Category Archives: Brussels Airlines

Brussels Airlines endures two days of strikes this week

Brussels Airlines is today being struck by its pilot’s union. The airline will endure another day of industrial action on Wednesday.

The airline issued this statement before the strikes started:

Brussels Airlines deeply regrets that strike actions triggered by its social partners representing the airline’s pilot community are causing massive disruptions in Monday’s and Wednesday’s flight operations.

The strike will impact Brussels Airlines flights to and from Brussels on May 14 and May 16, 2018. 278 flights to and from Brussels were scheduled on Monday and 279 flights on Wednesday, with respectively 34,000 and 29,000 passengers booked.

“Despite the fact that we do everything we can to reduce the inconveniences to our guests to a minimum, the strike severely impacts the travel plans of our customers, for which we wish to sincerely apologise. We have mobilized a maximum of staff and have increased the capacity of our Service Center to assist our guests as much as possible with rebooking”, explains Thibault Demoulin, Chief Operating Officer of Brussels Airlines. “From Brussels Airlines’ point of view, the strike is incomprehensible, since the company has submitted substantial offers to the cockpit union delegation”, continues Thibault Demoulin.

Priority is given to the stranded guests

Significant disruptions to the flight operations are to be expected during the days of the strike.

Passengers booked on a flight on Monday or Wednesday can rebook their flight free of charge or cancel their reservation at no extra charge with a full refund. Guests who are stranded at their destination will be offered maximum care, including hotel accommodation, alternative travel options on Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa Group airlines or other available carriers.

New conciliation process to start

A first proposal of a flexible benefit plan, that foresaw as of January 1, 2019 an increase of 3% of the pilot’s monthly gross salary and an additional 3% as of 2020 should there be no growth, had been refused by the pilots.

Today, in order to give a new chance to the negotiations, the management of Brussels Airlines had made a new proposal for its pilots. Indeed, following latest discussions among Brussels Airlines management, union representatives and pilots, all parties involved came to the conclusion that the past weeks and months the focus in the negotiations was too much on salary increase rather than on the improvement of work-life balance, which seems to be the predominant concern of the pilot community.

The purpose was now to reinforce the already established working group on flight-time/duty-time (workload) in order to come with concrete proposals. With the feedback received, the management has decided to put extra resources into this working group and re-allocate part of the foreseen funds to the improvement of rosters and holiday planning.

The management of Brussels Airlines proposed to finalize a concrete planning listing all the initiatives, to speed up the process. To cover the implementation period of a new to be agreed proposal, intermediate compensation measures are being worked on, which can be implemented in the short run.

“We deeply regret the refusal of our new offer that focuses on the main concern of our pilots – an improved work-life balance. We know that this is the most important to them”, explains Christina Foerster, CEO of Brussels Airlines. “We are also worried about the process as our social partners announced a strike even before the new conciliation process has started. It goes without saying that we remain open for transparent and constructive dialogue as we continue aiming at a solution that on the one hand responds to the concerns of our pilots and on the other hand doesn’t put the future of our company at stake. The union delegation continues to propose the same 12 points, which represent a total increase in cost of 25% for the company. It would be irresponsible for the future of our company and its 3900 employees to accept this.”

Top Copyright Photo: Brussels Airlines Airbus A330-223 OO-SFY (msn 229) YYZ (TMK Photography). Image: 941517.

Brussels Airlines aircraft slide show:

Brussels Airlines grows by 13.4% in March

Brussels Airlines made this announcement:

In March, 778,175 passengers boarded a Brussels Airlines flight, which represents a 13.4% increase compared to the same month last year. Passenger growth was recorded across the entire network, leading to a 4.7 percentage point increase of the seat load factor.

Brussels Airlines closes March with growth. On board of the 6,390 flights that were operated during the past month, Brussels Airlines welcomed 778,175 passengers, or 91,876 more than in March 2017. The largest growth was recorded on the North American (+28.1%) and African sectors (+18.1%), followed by the European network (+10.8%) and the Middle East (+5.6%). The Asian growth is due to the fact that Brussels Airlines’ Mumbai route was opened on 30 March 2017 (comparison of 2 days of operations last year versus an entire month this year). On the European network the growth was mainly achieved thanks to the Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium activities that were integrated last October.

