September 2007

Some 40 more Belgian soldiers left Melsbroek aboard a C-130H transport aircraft with destination Kabul, Afghanistan. From October 1st 2007 they will take over command of Kabul airport for a period of 6 months in the framework of the  International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Included in the group are traffic controllers, radar operators, air operations specialists, fire fighters, aircraft technicians and mine clearance specialists. Former Melsbroek airbase commander Colonel Rudy Geirnaert is in charge of this operation. More information: The People's Daily

Due to an in flight engine fire a cargo aircraft had to make an emergency landing at Oostende-Brugge International airport late yesterday evening. The aircraft which still had enough fuel for 5 hours flying on board could make an uneventful landing. All five members of the crew of the aircraft remained unhurt.  Source: Het Nieuwsblad.

During a ceremony organised at Kleine Brogel airbase Colonel Patrick Wouters has transferred his command of the base to Colonel Claude Van de Voorde. Former CO Wouters was commander of the base since October 2004 and now takes on a job at the NATO headquarters at Brussels. New BaseCO Colonel Van de Voorde is very familiar with the KB having been operational "Tiger" pilot and later on Commander of this famous 31 "Tiger"  Squadron. Source: Het Belang van Limburg

Starting 19 November, Brussels Airlines will offer a new direct service between the European Capital and Slovenia. Flying to and from Ljubljana Brussels Airlines will link the two capitals 6 times a week. In this way Brussels Airlines opens the welcome to Slovenia’s EU presidency starting in January 2008. Passengers can enjoy one way fares starting from 49,99 euro all taxes included. Source:  Brussels Airlines

Brussels Airport operations were temporarily down due to a general electrical failure which lasted for some 45 minutes. Due to this, check-in, border control, security and luggage treatment were out of order. By noon all problems were solved and it was business as usual again. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

Techspace Aero (majority owned by SAFRAN Group) and Pratt & Whitney (a United Technologies Corp. company) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the acquisition by Pratt & Whitney of 100% ownership of Techspace Aero’s military aftermarket division which employs over 100 people. Pratt & Whitney has been a 19% shareholder in Techspace Aero since 1991. From 1978 to 1991, Techspace Aero manufactured and assembled almost 600 F100 engines designed by Pratt & Whitney for the F15 and F16 fighters. Techspace Aero has been engaged in Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) of the F100 engine since 1979 and has acquired a great deal of know-how on the maintenance of F100 engines and the associated services for its military customers. Today the current military MRO activity represents a small percentage of Techspace Aero’s 2006 turnover due to significant developments in the design and manufacturing of civil engines and equipment. Source: Techspace Aero

The last batch of five F-16AM fighters which ultimately will be handed over to the Royal Jordanian Air Force will leave Weelde for Kleine Brogel and Florennes airbases on Tuesday 18 September next, weather permitting.  Aircraft involved are FA-65, FA-66, FA-73, FA-74 and FA-76, distribution by base is unknown. After receiving maintenance and the modification specific to Jordan at the two operational bases the aircraft remain in Belgium to train the Jordanian pilots after which they will be officially transferred to the Royal Jordanian Air Force. Click here for a picture of FA-74 leaving Weelde.

The 51st edition of the prestigious Gordon Bennett cup for gas balloons had to be cancelled Saturday night due to unfavourable wind conditions. The balloons which were to take-off at the Wartermaal-Bosvoorde hippodrome would have been blown over the airport at Zaventem creating a possible hazardous situation which could not be accepted by Belgocontrol. Source: Het Nieuwsblad

Around 14h50 a light aircraft with 2 occupants crashed immediately after take-off from Cerfontaine airfield. According to witnesses the aircraft had some engine problems and the pilot tried to return to the airfield. During this manoeuvre the aircraft crashed and a fire started instantly. Both occupants perished in the crash. Source: La Dernière Heure

Companies active in and around Brussels Airport at Zaventem are still having problems finding enough personnel and some 1.500 vacancies remain unfilled. To help solving the personnel problems a Job - Fair was organised at the airport where skilled as well as unskilled personnel could find out if a job at or near the airport could interest them. Source: Brussels Airport

During the winter-season Belgian airline Thomas Cook Airlines is planning to fly twice weekly (Monday and Friday) a direct flight to Marsa Alam in Egypt. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

