Brussels Airlines ramps up routes to sub-Saharan Africa

The carrier will operate 56 weekly flights to the region, a 10% increase from summer 2024. The expansion comes with the addition of an 11th long-haul aircraft in June 2025, allowing enhanced connectivity to key African destinations.

Belgium’s strong ties to Africa, particularly with countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, stem from its colonial history, as the Congo was a Belgian colony from 1908 to 1960. These historical connections have influenced enduring cultural, political, and economic links, with Brussels serving as a key hub for air travel between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, bolstering trade and diaspora connections.

Routes to Nairobi (Kenya) and Accra (Ghana) will be upgraded to daily services, while additional frequencies are planned for Banjul (Gambia), Freetown (Sierra Leone), and Conakry (Guinea). Passengers traveling to Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) will benefit from daily non-stop flights starting March 2025, replacing some indirect services via Luanda (Angola).

To facilitate the shift, flights to Luanda will be consolidated within the Lufthansa Group, with Lufthansa offering three weekly direct connections from Frankfurt.

Brussels Airlines’ long-haul fleet is set to grow to 13 aircraft by 2027, alongside a cabin refresh introducing updated Business, Premium Economy, and Economy classes. Additionally, the airline will continue serving North America with flights to New York and Washington, D.C.

​Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO, Brussels Airlines, said: “Kinshasa is without a doubt our flagship route. The history of aviation in Belgium began almost 100 years ago with the ambition of connecting Kinshasa and Brussels via air.

“Upgrading this route to a daily non-stop connection shows our unwavering commitment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”