08/05/2021
Adapted Covid-19 rules for Belgian G.A.
In a note published on 7 May 2021 the Belgian C.A.A. adapted the Covid-19 rules for General Aviation flights in Belgium.
Flights with family members or very close contacts in one aircraft are possible again without any restriction.
Flights with �third parties� are allowed when all on board wear mouth masks and handgels are used. The rules allow aeroclubs to offer introduction and initiation flights again.
Also balloon flights (with passengers) and paradrop activities can restart as from today. 05/05/2021
Aerocircular declared bankrupt
Aerocircular, a company for dismantling aircraft, that started operations at Ostend Airport in 2019 with the help of an investment by the Flemish government has been declared bankrupt. 29/04/2021
70 milj. Loss for Brussels Airlines
Brussels Airlines reported as loss of 70 milj. Euro for the first quarter of 2021. The company counted 192.000 passengers during the first three months of 2021, a reduction with 88%. (during the first two months of 2020 there was no Covid-19 impact).
The company only flew 1.791 flights, 87% less than in 2020. 16/04/2021
New hangar at Brasschaat
During the night of 18 July 2018 the hangar of the Aeroclub van Brasschaat was completely destroyed by fire.
Almost three years later the construction of a new hangar has started. We presume it will be finished in the coming weeks. 31/03/2021
TUI to re-launch flights from Antwerp Airport
As the restriction on non-essential travel is coming to an end on April 19th, TUI is planning to start flying out of Antwerp as from April 20th.
The company will fly twice weekly to Malaga (TUESAT), Alicante(WADSUN), Ibiza(MONFRI), Mallorca (THUSUN) and Murcia (WEDSAT).
On June 18th, a new destination will be added : Avignon which will be flown on Monday and Friday. 24/03/2021
NHV AWARDED OFFSHORE CONTRACT IN IRELAND
NHV Group today announced a new contract with PSE Kinsale Energy Ltd in support of its decommissioning operations in the Celtic Sea.
The transfer flights towards the Stena Spey drilling rig, about 50 km off the south coast of Cork, are expected to start in April 2021 for a duration of six to eight months. NHV AS Denmark, NHV�s Danish branch, will be performing the contract. The agreement facilitates the provision of one dedicated Leonardo AW139 aircraft. 09/03/2021
More relaxed rules for aircraft training
Under the current Covid-19 restrictions flight training was limited to student-pilots working towards a CPL/ATPL licence.
Under the revised rules implemented from 08 March 2021 flight-training for student-pilots working towards a PPL licence is possible again. But only for student-pilots who started their flight training before the start of the pandemic
If we understand the new regulations correct, flight training for new students is still prohibited. 03/03/2021
NHV announced another new contract
NHV Group today announced a new contract with Allseas to provide helicopter services in support of the Energinet Europipe II Branch Pipeline project. The weekly H175 flights will depart from NHV�s base in Esbjerg. 02/03/2021
All flights to Morocco stopped
Yesterday the Morocco Health Secretary decided to immediately stop all flights between Morocco and Belgium. The reason is, as always, the Covid 19 pandemic.
There will be no services between the two countries till, at least, 21 March. 24/02/2021
Brussels Airlines preparing for summer
Brussels Airlines is slowly expanding its flight for holidaymakers
� 78 destinations for the summer time-table
� Focus on holiday destinations
� Start of the Brussel-Frankfurt service
� All tariffs remain flexible
As it is expected that demand for summer voyages will rise over the coming months, Brussels Airlines wants to offer its customers interesting holiday destinations. 22/02/2021
JMB Aircraft nominated again !
Last year JMB Aircraft won the Fliegermagazine award for �Best 600 kg UL Ultralight Plane�. This year the company is nominated again, this time for �Best New Ultralight�.
The Fliegermagazine award is organised for the tenth time this year.
17/02/2021
TUI Fly Boeing 737 Max returns to service
After almost 2 years on the ground, Boeing 737Max � OO-MAX - is the first TUI Fly aircraft that returned to service today. The aircraft left Brussels airport this morning for a flight to Alicante. During the previous days the company flew some �operational readiness flights� in order to prepare the aircraft and crew for the return to service. These flights lasted about one hour including approaches on order to test the manual and automatic landings. 11/02/2021
New air traffic controllers wanted
This year too skeyes is looking for new air traffic controllers. Candidates can register for the recruitment procedure from 15 February to 14 March 2021. It consists of five stages. Only those who pass each stage separately will move on to the next stage. Those who pass the entire process can start the training on 1 September 2021 to become an air traffic controller.
