Brussels Airlines flies to New York and Africa with brand new Business and Economy Class
Flying to New York or one of the numerous African destinations on the Brussels Airlines network will become more comfortable than ever. The airline invests 30 million euro this year in comfortable flatbed seats in Business Class, generous seating comfort in Economy Class, trendy design and revolutionary entertainment technology. Thanks to this new quality product Brussels Airlines reinforces its position as the reference airline offering the highest levels of quality.
The passenger cabins of the seven Brussels Airlines Airbus A330 aircraft will undergo a genuine makeover in 2012, focused on design, innovation, comfort and the highest levels of quality. “We're introducing this superior in-flight product based on the newest technology and based on the feedback of thousands of passengers creates high expectations and ambitions”, says co-CEO Bernard Gustin.
Business Class
Brussels Airlines Business Class passengers will soon enjoy a new trendy premium seat that can be turned into a real ‘flatbed’ (180° flat position) of nearly two meters in the blink of an eye. But there’s more. The flat bed is equipped with a pneumatic cushion which allows the passenger to choose between a “soft” or a “hard” seat, according to preference, and whereby the body weight is never pressed against the seat. Brussels Airlines is one of the first airlines in the world to introduce this “Pneumatic Cushion” technology in an even more advanced version.
The flat bed also offers relaxing massage possibilities and LED mood lighting, plenty of storage for shoes or reading material and warm, contemporary colours complete the superior comfort. The seat belts carry an airbag. Thanks to the ingenious cabin configuration not less than 24 of the 30 seats have direct aisle access. 10 of the 30 Business Class passengers have no adjacent seat and all seats guarantee lots of privacy.
Economy Class
Passengers flying in Economy Class will soon travel in a stylish, ergonomic seat designed by Italian designers offering more legroom and seat comfort. Passengers will surely appreciate the 83 cm legroom that will allow them to relax even more during their flight. The headrest is adjustable in height and in width. The individual touch screen, equipped with USB port, measures not less than 22, 6 cm.
Revolutionary inflight entertainment system
The new RAVE in-flight entertainment technology, of which Brussels Airlines is amongst the launch customers, is undoubtedly revolutionary. Both in Business and in Economy Class the RAVE programme will be available in six different languages. The individual Business Class screen is not less than 38, 9 cm (15,3") with navigation through modern tablet style ”touch and scroll”. The on demand entertainment system, with content locally stored in the screen (with a memory card), guaranteeing a much higher reliability, contains over 100 hours of movies and documentaries, news programmes, games, audio and e-reading material. Passengers can even connect their own iPad or other devices to the screen in Business Class. No one will get bored on board our intercontinental flights.
Another new technology is the ‘Niceview’ flight information programme (developed by Lufthansa Technik), offering a three-dimensional view from various camera perspectives (aircraft, cockpit, cabin, ...) on which passengers can follow the exact course of the aircraft. A window seat is not necessary anymore to have a (virtual but very realistic) view on the area surrounding the aircraft. The system also offers information on connecting flights.
A new dimension
Brussels Airlines invests close to 30 million euro in its long haul fleet. Also the lavatories and galleys will be completely refurbished. “A large investment that gives a new dimension to the term “passenger comfort”, says Brussels Airlines co-CEO Bernard Gustin. “Customers boarding a Brussels Airlines long haul aircraft will have the feeling they are entering a brand new aircraft. If we compare this level of comfort to the product of other airlines on transatlantic flights or routes to and from Africa, we can conclude that we will become a real precursor and trendsetter of quality in terms of seats, relax possibilities, leg room and entertainment technology.
The refurbishing of the long haul fleet is at the same time a “green” investment. Thanks to the use of modern materials, the weight per aircraft decreases and consequently also the fuel usage and CO2 emissions.”
The first renewed aircraft will be operational as from spring 2012. Lufthansa Technik will perform the refurbishing. The new scheduled services to New York will be operated with the new in-flight product and the upgrade will be gradually available on the African network in 2012.
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About Brussels Airlines
Brussels Airlines is the Belgian airline that offers the widest choice of flights to and from its base in Brussels Airport. The group has more than 3.300 employees and 49 aircraft that operate some 300 punctual flights daily, connecting the Capital of Europe to over 70 premium European and African airports and New York City (as from June 2012).
On its European routes, operated with AVRO, Boeing 737, and Airbus A319/A320, Brussels Airlines offers the choice of a premium service at a very high level (“b.business”), an ultra-flexible product, which offers time-saving and comfort at reasonable prices (“b.flex economy+”) and a low fare product (“b.light economy”). On medium- and long-haul flights, the airline operates traditional business or economy class. Long-haul flights are operated with Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft.
In addition to 21 destinations in Africa, Brussels Airlines and its intercontinental partners also offer long-haul service to the United Arab Emirates, China, Thailand, India and North America.
Brussels Airlines is owned by SN Airholding and is backed up by more than 80 years of aviation experience in Belgium. In June 2009, Lufthansa announced its interest in the management structure and capital of the Belgian airline. Brussels Airlines has been a member of the global airline alliance Star Alliance since 9 December 2009.