Belgian airline Jetairfly will start a once weekly scheduled link between Brussels Airport and Aqaba in Southern Jordan via Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt. This weekly flight planned on Thursdays is the first direct link between Belgium and Jordan. Source: Express.be

Delivery of the first Airbus A400M transport aircraft may be delayed by some months, French Defence Minister Hervé Martin declared. The delays are mainly caused by the longer than planned development of the very complex turbine engines. A total of 195 A400M aircraft are on order for France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws

The Brussels Airlines Group together with Hewa Bora Airways of Congo has created a new Congolese airline. The new airline will operate according to international standards from Kinshasa and offer both domestic and international flights. Source: Brussels Airlines

A number of B-Hunter unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV's) of the Elsenborn based 80 Sqn UAV has been deployed to Koksijde up to October 12th at the coastal base of Koksijde. Source: Spotting Group Koksijde and picture by Wim Houquet

Brussels Airlines has signed an agreement with Congolese airline company Hewa Bora allowing the African company to sell a number of seats on the Brussels Airlines flights from Brussels to Kinshasa three times a week. Hewa Bora is the only airline based at the Democratic republic of Congo which is allowed to fly to Europe. The 50 other companies are still blacklisted by the European Commission. According to Hewa Bora this cooperation with BA could even be extended to the creation of a new airline based at Kinshasa, but Brussels Airlines was not prepared to confirm this.  Source: Het laatste Nieuws.

Belgian Air Component's Airbus A310 CA-01 transporting 130 passengers and crew has suffered an engine flame-out while landing at Edinburgh-Turnhouse airport. Fortunately even with the spectacular looking malfunction the pilot could make a textbook landing and everybody on board remained safe. The aircraft was making a flight in the framework of the "Air Transport and Air Refuelling Exchanges of Services" (ATARES). ATARES is a technical arrangement (TA) which allows cash-free exchanges of services (currently air transport and air-to-air refuelling) between participating nations to utilise spare capacities and increase the efficiency of the use of Air Forces’ services. The management of the ATARES TA is located at the European Airlift Centre (EAC) in Eindhoven (Nl.). Source: Het Laatste Nieuws & spectacular pictures at Airliners.net  1 and  2

The first Boeing 747-200F (OO-CBA) of new Belgian fright airline Cargo B Airlines has landed at Brussels Airport on Wednesday September 5th. As of the end of SeptembHet Laatste Nieuwser the aircraft will be operated for charter flights but in mid October the first regular freight services to Africa and South America will be staring. The company is to fly twice a week on the route Brussels-Libreville-Johannesburg-Nairobi and also twice weekly between Brussels and Sao Paulo and Quito. Source: Cargo B Airlines and a picture of OO-CBA here

On 10 August 2007 former Belgian Light Aviation Britten Norman BN2A-21 Islander B-09 was registered to the B-N Group Ltd of Bembridge U.K. On 22June 2005 this machine  flew to the UK from Brasschaat in a deal involving B-2 to be completely overhauled and further equipped for Maritime Pollution Control (eventually becoming OO-MMM) and B-9 forming part of the payment. More info: British Civil Aviation Authority

Because of a proposed "Ecotax" in the Netherlands, low cost airline EasyJet is considering a transfer of part of its business to Brussels Airport. EasyJet expects a fall by 25% of the number of passengers in the Netherlands of the Dutch Government is proceeding with the proposed tax. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

Indian airline Jet Airways will add new links from the airport at Zaventem to the Indian capital Delhi and Toronto in Canada. On August 6th 2007 Jet Airways already started flights to Mumbai. With these additional flights Brussels Airport becomes more and more the European hub for India's largest airline. Source: Jet Airways

The Airport of Oostende has seen a substantial growth in passengers and freight over the month of August. Freight handled at Oostende-Brugge Airport totalled 9.135 tonnes, a rise of 29.9 % compared to August 2006. Passengers using the airport numbered 28.499 which represents a rise of 40% compared to one year ago. The 2.784 movements over August 2007 also represent a rise of 32.6%.  Source: Luchtvaartnieuws

The new publication by Marc Arys and Serge Van Heertum: Fouga Magister - Whistling Turtles in Belgian Skies available is now available through the editor Flash Aviation or with the writers Marc and Serge. In this last year of Fouga Magister operations in the Belgian Air Force this superb and well illustrated work gives every possible detail on the very long career of the nimble butterfly tailed jet trainer in Belgian service. More information available at www.sbap.be

Agusta A109BA Hirundo equipped 17 Squadron "Griffon" of the Wing Heli will receive some 5 Gazelle helicopters and one Puma in a squadron exchange organised at Bierset airbase between September 10th and 14th. In that same week an internal Wing Heli Sqn Challenge will be organised comparable to the former annual Light Aviation Challenge organised at Vogelsang.

