Brussels Airlines mulls launching US service

Brussels Airlines reaffirmed its intent to launch service to the US but stressed plans are still under analysis. SN said the plans are conditional on obtaining transatlantic antitrust immunity with its Star Alliance partners and inclusion in their Atlantic Plus-Plus joint venture.
"Our CEOs have repeatedly stated that we want to expand our long-haul network in the near future to other continents besides Africa; North America is one of the possibilities," said VP-Communications Geert Sciot, acknowledging that "one of the conditions to start operating flights to the US on our metal is the ATI with our Star partners."
Last month, Air Canada, Austrian Airlines Group, British Midland, Continental Airlines, Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, TAP Portugal and United Airlines asked the US Dept. of Transportation to include SN in the scope of their ATI and the Atlantic Plus-Plus agreement. The request was filed as a joint motion and not a formal application in an effort to avoid a longer, more in-depth evaluation process with comments and possibly objections filed by third parties.
The carriers claim that Lufthansa has "sole" and "effective" control of SN—it holds 45% of parent company SN Air Holding and has the option to purchase the remaining 55% in its entirety during specific periods in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Therefore, allowing SN to join the ATI Atlantic Plus-Plus partnership is "consistent with the antitrust immunity granted to Austrian, British Midland and Swiss," all of which are fully owned subsidiaries of LH.

The Star partners also argue that adding an additional hub at the center of Europe and the unique SN network, increases "the options available to the traveling and shipping public, and expands inter-alliance and inter-gateway competition with no adverse impact whatever upon competition."
"We filed the motion but we do not know what the DOT will decide," said Sciot, adding he could not put a timeframe on the expected approval. A company source, however, told ATW that the carrier hopes to be included in the JV by year-end and possibly launch its first service to the US in the next IATA summer schedule, pointing out that New York JFK is not currently served directly from BRU by any Star carriers. UA links BRU with Washington Dulles and Chicago; CO flies to BRU from Newark and US Airways—which is not part of the JV—from Philadelphia.