Currently, Brussels Airlines offers five non-stop flights to Kinshasa on the Airbus A330. In addition, two flights per week operate on a Brussels-Luanda- Kinshasa-Brussels routing. By suspending the Luanda flight, Brussels Airlines will increase frequencies to Kinshasa up to daily. For passengers looking to fly to Luanda, parent company Lufthansa continues offering flights from its Frankfurt hub.
In a statement to Simple Flying, Brussels Airlines said:
"As with many of our passengers traveling to/from sub-Saharan Africa, the large majority of passengers fly from Brussels onwards to their final destination. By eliminating the intermediate stop, we offer a more attractive product for passengers flying to Kinshasa and for passengers for Luanda. As both markets will have a direct flight (not triangular) to a Lufthansa Group hub (Brussels or Frankfurt respectively), where or passengers can connect to their final destination. "
For those flying between Luanda and other European destinations such as Lyon, France, itineraries with Brussels Airlines required two stops (Luanda- Kinshasa-Brussels-Lyon). Lufthansa's flights are direct terminator services.
Brussels Airlines' final flight to Luanda as SN359 will be on March 25, 2025, departing Brussels at 10:30 local time.
According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, Brussels Airlines' longest routes include:
- Luanda (LAD): Triangular service (BRU-LAD-FIH-BRU) - 4,147 miles (6,674 km)
- Nairobi (NBO): Combination of triangular and terminator flights - 4,071 miles (6,552 km)
- Bujumbura (BJM): Triangular BRU-BJM-EBB-BRU routing - 4,013 miles (6, 458 km)
- Kigali (KGL): Combination of two triangular flights -3 ,942 miles (6, 344 km)
- Washington-Dulles (IAD): Summer seasonal terminator -3 ,892 miles (6, 264 km)
- Entebbe (EBB): Combination of two triangular flights -3 ,867 miles (6, 223 km)
- Kinshasa (FIH): Terminator once Luanda is suspended-3 ,862 miles(6 ,215km)
- New York-JFK(JFK):Terminator service-3 ,667miles(5 ,901km)
- Yaounde(NSI):Triangular BRU-DLA-NSI-BRU routing-3 ,267miles(5 ,258km)
- Douala(DLA):Triangular BRU-DLA-NSI-BRU routing-3 ,244miles(5 ,221km)
With Luanda removed from service at end-March,Nairobi will become new longest route.Flights United States like New York-JFK seasonal Washington Dulles make top ten list.Above list reflects large part network due limited long haul destinations.Next years more Airbus A330s added fleet plan one per annum more African services become terminator.Lack capacity meant triangular efficient solution serve more long haul destinations.
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