August 2007

The Belgian authorities have finalised the sale of 14 F-16 (12 F-16AM and 2 F-16BM) fighters to Jordan for the total price of 70 million Euros. Deliveries will start in 2008. This sale is part of an agreement Jordan signed with Belgium and the Netherlands for the sale of 20 F-16 MLU fighters (8 of which former Dutch Air Force and 14 ex-Belgian Air Force). After the necessary modifications Jordan pilots will receive their training in Belgium before returning with their mounts to their country. The RJAF already operates 33 surplus USAF F-16A/B ADFs part of which is to be upgraded to MLU standards and 3 former Koninklijke Nederlandse Luchtmacht F-16BM's. Source: Het Laatste Nieuws

Famous recruiting Lockheed F-16A FA-05 has been placed on show at the Groenplaats in the centre of Antwerpen for the occasion of the "Bevrijdingsfeesten” (Liberation festivities). The traditional events (popular bal, ceremonies and Taptoe) remember the liberation of Antwerpen on 4 September 194. Kick off of the weekend long festivities is at Friday (31/08) evening at the Groenplaats where FA-05 will surely be the main pole of attraction. More info and pics: Indymedia.be

The first Ilyushin’s new IL-114-100 airliner, equipped with a state-of-the-art Barco glass cockpit, is approaching the end of its certification flight campaign and has been on show at the MASK Airshow between August 18 and 23rd. The 64-seat turboprop airliner is expected to enter commercial service with Uzbekistan Airlines before the end of the year. Belgian display and visualization leader Barco has signed a contract for delivery of at least ten cockpit systems for the Il114-100. Source: Barco & Luchtvaartnieuws.

Low cost airline Ryanair reopened ticket sales for the period after 12 November for flights from Brussels-South Charleroi airport. Ryanair and Brussels-South Charleroi Airport S.A. (BSCA) agreed to a solution whereby strikes would be announced 48 hours in advance to allow the airline to take the necessary steps to avoid passenger being stranded due to surprise union actions. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws

The International Air Transport Association has said that from June 1st 2008 onward only electronically issued airline tickets will be used. IATA said it ordered the last 16.5 million paper tickets which will be delivered until 31 May next year. Today already 84% of the tickets are e-tickets. Source: De Standaard.

As of October 30th low budget airline SkyEurope will double the number of connections from Brussels to Prague and Vienna. Vienna will then be served twice a day while Prague will have one daily flight. For the moment SkyEurope flies only once a day to Vienna and three times a week to Prague. The Vienna service is aimed directly to business men who now can make a return visit to Vienna on one day. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws

Low cost airline Ryanair and Brussels-South Charleroi Airport S.A. (BSCA) have ended their discussions in the wake of the strike of security personnel which interrupted all Charleroi operations for Ryanair during weekend of 15/17 June. After Ryanair decided to stop all flight bookings from the Walloon airport from November 12th onward (see BAHA news of 21/08) to put the airport authorities under severe pressure and the consequent announcement by Jetairfly that it would examine which Charleroi connection it could take over from Ryanair the situation quickly found a solution. The proposed BSCA emergency plan for the airport has been accepted by Ryanair. The Irish company also dropped the 1 million Euro damage claim and says it expects to accept again flight bookings as of next Monday.  Source: De Standaard

Brussels Airport says it needs to be able to process 18,000 night flights a year. A lower figure would jeopardise the airport's expansion and create problems for several companies according to the daily "De Tijd".  At present there are 25,000 night flights annually at Brussels Airport. The figure is set to fall to 15,000 next year as the courier firm DHL moves activities to the German town of Leipzig. Source: VRT/Flandersnews.

