The EC has granted regulatory approval for Lufthansa to acquire 45% in SN Airholding, with an option for the remaining  55%. What does this mean for the Belgian travel industry? 

The Africa network will continue to exist, but the hub- and feeder status will be continually discussed between the above mentioned airports.  The acid test for the strength of the local management, will be to keep the Africa routes in Brussels, serving as a hub for the German feeder airports and not the other way around.

Sometimes, it makes sense to focus on the positive aspects of our situation. As a country, and as an industry we have everything we need. Two good and solid holiday destination airlines (Jetairfly and Thomas Cook  Airlines) allowing our leisure clients to have good quality direct flights to a great number of destinations. A traditional carrier, embedded in a large international group, allowing our business clients to have a global network with an acceptable frequency and reach. A low cost carrier (Ryanair) allowing everybody to fly low fare to an ever increasing number of cities.

The only negative element?  Ryanair should have its Belgian home base at Brussels Airport instead of Charleroi. Allowing the Irish to grow and prosper from Charleroi was a mistake. Today, with the investment in the low cost terminal at Brussels Airport,  the presence of Ryanair and its network of routings would make Brussels  one of the most dynamic airports in Europe. Not the biggest, but the most dynamic.
 

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