Candidates must hold a secondary education diploma, be less than 30 years old on the closing date for registration and be 18 years old on 1 September 2021. 07/02/2021
Air Belgium Cargo flights
It seems Air Belgium will cooperate with the French CMA CGM Group to start up a cargo operation. CMA CGM acquired two Airbus A.330 freighter that will be operated by Air Belgium. Air Belgium itself will acquire an additional two aircraft. All aircraft are former Qatar Airways machines. So the company intends to start operations with four aircraft on routes from Europe to China. 31/01/2021
Air Belgium moves into cargo business
Air Belgium just announced the intention to start full cargo operations from Li�ge/Bierset airport using Airbus A.330 aircraft. The company plans to start operations with two aircraft as early as next month.
It is not clear if their is any connection with the announcement from Fedex that it will downsize operations at Li�ge airport. Air Belgium CEO Terzakis was, years ago, instrumental in the start of TNT Airways operations at Li�ge airport. So, this link certainly exists ! 27/01/2021
Flyinggroup chooses handling by Jet Aviation
Flyinggroup recently signed an FBO agreement with Jet Aviation. Jet Aviation will support Flyinggroup aircraft with handling services on flights throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
(source : Business Air News) 26/01/2021
Still restrictions on flight training
Flight training is allowed again as is training to obtain a car driving licence. For flight training some restrictions are still in use. The Belgian C.A.A. agreed to allow all training. But the Covid-19 expert group, who advise the Federal Government, suggested to limit flight training to student pilots working towards a Commercial Pilot Licence. So, all training flights for students hoping to obtain a PPL (Private Pilot Licence) are still prohibited at his moment. 21/01/2021
Brussels Airlines cancels up to 900 flights !
During Februart and March Brussels Airlines will cancel up to 900 flights. The reason is simple, a lack of passengers.
Some destinations as Barcelona, G�teborg, Rome and Wien will not be serviced during these two months. Several other cities will be serviced with a reduced number of flights. During February the company will only fly 7% of the flights offered in the same month last year. For March 12% of the flights are still planned.
The company fears that possible government restrictions on non-essential travelling may have an additional impact.
All flights to African destinations remain on the planning. 20/01/2021
N.H.V. moves to healty financial situation
The two previous years were difficult for Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen (N.H.V.) due to the reduced workload for the oil and gas business and the Covid-19 pandemic
The company recently finalised and agreement with major shareholder Ardian and several banks. The company will also continue with the optimalisation of its fleet.
A long standing dispute with N.H.V. founder E. Van Hal was also solved.
(source : De Tijd) 19/01/2021
Boeing 737MAX operational again
After more than 22 months on the ground, the four Belgian registered Boeing 737MAX can return to service in the coming days. Normally the European Aviation Authority EASA will allow the return into service next week. The aircraft were grounded on 12 March 2019 as a result of a worldwide ban on this type after a second fatal crash.
Four TUI Belgium aircraft are since parked at Brussels Airport. We suppose that the aircraft will need some maintenance and checks before returning to service. The fact that these aircraft have been inactive for such a long period �disappeared� in the massive turn-down as a result of Covid-19. 08/01/2021
Sharp fall in passenger traffic at Antwerp Airport
During the pandemic year of 2020 only 88.036 passengers passed through Antwerp Airport. Compared to the 306.330 in 2019 this is a decrease of 71,3%.
There was also a decrease of 34% in businessflights. 08/01/2021
Delta Air Lines starts full freighter service
Delta Air Lines will fly a full freighter regular service between Brussels airport and Detroit starting on 18 January. Initially there will be two weekly services operated with Airbus A.330 aircraft. From February three weekly flights are planned.
Cargo will included Covid-19 vaccines produced in Belgium as well as medical equipment, pharmaceuticals and US mail. 18/11/2021
New brand for Brussels Airlines
Today, Brussels Airlines presents a new brand identity, confirming its position in the market as Belgium�s home carrier. Updated colours, a new logo and aircraft livery are the visual token of the airline�s new chapter, stating its readiness for future challenges and re-emphasizing on the importance of the Belgian brand. A chapter with a strong focus on customer experience, reliability and sustainability while keeping a competitive cost-structure.