Ten Lockheed F-16AM fighters of the Kleine Brogel based 10th Wing will participate at the largest air exercise over the Norwegian Sea since the mid-1980's called Bold Avenger 2007. This major exercise will take place at Ørland Main Air Station, Norway, during the period 3-14 September 2007, with live flying between 3-8 and 10-13 September 2007. The exercise will involve air forces from 13 NATO member nations: Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States of America for a total of 100 aircraft including combat, tanker and airborne early warning aircraft and about 1,450 personnel. Source: NATO , Aviation Week & BAHA Forum

Belgian airport services company Aviapartner has secured an important contract with Spanish low cost airline Veuling to provide ramp handling services at the airports of Milan, Rome Venice, Amsterdam and Brussels. The 3 year contract represents a turnover of some twenty million euro. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

The Belgian army has officially transferred the first two Agusta helicopters to Benin after having concluded the sale last April. Both helicopters (H-04 and H-32) already arrived at Cotonou in July but the official transfer was delayed by the missing export licence issued by the Italian company Agusta (now AgustaWestland). A total of 5 helicopters was sold (one of which was spare parts source). Source: 7sur7.

In a measure to find (force) a solution for problems such as the strike of security personnel at Charleroi - Brussels South airport during the weekend of 15/17 June, Ryanair has decided to stop all flight bookings from the Walloon airport as from November 12th. The strike forced Ryanair to cancel the flights of no less than 22.500 passengers. Source: VRTNieuws, La Libre

A new book by Gaston De Mol covering the history of aviation in the region of Aalst called "Een eeuw luchtvaart boven het land van Aalst" has been announced for release by November 9th 2007.  The very dynamic "Aero Club van Aalst" will also be treated in detail in this historical work. More information can be found on the flyer here and here

According to a report by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), air traffic security in Belgium presents weaknesses in its system and its procedures. ICAO remarks that no selection criteria exist for the appointment and periodical renewal of qualifications in the training of cabin- and technical management personnel. Furthermore there is no clearly written separation between the regulator (Bestuur der Luchtvaart/Direction générale du transport aérien) and Belgocontrol. Source: Het Laatste Nieuws & La Libre Belgique

From 28 October onwards low cost airline Ryanair is to increase its flights between Charleroi - Brussels South airport and Madrid Barajas from the actual 4 connection a week to two connections a day (14 a week). Flights for the Spanish capital Madrid will leave Charleroi each day at 07h10 and 15h40. With these flights Ryanair is particularly aiming at the business travellers. Source: De Standaard.

Former Belgian Army's Light Aviation Britten Norman Islander B-07 which was registered as G-BDVX in the United Kingdom has gained the new registration G-OBNL for its new owners the B-N GROUP LTD. Source and pictures: Air-Britain and L. Heyligen

The planned move of the European hub of express delivery company DHL from Brussels Airport to Leipzig in Germany will cost fewer jobs then feared when announced at the end of 2004. A total of 1.250 jobs will disappear which is 400 less then expected. Source: VRTNieuws

Newly decorated 349 Squadron F-16AM FA-94 successfully made the first taxi-test after its major overhaul. This also meant the first outing for this magnificent bird which was specially decorated to commemorate the 65th anniversary of 349 Squadron. Pilot for this test was Kapt "Joyce" Detrogh. Click here for exclusive pictures by Dirk Voortmans: Pic 1 - Pic 2 - Pic 3.

11/08 - Belgian Air Component transports aid for victims of severe train crash in Congo

Two Belgian Air Component Lockheed C-130H Hercules transport aircraft loaded with medicine, food and drinking water already brought in some 4.5 tonnes of aid for the victims of the train catastrophe which occurred in an inhospitable region of Northern Kasai. In the train crash more then 100 people were killed and 120 wounded. Source: Congo Forum

From next October 31st onwards low cost carrier Ryanair is to fly to Alicante in Spain on daily basis. Alicante becomes the 21st destination for Ryanair out of Charleroi- Brussels South airport and sixth destination to Spain. Source: De Standaard

Demonstrating the extremely high level of experience of the Operational Conversion Unit's instructor pilots, a formation of 4 twin seat F-16BM fighters gathered 8 pilots totalising no less than 20.766 flying hours between them. Participants were: Major "CO" Stams (2.645 hrs), Cdt. "Jakke" Hanssens (2.542 hrs), Cdt. "Luc" Cloes (2949 hrs), Maj. "Fumo" Van der Linden (2.226 hrs), Maj. "Eeckie" Heeckhout (3.064 hrs), Cdt. "Charlz" Longle (3.044 hrs), Cdt. "Fon²" Fontaine and Cdt. "Drem" Cremasco. At the same time this was also the last flight as the OCU's Commanding Officer by Maj. "Patja" Stams. Click here for pic.

