HERMAN DE WULF / BRUSSELS
Eight months after its relaunch, SN Brussels Airlines is evaluating whether to add larger aircraft to its short-haul fleet, as it looks to move into the black next year.
The airline, created from Belgian regional Delta Air Transport (DAT) after flag carrier Sabena's collapse, operates the ex-DAT fleet of 32 BAE Systems Avro RJs and BAe 146s on short-haul routes. Services to Africa are flown by three Airbus A330-300s wet-leased from Birdy Airlines.
"We are evaluating options to introduce 130-seat aircraft," says airline president Rob Kuijpers. "At the moment it is only a tentative plan that takes into account the stage lengths we fly. Some European destinations, like Lisbon, are beyond the range of our regional jets."
Kuijpers says the airline would acquire second-hand aircraft, and has not shortlisted candidates. "Our choice will be based on cost and availability." Before its failure, Sabena's short-haul fleet totalled 33 aircraft, including 24 A320 family aircraft and nine Boeing 737s. Some of these aircraft are still in storage.
The expansion plan comes after what Kuijpers describes as a satisfactory performance by SN since its relaunch eight months ago. The airline has lost c50 million ($49 million) so far, but Kuijpers says losses will not exceed c80 million by the end of the year: "We will be profitable in the fourth quarter, and the full-year result will be better than planned. We are looking forward to profitability in 2003."
A senior Belgian magistrate visited Airbus's Toulouse headquarters on 17 September in a parliamentary enquiry into Sabena's bankruptcy last November. Airbus refuses to comment, but it is understood judge Jean-Claude van Espen examined documents relating to the increase of Sabena's A320-family order from 17 to 34 in 1997. Former Sabena employees have told the enquiry that parent company Swissair pressured the carrier to double its order. In addition, Belgian press reports allege that senior executives at Sabena received commission on the extra aircraft.Source: Flight International
