Brussels Airlines (Brussels) and its unions have reached agreement on a new contract that will allow the airline to return to profitability. The airline issued the following statement:

The social agreement (contract), based on a set of structural and temporary measures aiming at securing a sustainable future and profitable growth for the company, is focused on job protection and increase of the company’s competitiveness.

On December 7 Brussels Airlines and the union delegates representing the pilots, cabin crew and non-flying staff (including maintenance) of the Belgian company have reached an agreement and herewith make an end to an intensive negotiation period. The agreement is in line with the targets set by the performance improvement plan Beyond 2012-2013 that aims to bring the company back to profitability by 2014.

Bernard Gustin, CEO of Brussels Airlines, qualifies this agreement as a significant step for the Belgian airline, demonstrating the strong engagement of both sides towards the future of the company: “We are extremely satisfied that the agreements reached are taking the requirements and interests of all parties into consideration. Union delegates and management have committed themselves to make mutual concessions in order to safeguard jobs and create growth perspectives for our company by significantly increasing our competitiveness”.

The main topics discussed at the negotiation table were structural measures, such as productivity improvement and seasonality, and temporary measures, like a part-time working regime (for the cockpit crews) and a salary freeze.

• Productivity improvement on the European & long haul network, in line with the economic objectives set at the start of the process
• Adaptation of operations to the summer & winter season
• Competitive flight time/duty time
• Salary freeze by keeping the wage scale at the same level until 2015

In addition, according to CH-Aviation, Brussels Airlines retired its last Boeing 737 from revenue service on November 30. Boeing 737-36N OO-VEN (msn 28586) and 737-4Q8 OO-VET (msn 28202) (pictured) operated the last flights for each type.

Copyright Photo: Paul Denton. Boeing 737-4Q8 OO-VET (msn 28202) taxies at Geneva before the retirement.

Brussels Airlines: