 12.000 litre water- and a
1.500 litre foam tank. In addition there are also 2
powder tanks with a capacity of 250 kg each.
From his driver
seat, the driver can handle two foam guns and the powder
gun. The new fire engine will be fully operational as of
July 1st, when all 22 firemen of the airport will have
passed their exams.
The second
vehicle that was presented today is a fast intervention
car which has been fitted with medical material as well
as fire fighting equipment.
Aborted take-off at Abidjan
A
Brussels Airlines Airbus A.330, almost certainly OO-SFN,
had to abort a take-off at Abidjan airport on Wednesday
evening 11.06.2008.
During the
evacuation of the aircraft via the emergency slides,
three passengers received minor injuries. Flight SN245
with destination Brussels carried 161 passengers and 10
crew. More details on the incident are not known at this
moment.
MK Airlines stops its operations
British cargo airline MK Airlines
stopped its operations and went into administration, due
to financial problems. The UK registered airline is the
main user of Ostend Airport and operator of the
cargo-facilities on the eastside of the airport. This
loss of traffic is certainly a serious blow for the
airport.
June 10th
New owners for Sabena Flight Academy
Sabena
Flight Academy, one of the leading Belgian FTO’s (Flight
Training Organisation) was recently sold to the Canadian
company CAE, one of the world’s most important flight
training organisations. With this acquisition, CAE
intends to expand its European operations. The SFA
management will remain responsible for the Belgian and
U.S. based operations.
Additional Easyjet flights at Brussels Airport
Yesterday,
9 June, lowcost carrier Easyjet started an additional
service from Brussels to Milano/Malpensa. The company
already operates flights to Geneva, Berlin and Nice.
They expect to
handle up to 350.000 passengers from Brussels Airport.
The route from
Brussels to Milano is very popular. There are already
daily flight operated by Brussels Airlines and Air One
to Malpensa Airport and Alitalia to Milano/Linate.
VLM stops flights from Groningen
The
management of Groningen Airport announced today that VLM
Airlines will stop the Groningen-Amsterdam-London City
service from 1 July 2008. VLM Airlines started
operations from Groningen on October 2006. Today, it
seems that the number of local passengers is too low to
maintain this service.
June 8th
Repairs of runway 02 will take 8 weeks
After
the dismantling of the crippled Kalitta Air Boeing 747,
runway 20 at Brussels Airport will remain closed for
another 8 weeks. This will allow repairs to the ILS
landing system and the runway lights.