The summer of 2023 will be remembered as a very hot summer, and not only because of the several heat waves that hit Europe. This summer was also hot for most of our airlines due to increased production combined with crew shortages. Air Traffic Control (ATC) strikes and slots, technical problems and the political situation in Russia and Africa didn’t make the operations of Belgian airlines easy either. Meaning for our members, long delays and very tiring days.
Add to this reality a threatening declaration by our minister of Transport to impose a night-time curfew in Brussels and stricter – unrealistic – noise criteria for daytime operations. Luckily his plans were put on hold by combined forces!
The good news is however that load factors are now back to pre-Covid levels and that most airlines renewed with profitability. Regrettably, Air Belgium did not get through it as the company recently announced their decision to stop passenger operations and refocus on cargo and ACMI.