At the end of this year Brussels Airlines will increase its flight offer to 7 African destinations in total, thus adding 30 per cent more seats every week on the long-haul routes between Brussels and the African continent. These flights will include in East African and the Great Lakes region; 3 weekly connections to the Rwandese capital Kigali, 4 weekly flights to Entebbe in Uganda, 2 weekly flights to Burundi's Bujumbura. West African cities with Increased frequency will be Monrovia in Liberia (4 weekly flights), Abidjan in Ivory Coast (4 weekly flights), Conakry in Guinea (2 weekly flights) and Douala in Cameroon (3 weekly flights). In Central Africa Brussels Airlines will further improve its existing flights to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, by offering non-stop flights starting this winter. Source: Brussels Airlines.

Etihad Airways, the National Airline of the United Arab Emirates will increase its frequency on the Brussels - Abu Dhabi connection as from October 28th. Every week four in stead of the actual three Airbus A330-200 flights will connect both cities on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Up to June 1st Brussels served as stop on the Abu Dhabi-Toronto line but this link will now be flown directly with Brussels obtaining its own direct connection. Source:  Luchtvaartnieuws

The first commercial flight operated by Jet Airways landed at Brussels International Airport at Zaventem. Earlier this year (see Baha News item of 14/04/07) the Indian airline Jet Airways decided to make Brussels Airport its European hub which means that all international flights between Mumbai (India) and New York would make a stop-over at the Belgian capital. The ambitious Indian airline has plans for as many as ten more international connections, all with possible stop-overs at Zaventem. Source: VRT Flandersnews.

349 Sqn has struck again !  Yes, indeed, 349 has a new painted tail. Over the week-end of August 4 & 5, in tropical temperatures and costing lots of sweat, Johan Wolfs and Peter Verheyen realised their 17th F-16 project at Kleine-Brogel Airbase. After many years flying in "Tiger"-livery (Johan & Peter already painted the same aircraft in 1991 and 2005 and thus it became a fearsome 'Tiger' for years) FA-94 has now gone "Blue". So definitely something to watch out for in the coming days/weeks.

After many years of absence a Belgian aerobatic contest will be organised again. The Belgian Aerobatic Championship takes place at Cerfontaine (EBCF) on 28-29-30 September 2007 and includes such categories as SPORTSMAN – INTERMEDIATE – ADVANCED + a Special trophy for best YAK & STAMPE. More info at http://www.belgiumaerobatic.com/index.php

The training base at Beauvechain together with Eindhoven in the Netherlands and Villacoublay (near Paris, France), are in the running to become the headquarters of the "European Air Transport Command". One of the major objectives of the European Defence is the creation by 2010 of the "European Air Transport Command" which will group all European air transport assets in order to use this potential in the most efficient way on European level.   Source: Het Laatste Nieuws

Only one and a half months after starting a link between Brussels Airport and Detroit (USA) (see BAHA News item of 15/06) Northwest Airlines has cancelled the link due to a shortage of pilots flying the Boeing 757-200's used for this operation. Customers who already booked tickets for these flights will be helped though the Dutch company KLM flying to the same destination from Schiphol in the Netherlands. Source: VRTNieuws

The VT4 special feature on "20 years OCU" and the "Interrnational Spotters' Day 07" at Kleine Brogel airbase of last July 17th will be rebroadcasted on popular demand on Saturday 11 August 2007 at 16h00 exceptionally replacing the series Sliders.