The passenger growth led to an increase of the seat load factor by 4.7 percentage points, bringing the average seat load factor to 79.5%. It was also a very strong month for Brussels Airlines Cargo. The cargo load factor grew by 5.8 percentage points to 75.2%. The freight volumes transported in the belly of Brussels Airlines’ passenger flights increased by 43%, a significant growth that is partly due to the opening of the Mumbai route.

Compared to March last year, Brussels Airlines operated 3.9% less flights. Nevertheless the airline was able to increase its growth rate. This is the result of the replacement of the last AVRO jets (100 seats) by Airbus aircraft with a greater capacity (180 seats). Thanks to its increased offer, Brussels Airlines was able to continue to propose competitive fares and attract even more customers. This means, however, that the pressure on airline ticket prices remains very high.

These statistics do not include the passengers on board of charter flights Brussels Airlines operates on behalf of tour operators.

Month	Month	VLY difference
mar18	mar17	VLY difference
Flights	6,390	6,650	-3.9%
Total Passengers	778,175	686,299	13.4%
— Passengers Europe	632,445	570,678	10.8%
— Passengers Africa	94,059	79,643	18.1%
— Passengers North America	24,817	19,368	28.1%
— Passengers Middle East	16,775	15,881	5.6%
— Passengers Asia	10,079	729	1282.6%
Available seat-kilometers (ASK)	1,661,714,583	1,423,890,745	16.7%
Revenue Passenger-Kilometers (RPK)	1,320,531,121	1,064,760,834	24.0%
Passenger Load Factor (%)	79.5%	74.8%	4.7%pt
Available Ton-Kilometers (ATK)	197,312	168,453	17.1%
Revenue Ton-Kilometers (RTK)	155,970	123,253	26.5%
Cargo Load Factor (%)	75.2%	69.4%	5.8%pt
These results are based on figures currently available

Brussels Airlines aircraft slide show:

Brussels Airlines reveals “Aerosmurf”

7 months, 1415 submitted ideas and 14 painting days after the start of the Belgian Icon contest, Brussels Airlines’ fifth iconic plane is ready to carry out its Belgian colors around Europe and beyond. The Smurfs design by the Italian Marta Mascellani, chosen by the public, will represent Belgium on a Brussels Airlines A320 (OO-SND) named “Aerosmurf”. It was unveiled on March 24, 2018.

Above Photo: Marta and Lorenzo Mascellani.

As a proud ambassador of Belgium, Brussels Airlines continues its series of Belgian Icons, aircraft with special designs dedicated to iconic Belgians. Today, in the presence of winner Marta Mascellani and finalists of the contest, Brussels Airlines revealed Aerosmurf. The Smurfs, who celebrate their 60^thbirthday this year, are one of Belgium’s most loved comic characters and are sure to be the perfect flying ambassadors for Belgium. As from tomorrow Aerosmurf will bring the world to Belgium and the best of Belgium to the world, just like the four other Belgian Icons Rackham (Tintin), Magritte, Trident (Red Devils) and Amare (Tomorrowland).

The name Aerosmurf is the title of a Smurfs comic album which tells the story of a little Smurf whose dream is to fly. The little Smurf tried several ideas, but none of them work, until he builds a plane. Since then, the little Smurf is known as Aerosmurf.

“To design our fifth Belgian Icon, we wanted to ask the public who they wish to see flying through the skies as an ambassador for Belgium. That’s why we launched a contest last year to which everyone with a heart for Belgium, every enthusiast and every designer could participate by sending in their idea or plane design. And we received an overwhelming amount of ideas, from fries to the saxophone.”

Tanguy Cartuyvels, VP Marketing at Brussels Airlines.

“It is an honor to see the Smurfs representing our country as a Belgian Icon, and a fantastic way to celebrate their 60^th birthday. My father would be proud to see Aerosmurf taking to the skies.”

Véronique Culliford, Peyo’s daughter and president and founder of IMPS

The design

The designers of studio Peyo adapted Marta’s design to fit the round fuselage of an aircraft. The result is a plane with 19 smurfs, passengers as well as crew, interacting with each other. In the cockpit we find Smurfette as the captain and Papa Smurf as co-pilot. The design contains Belgian details, representing the many other ideas that were submitted during the contest. On the left hand side Harmony Smurf is playing the Belgian national anthem on the saxophone – a Belgian invention – together with another smurf who is playing the harmonica, referring to the famous Belgian musician Toots Thielemans. On the crew smurf’s trolley we find a miniature Atomium.

