The marriage between SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express has resulted in the birth of Brussels Airlines, a new generation of airline.
Brussels – The new product line-up of Brussels Airlines meets the real needs of a new generation of both business and low-cost travellers : flexibility, service and timesaving for the former, and the lowest fare guarantee for the latter. The new products are on sale from tomorrow and the first Brussels Airlines flight will take to the skies on the 25 March 2007.
Brussels Airlines: a new style
The new name is a perfect description of Brussels Airlines’ activities, because, from its home base at Brussels Airport, the airline connects the capital of Europe with over 50 European destinations as well as several intercontinental networks.
The logo, a « b » in a contemporary design style, symbolises both Brussels and Belgium. In graphic terms, the « b » is made up of a series of ellipses that represent the extended network of the airline, as well as the ground lights on an airport runway. The blue is a reminder of the values that are carried forward from SN Brussels Airlines while the red recalls the « low cost » colours of Virgin Express. In the airline sector, blue is generally reassuring and reliable while red is youthful and dynamic.
The new name will be presented to the public in Belgium with a TV spot, and across Europe with a campaign that will start January 2007. Until 24 March 2007 flights will be operated under the brand names SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express, and on the 25 March the first Brussels Airlines flight will take to the skies.
Two products created from the views of more than 5,000 passengers
Brussels Airlines is born from the marriage between SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express, and the new generation airline has inherited all its parents’ best points. Values such as punctuality, reliability, excellent service, a multi-lingual personnel, low cost fares, premium airports and top quality are the order of the day every day at Brussels Airlines.
[GADS_NEWS]Brussels Airlines believes totally in listening to the real needs of its customers. And it is as a result of a market study carried out amongst over 5,000 passengers that the airline really
« Today, even business travellers are much more price-conscious. The attractiveness of the traditional, expensive Business Class is greatly diminished on short-haul flights. For at least half of those flying for professional reasons, price has become a determining factor of choice. This phenomenon has influenced the travel purchasing policies in a large number of organisations. However,
Not only have the needs of business travellers changed, but the expectations of leisure travellers are also different today. Burrows adds :
Brussels Airlines has responded to the evolution in passenger behaviour and needs, and has launched two new products specifically created to meet those needs. Thus Brussels Airlines offers its customers the choice between products that are right in line with market evolution and has developed a new generation of economy class. This new generation will supersede the traditional economy/business duo. Philippe Vander Putten, the incoming CEO said : “We’re offering two new products. On the one hand, we have b.flex, which responds perfectly to the needs of passengers flying for professional reasons, who want to save as much time as possible and require a high level of service, but don’t want it to cost the earth. And on the other hand, we have b.light which guarantees the lowest fares. Until now Virgin Express had a low cost offer to and from some 20 destinations – today Brussels Airlines offers low cost fares to some
b.flex is the original new travel solution for passengers who want to save time and need a high level of service.
b.flex means saving precious time at Brussels Airport :
– Ultra quick check-in and priority access means you can turn up just 30 minutes before take-off.
– Separate fast-track security control at ‘rush hours’.
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– B.flex passengers sit in the front of the aircraft, which means they get off faster on arrival.
– b.flex also offers a higher luggage allowance (up to 30 kilos) and up to two bags as hand luggage (total 12 kilos.)
– b.flex also offers more comfort on board, allowing passengers to choose their own seat, and offering a complimentary food, drink and newspaper service.
– A b.flex ticket offers more flexibility :
o passengers can take an earlier flight on the same day with paying extra charges.
o change of travel plans ? No problem with b.flex – you’ll be reimbursed so you can book another flight.
– b.flex customers can earn more Privilege miles, and more quickly.
– Compared to a classic Business Class offered by our competitors, b.flex tickets are up to 50% cheaper, are available as return tickets and suit today’s business travellers better. Plus, the earlier you book a b.flex ticket, the cheaper it is. All in all, b.flex is the best value for money thanks to ticket flexibility, time-saving at the airport and cheaper prices.
b.light is Brussels Airlines’ answer to passengers looking for the low-cost tickets oneway, all-in. But b.light passengers can be assured of quality and a high standard of service on board our aircraft, and with drinks and snacks on sale at competitive prices. A b.light one-way ticket starts at € 49 including taxes, service and a smile. And once again, the earlier you book, the less you pay.
But b.light has gone even further, by offering a lowest fare guarantee. In effect, if passengers can find on the day of their booking a lower price with another airline for a comparable flight, Brussels Airlines will reimburse the difference.
b.light is the only low cost airline product that comes with a full service frequent flyer programme. Here, Privilege has a choice of some 800 destinations for earning and spending miles. Moreover, Privilege allows passengers to earn miles when they use their phone, rent a car, pay with their credit card, book a hotel or even shop at the supermarket.
b.light offers three times as many low-cost destinations – more than 50 premium European airports at rock-bottom prices.
Long- and medium-haul (Helsinki, Tel Aviv and Moscow)
Because our longer-haul (13 African destinations) and medium-haul (Helsinki, Moscow and Tel Aviv) passengers have different requirements, Brussels Airlines will continue to offer Business and Economy Class on these networks. The Helsinki, Moscow and Tel Aviv routes will see an improvement in comfort, with the middle seat always being kept free in Business Class. Plus the service on our African routes has been thoroughly upgraded this year with flatbed seats in Business Class and new ergonomic seating in Economy. These improvements have already generated an excellent feedback amongst our customers.
Summer 2007
Europe :
For next summer, Brussels Airlines is offering more than 50 premium European destinations. These include the major European capitals and business destinations, as well as the sunniest of tourism regions. On almost all routes, Brussels Airlines offers more daily connections from Brussels Airport than any competitor.
Athens, Barcelona, Bari, Berlin Tempelhof, Berlin Schoenefeld, Bilbao, Birmingham, Budapest, Bologna, Bristol, Brussels, Casablanca, Catania, Faro, Florence, Frankfurt, Geneva, Göteborg, Hamburg, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Lisbon, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Lyon, Madrid, Malaga, Manchester, Marseille, Milan Malpensa, Milan Bergamo, Moscow, Munich, Murcia, Naples, Newcastle, Nice, Oslo, Paris CDG, Palma de Mallorca, Palermo, Porto, Prague, Rome, Seville, Saint Petersburg, Stockholm Bromma, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Turin, Valencia, Venice, Warsaw, Vienna.
Africa :
Abidjan, Banjul, Casablanca, Conakry, Dakar, Douala, Entebbe, Freetown, Kigali, Kinshasa, Luanda, Monrovia, Nairobi, Yaounde.
North America :
Toronto, New York, Chicago as well as over 20 connections via New York and Chicago.
Middle East and Gulf Region :
Tel Aviv, Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Asia :
Beijing
About Brussels Airlines
Brussels Airlines is the Belgian airline group that is at the forefront of a new era in aviation, and offers the widest choice of flights to and from the capital of Europe. On its European routes, Brussels Airlines offers a low cost product, which guarantees the lowest fare, as well as an ultra-flexible product, which offers time-saving and comfort at reasonable prices. Between them, the group’s 2.800 employees are responsible for some 300 punctual flights every day to more than 50 premium European airports. Brussels Airlines also offers long-haul networks of 13 African destinations, 3 North American destinations, the United Arab Emirates, and China.
Brussels Airlines was born on the 7 November 2006 from the marriage between SN Brussels Airlines – the largest full service Belgian airline – and Virgin Express, the first of the mainland European low cost airlines. Brussels Airlines will spread its wings for the first time on the 25 March 2007. Until then, flights will be operated and commercialised by SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express respectively.