237,910 passengers used Charleroi Brussels South during the month of July.  This exceptional figure represents a 12% increase over July 2006 (213,170 pax.) During the first seven months of the year, 1,373,611 passengers were recorded against 1,200,720 for the same period in 2006, a growth of 14.40%. Source: Brussels-South Charleroi airport

01/08 Flybe announces new codeshare agreement with Brussels Airlines

Flybe, Europe's largest regional airline, today announces a new interline codeshare agreement with Belgian's leading airline Brussels Airlines.  Flights go on sale today for travel from 2nd September 2007 in a deal that gives Flybe passengers increased travel options to the Belgian capital from additional regional bases across the UK.  Also Brussels Airlines clients will enjoy more travel flexibility on the Manchester-Brussels route thanks to this partnership. Source: Brussels Airlines

July 2007

Passenger traffic at the Oostende-Brugge Airport grew with 20.2% over the first six months of 2007 while freight handled at the airport rose by 27.7%. Passengers transported numbered 74.764 mainly due to extra flights to sunny destinations by tour-operator Jetair. Total freight handled at Oostende for the first six months of 2007 was 59.472 tonnes mainly by freight carriers MK Airlines, Gemini and newcomer Mithras Air. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

A ceremony was organised at Oostende airport to remember the tenth anniversary of the aircraft crash during the airshow on 26 July 1997 in which ten people were killed and 58 were wounded. The ceremony was organised by the relatives of the victims at the remembrance plaque unveiled in the main terminal of the airport two years ago.  Source: De Standaard.

A completely revised website as well as a new logo has been presented by Antwerp Airport in order to meet the increasing number of passengers’ requests.  General airport information is gathered in one section, whereas separate sections have been provided for the target groups of passengers, pilots and visitors. Together with the new website the airport’s logo is also officially introduced. The use of this new logo will further contribute to the airport’s image. Two versions have been developed: "Luchthaven Antwerpen" and "Antwerp Airport" allowing adoption to the language of communication. Have a look here.

By June 2008 the paper airline ticket will be a thing of the past. Most of the Belgian airlines (Brussels Airlines, Ryanair, and Jetairfly) appear to be already well prepared for the transition. The International Aviation Association (IATA) has proposed 31 May 2008 as the date when the paper airline ticket should disappear. Currently, four out of five tickets are booked electronically. The IATA hopes that this number will rise to 92 percent by the end of the year. Source: Expatica.

The monthly statistics on air traffic and airport movements in Belgium published by Belgocontrol show a 4% overall decrease (-4.133 movements to 103.306) compared to the same period one year earlier. Airport statistics give the following figures: Brussels Airport: 23.456 movements (+1.92%), Charleroi-Brussels South: 7.323 (-14.68%), Oostende-Brugge: 6.656 (-20.33%), Antwerpen-Deurne: 6.076 (-27.77%), and Liège-Bierset: 4.650 (+0.87%). Canac controlled air traffic between flight levels 135 and 245: 51.012 (+1.35%).  These unfavourable figures are mainly due to the bad weather responsible for the major fall in VFR movements and also the social conflict with the security personnel on the Walloon airports. Source: Belgocontrol

Between July 21st and 28th a Belgian Defence C-130H crew of the 15th Transport Wing is to participate in the exercise "Airlift Rodeo" organised in the United States. Airlift Rodeo is an international exercise reserved for transport aircraft aiming at testing the operational capabilities of the aircraft and crews. The last participation of a Belgian crew dates back from the year 2000 when they won the price for "Best International Crew" and "Best C-130 crew", proving they are still at the top of the business. Source: Mil.be FR & NL 

Low cost airline Ryanair is to start 11 new routes from seven of its European bases, one of which is a new connection between Charleroi-Brussels South airport and Pau Pyrenées. The new connection will start from October 30th and will be flown three times a week with a Boeing 737. Source: Ryanair.

Belgian Airline Jetairfly has taken delivery of a tenth airliner for its expanding fleet. The Boeing 737-800 flies non-stop from Seattle to Brussels and is bound to arrive today. Jetairfly now has three 737-800 airliners in service and expects to add two more in 2008. The airline is also a customer for the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Source: Luctvaartnieuws.

A Boeing 737 of Belgian airline Jetairfly blew a tire while taking off from Dubrovnik airport on Monday evening. The aircraft with 155 passengers bound for Brussels returned to Dubrovnik to make an uneventful precautionary landing. Passengers had to spend the night at the airport and continued their journey with another aircraft on Tuesday. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

Belgian flag carrier Brussels Airlines is to introduce four more aircraft for its East African customers. In the realignment that takes effect from December 16, Entebbe will get two new direct flights to Europe per week while Rwanda and Burundi will get an additional service each.Source and more information: Luchtzak