On the right side of the plane a crew smurf is serving Belgian fries and waffles to the smurf passengers. Aerosmurf also has two secret passengers, Gargamel and Azrael, trying to escape through a hatch in the belly of the plane. A treat for plane spotters, since they are only visible during takeoff and landing.

For passengers flying with Aerosmurf the experience continues inside. Little smurf footsteps on the carpet are leading the Aerosmurf guests to their seats, while a Smurfs video and adapted boarding music complete the Smurfs experience.

Led by airbrush specialist André Eisele, 14 artists worked 14 days non-stop to paint the eleven meters high and 37.56 meters long design on the plane by hand. They used 28 colors, 420 liters of paint, 24,000 meters of masking tape and 4,500 m² masking paper. Aerosmurf will be part of the Brussels Airlines fleet until 2023.

As the winner of the contest, Marta Mascellani followed the plane’s creation process behind the scenes. Today she stands front row at the revealing of the aircraft and tomorrow Aerosmurf will take Marta home to Milan, with in the cockpit her brother Lorenzo, who is a pilot at Brussels Airlines and also her personal connection to Belgium.

“It is amazing to see how they really made my design come alive. Drawing is a passion of mine and seeing my design on a plane that will fly around Europe is a wonderful way to share that passion with the world.”

Marta Mascellani, designer Aerosmurf

All photos by Brussels Airlines.

Today’s schedule:

– SN2093 taking off in BRU at 9h50, arriving in LHR at 10h15
– SN2094 taking off in LHR at 11h05, arriving in BRU at 13h15
– SN3149 taking off in BRU at 16h35, arriving in LIN at 18h00
– SN3150 taking off in LIN at 18h50, arriving in BRU at 20h20
– SN3291 taking off in BRU at 21h20, arriving in TLV at 02h40

Eurowings adds the first Airbus A340-300, operated by Brussels Airlines

Eurowings placed the first Airbus A340-300 into revenue service on March 20 from Dusseldorf, operated by Brussels Airlines. Flight EW 9778, operated with the pictured A340-313 OO-SCW (msn 335), departed DUS bound for Vienna. OO-SCW is the first of three A340s to be operated by Brussels Airlines from the DUS base.

Photo: Eurowings.

Videos:

Brussels Airlines starts summer season with 26 new destinations

Brussels Airlines launches the biggest network expansion in the company’s history. Thanks to the cooperation with tour operators Neckermann, Thomas Cook and Pegase, the company doesn’t only increase its flight frequencies to different leisure destinations, but also expands its network with 26 new leisure destinations.

Brussels Airlines launches 26 new destinations this summer. It is the biggest network expansion in the history of the company. Besides an increase in flight frequencies to different holiday regions, the airline also welcomes new leisure destinations in Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Macedonia, Greece, Montenegro, Morocco, Portugal and Spain to its summer schedule, which runs from March 25 until October 27.

The significant growth of the airline’s destination offer is mainly due to the integration of the Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium activities and two of their Airbus A320 aircraft and herewith the closer cooperation with tour operators Neckermann, Thomas Cook and Pegase, leading to almost 1,700 weekly flights to short-and medium-haul destinations (+9.67% seats compared to 2017) and over 200 weekly flights on the long-haul this summer (+1.53% seats compared to 2017).

Short- and medium-haul destinations

Within Europe, the company welcomes several new leisure destinations this summer. Brussels Airlines sets sail for Burgas and Varna (Bulgaria), Cyprus, Sharm-el-Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam (Egypt), several Greek destinations and Islands, Ohrid (Macedonia) and Tivat (Montenegro).

The flight offer to holiday regions in Spain, Morocco, Greece and Croatia also grows significantly thanks to the addition of, among others, Lanzarote, Agadir, Santorini, Zadar and Split. Besides new destinations there will also be an increase in flight frequencies to French cities Ajaccio, Bastia, Bordeaux and Nice, as well as to Athens, Tel Aviv, Florence and Malaga.

