This winter marks the end of TUI Belgium’s long-haul operations from Brussels. The airline has decided that its routes to leisure destinations across the Atlantic are no longer commercially viable.
TUI Belgium’s Managing Director, Arjan Kers, explained in an interview with Dutch aviation news site Luchtvaartnieuws that maintaining the operation is not feasible. The airline currently operates only one aircraft capable of long-haul flights from Brussels, a Boeing 787-8. “We only have one long-haul aircraft in Brussels and that is not enough to continue the operation sustainably,” Kers stated.
In the past, TUI Belgium had up to three Boeing 787-8s operating from Brussels Airport. Over time, these widebodies were shifted primarily to TUI Netherlands.
According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, TUI Belgium will operate just a few long-haul destinations this year before withdrawing its final plane from service in Brussels. These include Punta Cana (PUJ), Curaçao (CUR), and Cancun (CUN). Other destinations previously served by the airline include Varadero (VRA), Santo Domingo (SDQ), Miami (MIA), Montego Bay (MBJ), Zanzibar (ZNZ), and Orlando-Sanford (SFB).
The carrier has used both Boeing 787-8s and Boeing 767-300s for its long-haul network over nearly two decades. The last 767 was phased out in December 2022.
TUI Netherlands has gradually taken over TUI Belgium’s long-haul fleet. Currently, it holds another formerly Belgian Boeing 787 Dreamliner registered as PH-TFJ. Kers noted: “In Brussels, we will focus entirely on medium-haul flights, while our long-haul flights will be concentrated elsewhere within the TUI airlines, supported by growing cross-border sales.”
Belgian customers can still access a range of long-haul destinations through partnerships with other airlines or nearby airports like Amsterdam Schiphol.
Brussels Airlines remains a major player for long-haul flights based at BRU, with an extensive network to Africa and regular service to New York JFK. Transatlantic flights are covered by joint venture partners United Airlines and Air Canada.
Meanwhile, TUI Netherlands plans winter flights from Amsterdam to leisure destinations such as Mombasa (MBA), Curacao (CUR), Cancun (CUN), Aruba (AUA), Zanzibar (ZNZ), Bonaire (BON), and Montego Bay (MBJ). Belgian travelers often connect through Amsterdam for these services due to limited options for certain regions like the Caribbean or South America.
From now on, TUI Belgium will focus on shorter flights using its narrowbody fleet of 21 short and medium-haul planes including ERJ 195 E2s, Boeing 737-800s, Boeing 737 MAX 8s, and Boeing 737-700s.