The new brand identity includes a new version of the Brussels Airlines signature red and blue colours, now a deeper red and a darker shade of blue. The dotted �b�, which today adorns the tails of its fleet, makes way for 9 dots of different sizes in the form of a square, to represent the diversity of its customers, its destinations and its employees. No dot is alike. The updated logo also makes use of a new, more modern type font. The two words of the brand name are now stacked, with the word �brussels� gaining more importance with its larger size to emphasize the airline�s Belgian identity. The new aircraft livery, shows a zoom on the dotted logo on the tails, a fresh white body and a continuation of dots in different shades of blue and grey. 09/11/2021
Delta Airlines returns to Brussel
U.S. carrier Delta Airlines announced that Brussel is one of six European destinations that will be serviced again as from next summer. Flights into Brussels Airport will restart on 26 March 2022. This service will be flown five times each week using Boeing 767-300 aircraft. 06/11/2021
Thai Airways returns to Brussels Airport
After an absence of 19 months, Thai Airways returned to Brussels Airport last Wednesday, 03 November 2021. This service is flown twice a week (Wednesday and Friday) with Airbus A.350-900 aircraft. Thailand is again open to foreign vaccinated tourists. 05/11/2021
Positive results for Brussels Airlines
Thanks to a rising demand for flights and a competitive costs structure, Brussels Airlines has a positive result in the 3rd quarter of 2021. 08/10/2021
Air Belgium accepts first Airbus A.330-900
Today, Air Belgium accepted, at Toulouse, the first of two Airbus A.330-900�s. The company will operate this aircraft on long-haul flights from Brussels Airport. This aircraft can accept up to 286 passengers (30 business class, 21 premium class and 235 economy class). These aircraft will replace the Airbus A.340�s that are still operated by the company today. 30/09/2021
Boeing 777 freighters for CMA CGM
CMA CGM ordered two Boeing 777 freighter aircraft. We presume that these aircraft will complement the existing fleet of four Airbus A.330 freighters operated by Air Belgium from Li�ge/Bierset and Brussels airport. The Boeing 777 gives additional capacity as it is able to take more than 100 tons of revenue freight on flights up to 5.000 nmi. 14/07/2021
Best ultralight of the year!
JMB aircraft is thrilled to announce that the VL3 Evolution has been awarded again by Fliegermagazin , one of the most famous magazines in Germany, as a best ultralight plane of the year!
After receiving the innovation award only a few weeks ago by another German press Aerokurier, the VL3 Evolution now holds both trophies for the year.
�This is a second year our aircraft has been awarded in a row and we are really excited about it as the hard work our team puts in designing and manufacturing the VL3 proves we are on the right track.� said the CEO of JMB aircraft, Jean Marie Guisset. 09/07/2021
Bert Zegels passed away
On Wednesday 07 July 2021 Belgian glider �legend� Bert Zegels passed away. Bert started his career gliding at Keiheuvel. In 1974 he obtained second place in de world championship gliding at Waikerie (Australia) in the Open Class.
He later flew as a professional airline pilot for Delta Air Transport on Fokker F.28, Air Belgium on the Boeing 757 and Citybird and Korean Airlines on the MD.11.
The picture attached shows Fokker F.28 � OO-DJA � flown by Bert making an impressive low-pass at the Keiheuvel air show on 23 August 1987.
(photo Bob Rong�) 29/06/2021
Gulfstream sales tour visit Belgium
On 28 and 29 June 2021 a Gulfstream 280 and a Gulfstream 500 visited Luxaviation at Kortrijk/Wevelgem airport as a final stop of a European sales tour. The Gulfstream Aerospace sales team made this visit in an effort to sell their aircraft on the Belgian bizjet market where the long and middle range segment is dominated by their rivals Dassault Aviation and Bombardier.
12/06/2021
Fleet update for Air Belgium
An Airbus A.330neo (c/n 1844) was spotted at Toulouse with an air Belgium logo on the engine cowlings. It seems that Air Belgium intends to replace the three Airbus A.340 aircraft in service at this moment by two Next Generation Airbus A.330 aircraft.
Both aircraft, originally intended for Rwandair, are parked at Toulouse at this moment. 10/06/2021
U.S. presidential visit restricts G.A. activities in Belgium
As a result of the visit of U.S. president Biden to the NATO Summit at Brussel, important restrictions on General Aviation flights will be implemented from 13 June till 15 June included.
In a 13 nm range around Brussels all VFR activity will be prohibited. All airfields/heliports in this zone will be closed, except Brussels Airport.
In a 30 nm range VFR flights can only take place based on a flight plan submitted at least 60 min before departure and are limited to transponder equipped aircraft. Flights in Class G airspace (= uncontrolled airspace) must stay in contact with BELGA information (129.325).
Aerobatic flights, gliding and parajumping activities as well as all ULM, DPM and balloon flights are prohibited during this period.
The precise timing of the activation of all these restrictions will be communicated later.
