Brussels Airlines has introduced new aircraft on its popular Bristol-Brussels route which have increased the number of seats available by 60%.
Under a new agreement with Flybe, the three-times daily service will be operated by a 78-seat Bombardier Q400. The service was previously operated by an Embraer-145s which did not carry the Brussels Airlines livery.
The new aircraft also means passengers from Bristol will have a seamless service connecting to onward flights from Brussels across the Brussels Airlines network.
Vice president sales Europe Frédéric Dechamps said: “We are delighted to offer our passengers even more capacity between Bristol Airport and our hub, Brussels Airport. The schedule of our three daily flights allows smooth connections with other European and intercontinental Brussels Airlines destinations such as New York (JFK), Hamburg, Toulouse, Vienna, Copenhagen, Moscow, Sierra Leone, and Senegal to name a few.”
The Q400 is one of the most technologically-advanced turboprop aircraft on the market and produces 30-40% less emissions on routes where it replaces older jets of similar capacity.
The Brussels Airlines service operates three times a day, with convenient connections from Brussels to 21 destinations in Africa, 50 European cities and a new daily flight to JFK. Flight times include an early morning departure (6:20am) making it possible to do a day’s business before returning at 4:20pm or 8:50pm. The winter schedule also includes a Saturday flight.
Brussels Airlines’ Bristol passengers will also be able to connect in Brussels with flights on United Airlines, its Star Alliance partner, which offers daily non-stop services between the Belgian capital and New York/Newark, Washington/Dulles and Chicago/O’Hare.
Bristol Airport head of sales and marketing Jason Wescott said: “Since the introduction of a third daily flight two years ago, passengers across the South West and South Wales have enjoyed convenient access to Brussels and a network of connecting flights across the globe with Brussels Airlines and its Star Alliance partners. The introduction of a new aircraft is a further example of Brussels Airlines’ commitment to passengers in the region.”
Pictured: Bristol Airport head of sales and marketing Jason Wescott runs the rule over the Q400 with Brussels Airlines’ UK marketing manager Lynne McGrath