In the first six months of 2007, VLM Airlines carried 374.873 passengers across its scheduled network, an increase of 16% compared to the same period in 2006. The increase follows significant growth on a number of the carrier’s routes including Amsterdam – London City, where the airline flew 80,600 passengers – an increase of 123 per cent. The Antwerp – London City route increased by 10% to 47,000 passengers and the Luxembourg – London City route by 12% to 30,500. VLM Airlines has also seen a further increase in the number of online bookings, which increased by 32% in the six months to June 2007 compared to the previous half-year.  In addition to its easy-to-use internet check-in facility, customers can now also make their hotel reservations, organise their car rental needs, book lounge access or arrange their travel insurance through the website of VLM Airlines at www.flyvlm.com. Johan Vanneste, Managing Director of VLM Airlines, comments: ”The number of passengers transported by VLM Airlines at Antwerp Airport has grown by a staggering 38%, thanks to our new route from Antwerp to Manchester and continued growth of our London City service. The recent developments at Antwerp Airport will further enhance this growth and we are convinced that there will be a increasing number of business travellers using the convenient connection we offer to London’s most central airport.“ “At the end of last year we reinforced our commitment to Antwerp with the introduction of non-stop flight to Manchester. This route has proven popular from the outset with passenger numbers continually increasing “Since last year three new routes have been added to the network: London City - Groningen via Amsterdam, Antwerp - Manchester and Rotterdam – Manchester.  Whilst these new routes were launched, VLM Airlines decided to terminate the route Liverpool – London City because it was not proving to be sustainable in the long term. Other product developments have included Fast Lane access for the airline’s Business Class passengers departing from Brussels Airport, the introduction of the airline’s first jet, a BAe 146-300, to its fleet in April 2007, and the rapid growth of its frequent flyer programme VLM Encore which now has over 30,000 members. As a full service regional business airline, VLM Airlines has carved a niche for itself with a well-defined product that is popular with business travellers, which represent over 80% of its customers.  Since it launched services in 1993 with direct flights between Antwerp and London City, the airline has played a significant role in the growth of services to and from London City Airport, where it is now the largest carrier with over one third of all movements at this centrally-located London airport.  Source: VLM and De Gentenaar;  

Eurocontrol has opened a new operations room at its headquarters in Brussels. The operations room will be used by the organisations Central Flow Management Unit. Eurocontrol co-ordinates air flights across European airspace. Each day some 32,000 flights are managed from the centre in Brussels. The organisation was set up in 1995 to ensure an efficient use of European airspace and cut delays. At the moment only 5% of flights incur delays in excess of a quarter of an hour. Eurocontrol says that this is a far better performance than when each individual country was in charge of its own airspace. Eurocontrol points out that fewer delays and shorter flight times mean a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Better capacity management and flight routeing have reduced fuel consumption by 300,000 tonnes annually In total some 2,300,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions are avoided annually. The organisation's joint management of European airspace also means that an extra 10,000 flights can be handled each day. Eurocontrol is the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation. Its primary objective is the development of a European air traffic management (ATM) system that takes account of the growth in air traffic, while maintaining a high level of safety. Enhancing cost-efficiency and respecting the environment are two other priorities. Eurocontrol has 38 Member States: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. Sources: VRT Flandersnews and Het Nieuwsblad.

Several European Union and NATO countries took a further step towards better coordinating their strategic air and sea transport by establishing a Movement Coordination Centre Europe at Eindhoven Airbase, the Netherlands, on July 1st. The new Centre (MCCE) will coordinate strategic transport assets and air-to-air refuelling activities between the participating countries, aiming at a more efficient and effective use of the various national assets. In addition, the Centre will coordinate movement support to EU and NATO during deployment and re-deployment operations. Strategic lift involves transporting troops, equipment and supplies across the globe by air or sea. The MCCE is a merger of the European Airlift Centre (EAC) and the Sealift Coordination Centre (SCC).The EAC and SCC were set up as a result of NATO’s Defence Capability Initiative agreed in 1999. The operations of these two centres have proven to be very successful and participating nations have saved millions of euros by coordinating their lift requirements and avoiding empty legs or space on their transport assets. The founding MCCE countries are: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, The Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and United Kingdom. Six more countries are in the process of joining the MCCE. The Centre is staffed by 30 military and civilians personnel from the participating countries. During the first year of operation, the Centre will be led by a Norwegian Navy Officer supported by an Italian Air force Deputy and a Belgian Army Chief Operations.  Sources: Mil.be  FR & NL