It will be quiet over Belgium during this period we presume ! 09/06/2021
Air Belgium cooperates with Corendon
Air Belgium will start a service from Charleroi/Brussels South to Cura�ao as from 3 July. This service, flown with the Air Belgium Airbus A.340 aircraft, will make a stop at Martinique before flying to Willemstad on the Island of Cura�ao. Corendon is aiming at Belgian customers who do not have to travel to Amsterdam to catch their flight.
The Belgian government still has to adapt the travel restrictions towards Cura�ao in order to start this operation. 04/06/2021
New route by Eurowings
As from June 29th Eurowings will be flying out of Brussels South Charleroi Airport. The airline will organise regular flights to Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. Tickets are available via the company's website at a starting price of � 49,99. 31/05/2021
Open Belgian Gliding Nationals 2021
This annual competition was flown at Saint Hubert from 22 May till 29 May. The new champions are Thomas De Bruyn in the Club-class, Dennis Huybreckx in the combined Standard, 15M and 20M and Jean-Luc Colson in the combined 18m - 20m and Open class.
Thomas De Bruyn flew the Rolladen Schneider LS.4 � OO-YBL/B4, Dennis Huybreckx flew the Rolladen Schneider LS.8 � D-1688/CM and Jan-Luc Colson the Schleicher ASG.29/18M � D-KCTC/TC. 18/05/2021
175 destinations from Brussels Airport
This summer, Brussels Airport can offer no less than 175 destinations to its passengers. Everyone in need of holidays after this challenging year is sure to find what they�re looking for in the wide range of destinations. The sanitary safety measures that continue to apply at the airport and the mandatory testing for almost all destinations combine to make the airport a very safe place for you to begin your holidays. 95% of departing passengers has a negative Covid-19 test certificate. 14/05/2021
CMA CGM Cargo/Air Belgium offers additional destinations
Air Belgium, flying three Airbus A.330 freighters for CMA CGM Cargo offers three additional destinations. After three U.S. destinations (Chicago, New York and Atlanta) the company will add Beirut, Istanbul and Dubai as new destinations in the coming weeks.
From its base a Li�ge/Bierset airport he company offers a rapid connection between these new destinations and the U.S.A. 07/05/2021
Air Antwerp Fokker flown to Malm�
Today Air Antwerp's sole Fokker 50 was ferried to Malm� for a C-check and temporarily storage as officially communicated. When and if we will see it returning remains to be seen. Whatever happens next, time will tell. 23/04/2021
More Ryanair destinations for Brussels South airport
Ryanair announced another four destinations that it will service from Brussels South airport during the coming summer. These are Santorini and Heraklion (twice per week). Chania and Rhodos will have three flights each week until the end of Oktober. 01/04/2021
Brussels Airport and skeyes test safety drone and drone detection system
Brussels Airport and skeyes are testing the operational use of drones at and around the airport this week. In a secure environment, an innovative safety drone is deployed, which can be controlled from a large distance to find out how drones can increase the safety, security and efficiency of airport operations. In addition, a drone detection system is being tested to detect unwanted drones, as these are not allowed in normal circumstances at and around the airport. 27/03/2021
Air Belgium/CMA CGM Air Cargo announces new routes
CMA CGM Air Cargo will add two U.S. destinations to their network. After Chicago, also Atlanta and New York will be serviced. Yesterday the second airbus A.330F was delivered to their Li�ge/Bierset base. The company will operate four Airbus A.330F aircraft. At his moment the first aircraft, OO-CMA, is flying a daily schedule from Li�ge/Bierset to Chicago. 14/03/2021
Fouga moved to a new location
Former Belgian Air Force Fouga Magister MT29 moved from Balen to a new location at Helchteren. It stands there along a former Czech A.F. Mig 21.
(Photo: Toon Cox) 08/03/2021
Sonaca Aircraft delivers three aircraft
Today, around noon, three Turkish registered Sonaca 201 aircraft left the Sonaca facility at Temploux airport on delivery to Ayjet in Turkey. 02/03/2021
New F-16 contract for SABCA
The United States Air Force has awarded the maintenance contract for their Europe based F-16's to SABCA. SABCA MRO in Charleroi is the expertise center for F-16's in Europe. The contract means work for the coming 10 years. 02/03/2021
New Swissport building at Brussels Airport
Swissport inaugurated a brand-new four-story office building at its Brussels air cargo facility. This opening is the latest milestone in the large-scale refurbishment of Swissport�s Brussels cargo complex which started in January 2019 and includes 25,000 sqm of warehouse space and a state-of-the-art Pharma Center.
The opening of the office building allows Swissport to further improve the flow of trucks with a dedicated on-site queuing area right in front of the new acceptance office. Solar panels and a green roof of over 1,000 sqm will greatly improve the environmental performance of the facility. With its stunning airport views, the building provides employees and customers with a highly modern and motivating work environment.

