- Brussels Airlines will not add two A330-300s in 2027 as originally planned
- Four wet-leased AirBaltic A220-300s will not return for summer 2027
- Fuel costs rose €64 million in first half of 2026 compared to previous year
- Adjusted EBIT loss reached €70 million for first half of 2026
- Eight A320neos currently operate with plan for 13 by end of 2028
Lufthansa subsidiary Brussels Airlines has been revising its fleet expansion plans for 2027, confirming that it will not add two additional Airbus A330-300s as originally announced and will eliminate wet-lease aircraft operations in 2027. The carrier has cited several headwinds driving this decision, including profitability below expectations, repeated strikes in Belgium and the current geopolitical situation. Brussels Airlines confirmed in an Aug. 4 statement that, after close deliberation with the Lufthansa Group, it has decided to take a more careful approach for the coming years, though the introduction of new cabins on the existing A330 fleet, representing a multi-million-euro investment, remains on track.
The long-haul fleet of 11 A330-300s will remain unchanged for now, with the carrier confirming that the decision will not affect its current network in Africa. Brussels Airlines operates as Lufthansa Group’s leading carrier for African routes, with up to 10 A330-300s deployed daily to the continent and 18 sub-Saharan destinations served, including recently launched flights to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. The airline has faced multiple operational challenges in the first half of 2026, including high fuel prices, the Ebola outbreak in East Africa and strikes at third parties that created additional operational complexity. Fuel costs rose €64 million ($73.8 million) compared to the same period last year, contributing to an adjusted EBIT loss of €70 million for the first half of 2026, though revenue increased 9.5 pc.
Brussels Airlines does not plan to operate any wet-lease capacity during the summer of 2027, with the four wet-leased AirBaltic A220-300s currently deployed through the end of October not returning for the 2027 summer season. The spokesperson confirmed that Brussels Airlines intends to operate with its own capacity in 2027, with eight A320neos currently in operation and a plan to have 13 A320neos by the end of 2028. The airline plans to unveil new cabins for business class, premium economy class and economy class in the course of 2027, while introducing high-speed Wi-Fi on its fleet in the second half of 2026 and reopening its fully renovated lounge at Brussels Airport. CFO Nina Öwerdieck has described Brussels Airlines as a robust company not afraid to take on challenges, while noting that a successful summer will prove more crucial than ever to achieve positive full-year results.
Brussels Airlines shared “The fact that we will not take the additional A330 capacity will not affect our current network in Africa. Our route network will remain as is.”
Nina Öwerdieck shared “Brussels Airlines is a robust company that is not afraid to take on a challenge. We have already navigated some storms this year, and now a successful summer will be more crucial than ever to achieve positive full-year results.”