NEW DESTINATIONS

Burgas (Bulgaria) 2 x week

Varna (Bulgaria) 2 x week

Boa Vista (Cabo Verde) 2 x week

Sal (Cabo Verde) 2 x week

Split (Croatia) 2 x week

Zadar (Croatia) 1 x week

Chania (Crete) 3 x week

Girona (Spain) 1 x week

Paphos (Cyprus) 2 x week

Corfu (Greece) 3 x week

Mikonos (Greece) 1 x week

Santorini (Greece) 1 x week

Kos (Greece) 3 x week

Kalamata (Greece) 1 x week

Zakynthos (Greece) 2 x week

Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt) 1 x week

Marsa Alam (Egypt) 1 x week

Hurghada (Egypt) 3 x week

Tivat (Montenegro) 1 x week

Agadir (Morocco) 3 x week

Ohrid (Republic of Macedonia) 1 x week

Lanzarote (Spain) 3 x week

Fuertaventura (Spain) 1 x week

Almeria (Spain) 2 x week

Menorca (Spain) 1 x week

Reus (Spain) 1 x week

INCREASED FLIGHT FREQUENCIES

Ajaccio (France) 2 x week

Bastia (France) 2 x week

Bordeaux (France) 6 x week

Nice (France) 21 x week

Athens (Greece) 5 x week

Tel Aviv (Israel) 14 x week

Florence (Italy) 7 x week

Malaga (Spain) 15 x week

Geneva (Switzerland) 38 x week

Brussels Airlines aircraft slide show:

Brussels Airlines to resume flights to Yerevan

Brussels Airlines will resume weekly flights from Brussels to Yerevan, Armenia on June 2.

Brussels Airlines aircraft slide show:

Brussels Airlines reviews its positive 2017 financial results

For Brussels Airlines, 2017 was marked by positive financial results in a highly competitive environment and strategic investment for the future.

Operating profit (EBIT) of €14.98 million in 2017 (IFRS standard)
Net result of €3.57 million (IFRS)
Continued highly competitive environment which, in combination with a strong capacity increase linked to fleet alignment (+11%), led to important yield pressure
Market share increased by 1.4 p.p. (+ 1.3 million passengers)
9.1 million passengers (+17.3%) leading to a record seat load factor of 78.8% (+4.1 p.p.)
Key strategic projects implemented, weighing on 2017 results, but creating new sources of profit (Thomas Cook/launch of Mumbai/Toronto)
Excluding one-time costs of strategic investments, the operating result amounts to €25 million
€1.326 billion revenues and a cash position (€204 million) that remains very solid, despite the reimbursement of €16.8 million of airport security subsidies following negative decision by European Commission. The additional 2 years of subsidies which were expected to be received have been cancelled, which will negatively impact the BGAAP net result (exceptional one-time effect)
Brussels Airlines hired 645 new staff members (including 160 crew members of Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium)

In 2017, despite a challenging market environment, Brussels Airlines continued on its growth path of the last years, booking a positive result for the 3^rd consecutive year. Brussels Airlines’ seat capacity increased by 11% versus 2016, especially on the European network, following the phase-out of the AVRO RJ100 fleet (100 seater) and its partial replacement by bigger Airbus A319/320 (140/180 seats). The increased capacity on the long-haul sector was realized thanks to the addition of an Airbus A330, which was mainly deployed on the new Mumbai route.

The additional seats have resulted in a 17.3% passenger increase, allowing Brussels Airlines to pass the 9 million passenger mark for the first time in its history (one million above the original 2018 ambition) and leading to a seat load factor of 78.8% (+4.1 p.p. and only 1.8 p.p. under the 2018 ambition), also a record for Brussels Airlines.

An overall growing network and strategic investments fueling the future of Brussels Airlines

The European network – The integration in Belgium of the Thomas Cook Airlines activities and two of its Airbus A320 aircraft, allowed Brussels Airlines to reinforce its position in the important leisure segment. The closer cooperation with tour operator Thomas Cook Belgium allowed Brussels Airlines to add 26 new destinations to its existing leisure network and to further improve its productivity. The integration will increase Brussels Airlines’ customer base by a further one million guests, contributing substantially to the profitability of the highly competitive European network.

By increasing the seat capacity on the European network and, as a consequence, growing the passenger numbers, Brussels Airlines was able to increase its market share. This created an important pressure on the yield, however, which was further reinforced by the capacity increase related to the fleet alignment towards the A320 family in a market that was still in a recovery phase after the March 22^nd terrorist attack, impacting the profitability in the early months of 2017. As a consequence, the full profit effect of the up-gauge from Avro to Airbus will hence only by visible as of 2018, as already visible in the financial results of the two first months of 2018.

