Brussels Airport authorities are in talks with Air India and IndiGo to restore direct air connectivity between India and Belgium this year, as the two countries look to expand trade and tourism ties.
The airport’s aviation development director Léon Verhallen met representatives from IndiGo and Air India on March 3 and 4 to explore the possibility of resuming direct flights from India to Brussels this year, airport and airline executives told Moneycontrol.
"A new direct flight would result in significant traffic stimulation between both the countries and further boost business, holiday and visiting friends and relatives traffic from and to Belgium," a Brussels airport spokesperson told Moneycontrol.
In 2024, around 150,000 passengers flew between India and Belgium using indirect routes. A direct connection will significantly increase this number by offering faster and more convenient travel options.
Representatives from the airport met airline executives in Delhi as part of a Belgian economic mission led by Princess Astrid. The delegation includes federal ministers and business leaders aiming to boost trade and tourism between the two countries.
According to airport representatives, Belgium and Spain are among India’s largest underserved markets.
Jet Airways, until 2016, and Brussels Airlines till 2018 operated direct flights between Belgium and India.
One of the major challenges for Brussels Airport in attracting Indian airlines has been its limited onward flight connections to North America compared to other European hubs such as London Heathrow, Frankfurt and Amsterdam. This was one of the key reasons Jet Airways opted to relocate to Amsterdam, where it had better connectivity to the US and Canada, which saw huge traffic from India.
No airline has stepped in to restore or start flights to Belgium after the suspension of flights from Mumbai in 2019, even as the demand for non-stop flights has been growing.
Brussels Airport officials believe Air India can benefit from its strong ties with Lufthansa, which owns Brussels Airlines, and the Star Alliance membership.
"Air India would complement the strong Star Alliance network at Brussels, which is already represented by major Asian carriers such as Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, All Nippon Airways, and Juneyao Airlines," the airport spokesperson said.
The airport sees IndiGo as a key player that can stimulate the market with its expanding international operations. IndiGo has leased Boeing 787 aircraft from Norse Atlantic Airways and is aggressively expanding its European footprint. It is securing new airport slots for the summer season when Indians travel for overseas holidays.
A direct India-Belgium route will give a fillip to the cargo business as well. There is a high demand for cargo between the two countries, particularly for pharmaceutical products.
Belgium is one of Europe’s leading pharma hubs and a direct connection would enhance the movement of life-saving drugs, vaccines and other critical medical supplies between the two countries.
"Cargo links are very important to support future passenger flights as well as the opportunity to develop full freighter operations. Pharmaceuticals form one of the backbones of the Belgian market," the airport representative said.
Last year, Brussels Airport welcomed 23.6 million passengers and handled 700,000 tonnes of cargo.
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