Brussels airport is in talks with Air India and IndiGo for restoration of air connectivity between India and Belgium.
Representatives of Brussels airport are meeting executives of the two airlines in Delhi pitching for direct flights. The airport is participating in a Belgian economic mission that is visiting India this week. The mission is led by Princess Astrid and comprises federal ministers and business houses.
Brussels airport handled 23.6 million passengers and over 700,000 tonnes of cargo last year. India is largest unserved Asian market for Belgium which has air links with China, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and hubs in West Asia. Around 150,000 passengers flew between India and Belgium in 2024.
“A new direct flight would result in significant stimulation of traffic between both the countries and further boost business, holiday and visiting friends and relatives traffic from and to Belgium,” a Brussels airport spokesperson said.
Jet Airways flew to Brussels before shifting its base to Amsterdam in 2016. Brussels Airlines restored connectivity with India in 2017 but the airline suspended it’s Mumbai service in January 2019.
Brussels has limited flight connections to North America compared to other larger hubs in Europe but is well connected with Africa. Infact, limited onward connections was one of the reasons that prompted Jet Airways to move to Amsterdam in 2016.
The Belgian airport however believes Air India could benefit from its ties with Lufthansa (which owns Brussels Airlines) and its Star Alliance membership.
“Air India would complement the strong Star Alliance network at Brussels already represented from Asia through Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, All Nippon Airways and Juneyao Airlines. IndiGo would open up our large market with its new product offering and traffic stimulation,” the spokesperson said.
Further new flights will also help cargo especially transport of pharmaceutical products from India. “ Cargo links are very important to support future passenger flights as well the opportunity to develop full freighter operations. Pharma is the one of the backbones of the Belgian market,” the airport said.
At present Air India is the largest carrier on India – Europe routes and it’s network covers London, Birmingham, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Zurich, Vienna and Tel Aviv. Prior to pandemic Air India flew to Madrid and Stockholm.
IndiGo which is wet leasing Boeing 787 planes from Norwegian carrier Norse Atlantic plans to expand its European operations this summer and is in talks with airports for slots.