UK group Airtours has acquired a majority stake in Air Belgium following its take-over of Belgian tour operator Sun International. The move marks a further incursion for the UK charter airline business into the continental European market.
Airtours will take over an 80% stake in the largely privately owned Sun International, but the UK group says that it is also ready to make a public offer for the remainder of publicly floated shares. The Belgian tour company in turn holds 65%of charter carrier Air Belgium, with the balance in the hands of Sabena's holiday airline subsidiary Sobelair.
Air Belgium owns two Boeing 737s, with one 737-400 used exclusively for Mediterranean tourist flights on behalf of tour operators Sunair and Club Mediterranée. The second aircraft is a 737-300QC, offering quick change passenger-to-freighter conversion, which has been leased to Icelandair for use on routes from Keflavik to Glasgow and Cologne.
The Airtours acquisition is the company's second move into Europe, after acquiring control of Danish charter operator Premiair in 1996. The expansion is mirrored by UK rival Britannia, which started a German subsidiary in 1997 and received European Commission approval to acquire Sweden's Blue Scandinavia this month as part of a wider deal involving parent Thomson Holidays.
Source: Flight International
