Belgian national carrier Brussels Airlines is celebrating 100 years of flights between Belgium and Africa. The Belgium-Africa service started with flights to the Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) in 1925 and today, Brussels Airlines serves 18 destinations across the continent.
The first flight to Africa took off from Haren (Brussels) on February 12, 1925, and arrived in Léopoldville (now Kinshasa) after 51 days. The flight was operated by a Handley Page W.8F aircraft, with navigator Edmond Thieffry, pilot Léopold Roger, and engineer Jef de Bruycker onboard.
With the evolution of aircraft technology, Sabena began operating nonstop flights between Brussels and Léopoldville on 19 January 1960, using a Boeing 707. This marked a major advancement in transcontinental air travel. Today, Brussels Airlines operates daily flights between the two capitals with the Airbus A330 .
SN Brussels Airlines was created in 2002 following Sabena’s bankruptcy. The national carrier became Brussels Airlines in 2002 after the merger with Virgin Express. The airline continued to serve Africa and has since expanded its destinations, making Africa a key market for its operations.
The Belgian carrier now serves 18 destinations in sub-Saharan Africa, including niche markets like Banjul (the Gambia), Bujumbura (Burundi), Freetown (Sierra Leone), and Monrovia (Liberia). During the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Africa, Brussels Airlines was the only airline that continued to fly between Europe and Guniea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
This summer, the airline will operate up to 56 weekly flights to sub-Saharan Africa , a 10% increase from last summer. The carrier will receive an 11th Airbus A330, allowing it to increase frequencies to Nairobi (Kenya), Accra (Ghana), and several other destinations.
Flights to Nairobi were launched in June 2024 , bringing the airline’s share of Lufthansa Group’s sub-Saharan destinations to 56%. From March 2025, Kinshasa will have daily nonstop flights from Brussels. The route currently operates five times weekly nonstop and twice-weekly via Luanda (Angola). Speaking about the expansion, Brussels Airlines CEO Dorothea von Boxberg said:
“Looking ahead, we will expand our long-haul fleet with an 11th Airbus A330 starting operations in June, followed by two more aircraft in the coming years. This year’s additional 10% capacity will strengthen the existing routes while we also explore new destinations as from next year. As we embark on the next century of aviation between Belgium and the African continent, we will continue to invest, innovate, and serve our passengers with our expertise, commitment and passion.”
Brussels Airlines plays an important role in connecting people, cultures, and economies. Over the next few years, it plans to grow its long-haul fleet to 13 aircraft. It also aims to introduce a brand-new cabin interior across business, premium economy, and economy classes by 2027.
Brussels Airlines is the “African Competence Center of the Lufthansa Group” and leverages its extensive African market presence to benefit all sister carriers. The airline has several offices in the countries it serves, allowing it to cultivate strong partnerships and gain deep market insights.
The Lufthansa Group currently serves over 45 destinations in Africa from its various hubs in Europe. Its extensive network covers major cities, financial centers, and famous leisure destinations. ITA Airways recently joined the Lufthansa Group following a $350 million deal to take an initial 41% stake in the Italian carrier. ITA joins the other European carriers to expand the Group’s multi-brand, multi-hub strategy.
According to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, ITA serves six African destinations from Rome Fiumicino. Major destinations served by the Lufthansa Group include Cairo, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lagos, and Casablanca. Last year saw Lufthansa resuming flights from Munich to Johannesburg after nearly 20 years.
@HappyToursAfrica