History
Brussels Airlines was created following the merger of SN Brussels Airlines (SNBA) and Virgin Express. On 12 April 2005, SN Airholding, the company behind SNBA, signed an agreement with Richard Branson, giving it control over Virgin Express. On 31 March 2006 SNBA and Virgin Express announced their merger into a single company. On 7 November 2006, the new name, Brussels Airlines, was announced at a press conference at Brussels Airport. Brussels Airlines began operations on 25 March 2007.
In July 2008, it appeared that the Congolese project "AirDC" (launched together with Hewa Bora Airways) had been delayed, as the Congolese government had not given the required authorisations to start the new airline with Mauritian registered aircraft (through the Brussels Airlines owned and Mauritius based Pan African Airlines Leasing Company Ltd).
On 15 September 2008, it was announced that Lufthansa would acquire a 45% stake in Brussels Airlines with an option to acquire the remaining 55% from 2011. As a part of this deal, Brussels Airlines would join Star Alliance, which happened on 9 December 2009.
On 15 June 2009, Brussels Airlines announced that the European Commission had granted approval for Lufthansa to take over Brussels Airlines. As a result of this clearance by the EU, the road was cleared for Brussels Airlines to join Star Alliance.
Since 25 October 2009, Brussels Airlines has been a member of Lufthansa's frequent flyer programme Miles & More.
On 9 December 2009, Brussels Airlines became the 26th Star Alliance member during a ceremony at Brussels Town Hall.
On 15 December 2009, Brussels Airlines officially approved an extra A330. In July 2010, Brussels Airlines received this fifth leased A330.
On 15 December 2009, Brussels Airlines announced it was working on a new regional airline in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The working name of the project is "Korongo". The main base of the airline will be at Lubumbashi in Congo. The airline will be launched in 2011. Brussels Airlines has cancelled the former airDC project, due to disagreements with Hewa Bora.
On 11 August 2010, Brussels Airlines and tour operator Club Med announced a new cooperation. As from April 2011, Brussels Airlines will transport 80% of all Club Med passengers out of Brussels, both on existing regular Brussels Airlines routes as on new charter routes operated by Brussels Airlines. Brussels Airlines also announced that it will lease 2 Airbus A320 aircraft from January 2011.
On 26 August 2010, the company announced its new maintenance project. The contract with Sabena Technics for the A330 and Boeing 737 ended on 1 January 2011 and Brussels Airlines will then do the maintenance on the planes. To be able to do this, the move from Building 117 to Hangar 41 was necessary. Also, 73 people from Sabena Technics joined the Brussels Airlines maintenance staff.
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