22/02/2021
Antwerp Airport
Traffic on all airports is very slow due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Today the Antwerp Airport management used this opportunity to refurbish all markings on the runway and platforms. So, a lot of �painting� activity today.
Also the demolition of part of the �south hangars� has now started. This area will be used by �De Lijn� to build a new facility for maintenance and parking of their public transport buses.
17/02/2021
10 new Boeing 737-800 for ASL Group
ASL Aviation has confirmed that it is taking up 10 options for the 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter. This follows the original agreement with Boeing for 10 firm orders and 10 options, announced at the Paris Air Show in June 2019. The first 737-800BCF aircraft for ASL was delivered and entered service last month with ASL Airlines France.
(source : aviation24.be) 13/02/2021
Travel ban impacts Belgian Airlines
The ban on non-essential travel issued by the Belgian government was recently extended. As a result Air Belgium announced that it will not restart passenger flights to Martinique and Guadeloupe before 1 April.
Air Antwerp announced that the earliest restart of the service from Antwerp Airport and London/City will be 2 May 2021 ! 09/02/2021
Wizz Air announces new route from Charleroi/Brussels South
Wizz Air will start a Charleroi/Brussels South to Sarajevo service on 21 May 2021 using Airbus A.320 aircraft. The service will be flown twice each week on Monday and Friday. Tickets are for sale for 19.,99 (!!) Euro.
Wizz Air now offers flights to 15 destinations from Charleroi/Brussels South airport. 01/02/2021
New offshore contract for NHV
NHV Group today announced a new long-term contract with Neptune Energy in support of its offshore Seagull Field development. Under the initial eighteen months agreement, the H175 flights will depart from NHV�s base in Aberdeen to transport passengers to the drilling rig.
(photo Lloyd Horgan) 27/01/2021
Brussels Airport � December 2020
Still no improvement during December 2020. Passengers went down with 82.20% (338.110 versus 1.901.816 in 2019). The movements went down with 63.90% (6.308 in 2020 � 17.579 in 2019)
Full freighter cargo went up again. This month with 7.2% (15.492 tons) But the overall cargo went down with 8.90 %. Main reason is the belly cargo flown on passenger flights that went down with 59% from 14.716 tons to 6.035 tons. 25/01/2021
Air Belgium stops flights (again) � TUI Fly considers stopping.
Air Belgium announced that it stops (again) its scheduled flights to the West Indies from 30 January untill 1 March 2021.
TUI Fly is studying a possible suspension of all flights during February. All these decisions are based on the ban on leisure travel imposed by the Belgian government. 20/01/2021
Fedex reduces European workforce
Fedex announced that up to 6.300 European employees will have to leave the company. The impact on the Belgian workforce will, almost certainly, be very important.
Paris/CDG airport will become the main European hub. This means that the number of aircraft (and parcels) at Li�ge/Bierset will reduce. More details are not known at this moment. 08/01/2021
2020 was a record year for Liege Airport
While the aviation sector worldwide was experiencing a nightmarish 2020, Liege Airport was one of the few airports in Europe and throughout the world to perform well. Our specialisation in the transport of goods (full cargo) made us a leading player, an essential link in the fight against the pandemic. We saw a 24% increase in the tonnage passing through the airport compared to 2019, going from 902,480 to 1,120,643 tonnes.
The lockdown also had a direct effect on consumption patterns, which is reflected by a boom in the e-commerce sector, a sector which has become much more important to us as we have handled over 500 million packages this year, compared to just over 320 million in 2019.
Passenger traffic decreased sharply, with 44,487 travellers in 2020 compared to 170,737 in 2020, a 74% drop.
The total number of aircraft movements remained stable with 40,300 flights (landings and take-offs) in 2020, compared to 39,886 flights in 2019. The growth of our cargo activities was in fact offset by the decrease in passenger flights, training flights and business aviation. 07/01/2021
Cargo record for Ostend Airport
Last year, during 2020, Ostend airport handled a total of 52.659 tons of freight (+ 112.7%)
The number of passengers went down from 457.423 to 111.499 (- 75.60%) 01/01/2021
Brexit air bridge service
Jota Airlines, a British carrier operating several former Belgian registered BAe146/Avro RJ.85�s announced the start of an air bridge between Ostend airport and Birmingham. The company offers a twice daily scheduled service as a faster alternative for road transport. This will almost certainly be delayed as a result of Brexit. The aircraft used can take op the 10.5 tons of freight (up to 7 pallets of 9 cubic meters volume each)