Brussels Airlines will increase its flights to Sub-Saharan Africa during the summer 2025 season, reaching 56 weekly frequencies, representing a 10% increase compared to the same period in 2024. According to the airline, this expansion will be made possible by the addition of an eleventh long-haul aircraft in June 2025, allowing for the strengthening of several key routes in the region.
Among the main changes, connections to Nairobi (Kenya) and Accra (Ghana) will operate with daily flights. Additionally, Banjul (Gambia), Freetown (Sierra Leone), and Conakry (Guinea) will have additional frequencies. Meanwhile, Dakar (Senegal) and Abidjan (Ivory Coast) will feature more direct flights, eliminating intermediate stops.
The current fleet of Brussels Airlines consists of 10 Airbus A330-300s, 15 A319s, 16 A320s, and 6 A320neos.
Increase in frequencies to Kinshasa
Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, will be one of the main beneficiaries of this expansion. Starting in March 2025, the route will feature daily direct flights. Currently, Kinshasa is connected five times per week with direct flights and twice per week with a stopover in Luanda (Angola). The airline highlights that this change not only enhances passenger comfort but also improves sustainability and reduces potential operational delays.
“Kinshasa is, without a doubt, our flagship route. The history of aviation in Belgium began almost 100 years ago with the ambition to connect Kinshasa and Brussels by air. Enhancing this route to a daily nonstop connection demonstrates our unwavering commitment to the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO of Brussels Airlines.
Route reconfiguration for Luanda
The airline will cease flights to Luanda starting March 25, 2025, consolidating these connections within the Lufthansa Group.
The German airline will handle the route with three direct weekly flights between Frankfurt and the Angolan capital. Passengers affected by this transition will be rebooked on Lufthansa flights.
Expansion towards the future
In addition to its network in Sub-Saharan Africa, Brussels Airlines maintains two long-haul destinations in the United States: New York (JFK) and Washington DC (IAD). The company plans to expand its long-haul fleet to 13 aircraft by 2027 and introduce a new cabin with improvements in Business, Premium Economy, and Economy classes.
With these changes, Brussels Airlines aims to strengthen its position in the long-haul market, especially in Africa, a region that has been key in the history of Belgian aviation.
According to data obtained by Aviacionline through Cirium, Brussels Airlines ranks 17th among airlines serving the Europe – Africa market, with an offering of 138,000 seats and 487 flights in December.