The African continent – With a very strong performance, despite some political crises, Africa remained the strong-hold of Brussels Airlines in 2017. For the first time ever, the airline surpassed the one million passenger mark on the African network, corresponding to an increase of 14.0% and resulting in an average seat load factor of 87%, a record for Brussels Airlines. Brussels remains a real hub for African passengers, with 65% of passengers connecting to a Brussels Airlines destination in Europe or the US. The Cargo activities of the airline contributed to the positive results on Africa.

US and Canada – On the North Atlantic sector, Brussels Airlines focused on the performance of its three destinations New York, Washington and Toronto. During the first semester of 2017, the traffic from the US to Belgium still suffered from the terror level 3, impacting travel from the US to and via Belgium. It’s only in the second semester that the traffic started to recover. Overall passenger number grew by 13.7%.

Brussels Airlines expects a further improvement of the North Atlantic performance thanks to the recently signed sales agreement with the Lufthansa Group.

Newcomer India – Launched in April last year, Brussels Airlines’ first Asian destination Mumbai reached an average seat load factor of 75% and financials are in line with the business plan. India is an important economic partner for Belgium with, at the same time, a substantial leisure potential.

A good start of 2018

The first two months of this year show a positive trend in terms of passenger volumes and revenues – even though the pressure on the yield remains very high. With a passenger growth of 15% and 16.5% in respectively January and February, Brussels Airlines could further reinforce its market position. The overall costs per seat are also lower than during the same period last year – especially thanks to the first results of the investments done in 2017.

Brussels Airlines aircraft slide show:

Brussels Airlines to fly to Antalya and Santorini

Brussels Airlines (Brussels), according to Airline Route, will open two new seasonal holiday routes for the summer season.

The flag carrier will open the Brussels – Santorini (Thira), Greece route on May 4. It will operate weekly until September 28.

This will be followed by the Brussels – Antalya, Turkey route on June 29. Four flights a week will be operated.

In addition, Brussels Airlines will be operating holiday routes this summer previously operated by Thomas Cook Airlines (Belgium).

Brussels Airlines aircraft slide show:

New leadership at Brussels Airlines, will remain a Belgian entity

Brussels Airlines made this announcement:

Eurowings and Brussels Airlines are shaping the European airline industry together. Brussels Airlines will remain a Belgian entity and Belgium’s home carrier and will continue to grow.

Key Points:

Christina Foerster appointed Chief Executive Officer effective April 1.
Thibault Demoulin appointed Chief Operating Officer of Brussels Airlines as of April 1.
Two new members of the Management Board will be appointed shortly
Lufthansa Group Executive Board member and CEO of Eurowings, Thorsten Dirks: “Brussels Airlines will continue to grow – the professionalism, expertise and passion of the Brussels Airlines staff are a vital part on our joint path to success.”
Following the appointment of the new leadership team, Bernard Gustin, present CEO of Brussels Airlines and Jan De Raeymaeker, CFO of the Belgian airline, will support the transition and will leave by March 31.
Thorsten Dirks: “Bernard Gustin and Jan De Raeymaeker have made significant contributions to Brussels Airlines, leading the company successfully through growth and turbulent times – thanks to them Brussels Airlines is Belgium’s number one carrier today

The Brussels Airlines’ Board of Directors has appointed a new leadership team:

Christina Foerster will become new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Brussels Airlines effective April 1
Thibault Demoulin will fulfill the function of Chief Operating Officer of Brussels Airlines as of April 1
Two new members of the management board will be appointed shortly

“I am very pleased that Christina Foerster has agreed to assume the position of CEO of Brussels Airlines – she is the first-ever female to head a Lufthansa Group airline”, said Thorsten Dirks, Lufthansa Group Executive Board member, CEO of Eurowings and also member of the Brussels Airlines Board of Directors. “We are convinced that the new team will further strengthen, together with the rest of the Brussels Airlines staff, the already successful cooperation between Brussels Airlines and Eurowings. Only together we will be able to shape the European airline industry and succeed in our sustainable growth plans. Brussels, as the European capital, continues to be a stronghold in our growth strategy.”

New CEO Christina Foerster is no stranger to Belgium and Brussels Airlines. Christina Foerster has been the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer for one and a half years and has been living in the Belgian capital since then. She has held various high-profile positions in the aviation industry prior to joining Brussels Airlines, among them General Manager Product Management Intercontinental, Vice President Network and Fleet Development and Senior Vice President Network, Group & Alliance Development at the Lufthansa Group.

