Brussels Airlines joins Star Alliance, offers key hub in hostile territory

Brussels Airlines yesterday became the 26th member of Star Alliance in ceremonies in the Belgian capital, 12 months after it was invited to join and following the conclusion of a strategic partnership with Lufthansa, which acquired 45% of parent SN Air Holding in June.

"Since its inception, Star carriers have been flying to Brussels but from today on we can start developing the airport as a hub," Star CEO Jaan Albrecht said. With the addition of Brussels Airlines, the Star Alliance network covers 1,077 destinations in 175 countries including four new destinations in Africa: Bujumbura, Conakry, Kigali and Monrovia.

"Eight years after SN Brussels Airlines was created [as successor to Sabena], we are extremely proud to become a member of Star Alliance," SN co-CEO Bernard Gustin said, pointing out that for Brussels Airport, located between SkyTeam hubs at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam and "not too far" from oneworld's hub at London Heathrow, "this is a key opportunity."

According to SN figures, Star members operate up to 190 daily weekday departures from BRU to 80 destinations. Five Star airlines operate to 19 long-haul destinations and 14 alliance members operate intra-European services. Star carriers currently represent some 55% of all flight movements at BRU. In line with its "under one roof" strategy, Star reportedly is eyeing the airport's Terminal A, which serves Schengen destinations as well as SN's African flights, as a co-location area.

Ahead of yesterday's formal induction, SN entered into bilateral commercial agreements with several Star members and signed codeshare deals with Blue1, Austrian Airlines, EgyptAir and Spanair. It extended agreements with Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, TAP Portugal, Adria Airways and future member Aegean Airlines.

Gustin confirmed to ATWOnline that SN is negotiating codeshare deals with Air Canada, United Airlines, US Airways and Continental Airlines. AC and UA have announced new service to BRU from Montreal and Chicago O'Hare respectively, while US will increase its Philadelphia service to daily next summer. Agreements with CO and UA would replace the current agreement with American Airlines that terminates at the end of March.

"We cannot walk faster than the music," Gustin explained. "We're a small carrier. It takes time to implement all the codeshare agreements." He said he expects Star membership, combined with SN's participation in LH's Miles & More loyalty program, to lift passenger numbers by 4%-5%.