Passengers flying from Bristol Airport to Brussels will board a new, improved aircraft from the end of October following an agreement between Brussels Airlines and UK operator Flybe.
The Belgian airline’s three-times daily service to Europe’s ‘capital’ is operated by Flybe under a contract which allows it to introduce a Bombardier Q400 on the popular route.
The new aircraft, pictured right, has capacity for 78 passengers – a 60% increase compared to the Embraer-145s currently used. It will bear the Brussels Airlines livery and offer the same product and services as all Brussels Airlines short-haul flights – making transfers and ticketing easier for passengers from Bristol using the flight for onward connections.
The Q400, one of the quietest and most technologically advanced turboprop aircraft on the market, will also bring environmental improvements as it produces 30-40% fewer emissions on routes where it has replaced similar capacity, older jets.
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 New York 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.
Bristol Airport aviation director Shaun Browne said: “We are delighted that Brussels Airlines is further enhancing its product for passengers flying to and from Bristol Airport. Since a third-daily frequency was added two years ago, travellers have enjoyed greater flexibility and improved access to onward connections. The new aircraft will enable more people to use this popular service.”
Brussels Airlines vice president sales Europe Frédéric Dechamps added: “The schedule of our three daily flights allows smooth connections with other European and intercontinental Brussels Airlines destinations such as New York, Hamburg, Toulouse, Vienna, Copenhagen, Moscow, Sierra Leone and Senegal to name a few.”