Belgian Thibault Demoulin has been Brussels Airlines’ Senior Vice President Flight Operations and Deputy Accountable Manager for the past 12 years prior to being appointed as COO. He has an excellent track record in establishing safe, reliable and punctual operations at Brussels Airlines, which makes him the perfect fit as the carrier’s COO.

“In 2017, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings gradually started to lay the foundations for a common future, in which the strengths of both airlines will be combined, with the ambition to build a strong, sustainable and leading pan-European airline. Growing within the Eurowings Group as a Belgian entity will allow us to further build on our specificities, such as our Africa expertise and our distinguished Belgian touch. Together with Eurowings, we will further expand our long-haul reach out of Brussels and Dusseldorf, and in particular continue to fulfil our role as Belgium’s home carrier and important economic engine of our country,” emphasizes Etienne Davignon, Co-Chairman of the Board of SN Airholding.

As the CEO of Eurowings, Mr. Dirks points out that Brussels Airlines is already today a crucial cornerstone of the Eurowings Group which is striving to become a leading European airline. “With Brussels Airlines, we can count on a unique know-how of the African market and a long-standing expertise with long-haul operations. Right now our colleagues from Brussels Airlines are leading the process of successfully establishing long-haul operations at Dusseldorf, one of our most important platforms in Germany,” said Dirks. This strong new leadership team, together with the passion, and the expertise of the Brussels Airlines staff, is a vital part in realizing the future plans of the Eurowings Group – and not just that.

“The combined strengths of Brussels Airlines and Eurowings represent one of the three major strategic pillars of the success of the entire Lufthansa Group,” said Dirks. “This means that Brussels Airlines will continue to grow.”

Etienne Davignon, Co-Chairman of the Board of SN Airholding, and Thorsten Dirks wish to thank Bernard Gustin and Jan De Raeymaeker for their years of dedicated service and excellent leadership at Brussels Airlines and wish both all the very best for their future endeavours.

“During 15 years, Bernard Gustin has made significant contributions to the company, leading Brussels Airlines successfully through growth and turbulent times,” said Davignon and Dirks. They point out that Bernard Gustin has put the Belgian carrier back on the European map. “It’s clearly his accomplishment that Brussels Airlines is the number one carrier in Belgium today despite aggressive low-cost competition which is continuously trying to grab market shares.”

In his five years as CFO of Brussels Airlines, Jan De Raeymaeker at the same time significantly contributed to the success of the company, said Dirks and Davignon. “Planning and executing the overall Brussels Airlines restructuring plan and strategically repositioning the company after Vueling, EasyJet and Ryanair entered the Belgian market is also Jan De Raeymaeker’s merit”.

Bernard Gustin and Jan De Raeymaeker not only provided managerial expertise, Dirks said. “Both as a team managed to steer Brussels Airlines through the aftermath of the terrorist attacks at Brussels Airport in March 2016. Thanks to professional crisis management and leadership skills, Brussels Airlines got out of the crisis even stronger than before and clearly positioned itself as a competitive, reliable and responsible airline.”

The African experience and route structure to Africa was the saving grace for Brussels Airlines. At this time, it is unclear if Brussels Airlines will continue to operate under its own brand or the Eurowings brand as a Belgian carrier.

Lufthansa received a lot of pressure from nearly 100 Belgian companies to keep Brussels Airlines based in Belgium and not to merge it with Eurowings according to Reuters. Read the full report from Reuters: CLICK HERE

Brussels Airlines aircraft slide show:

Will Brussels Airlines survive?

According to Reuters,

“Lufthansa wants to replace top management at Brussels Airlines, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Sunday, pointing to the unit’s weak performance compared to other divisions.

The changes, which would affect Brussels Airlines’ chief executive and chief financial officer, will be discussed at a supervisory board meeting of the unit scheduled for Monday, the person said.”

According to The Brussels Times, the pilots of Brussels Airlines are also threatening further action “if management fails to listen to us”.

In the past, Lufthansa has stated its intent to retire the Brussels Airlines brand for its European flights and to operate under the Eurowings brand. Lufthansa controls the Brussels Airlines board, which meets today.

Brussels Airlines’ three unions are also threatening to strike.

Bottom line, Brussels Airlines is not likely to continue to operate as we know it today.

Brussels Airlines aircraft slide show: