Brussels Airlines reports record gain and plans further growth

Brussels Airlines achieved a record gain last year, which was driven by a “very successful” second half, the airline, announced on Thursday. “Significant growth” awaits in 2025.

The airline recorded stable sales of 1.54 billion euros, while its adjusted operating profit (EBIT) rose 11 percent to 59 million euros and set a new record. The profit margin improved to 3.8 percent, whereby the company wanted to reach 8 percent in the coming years.

Although fewer flights were operated than in 2023, the addition of an additional long -haul aircraft (Airbus A330) increased the overall availability of the overall seat. The number of passenger rose by 1 percent to almost 8.4 million.

Rapid growth

As the daughter of the German Lufthansa Group, Brussels Airlines remains optimistic about 2025. Two additional aircraft are added to the fleet: an Airbus A320 for the European Network and an A330 for long distances. During the summer, the airline will also rent four Air Baltic A220 aircraft. “All of this makes Brusselsflug companies the fastest growing airline within the Lufthansa group,” said CFO Nina Öwerdieck.

“Brussels Airlines is the fastest growing airline in the Lufthansa Group”

Lufthansa confirmed on Thursday that Brussels Airlines will receive three other long -haul aircraft A330 in the coming years and increase its long -haul fleet to 13. These aircraft will primarily serve destinations in Africa south of the Sahara. “The goal is to develop Brussels Airlines in a European hub for flights from and to Africa,” said Lufthansa.

At the end of 2024 Brussels Airlines had a fleet of 46 aircraft and employed 3,573 people – 5 percent more than in the previous year. The airline plans to hire around 350 employees this year.

Lufthansa group

On Thursday morning the Lufthansa Group, which also includes Swiss, Austrian airlines and Eurowings published his annual results. The group reported a record sales of 37.6 billion euros, which was 6 percent as an increase compared to 2023.

However, adjusted operating profit fell by 40 percent to 1.6 billion euros, partly to strikes that cost around 450 million euros. The group's airlines together carried 131 million passengers, which rose 7 percent.

Lufthansa recently expanded its portfolio with the Italian airline ITA Airways and completed the takeover of a 41 percent participation in January. The German group has the opportunity to take full control over ITA in the future.

^{A Brussels Airlines Airbus A320 Neo © Belga Photo Nicolas Maeterlinck}