June 2018: Air Belgium A340s are to fly Charleroi-Hong Kong.

[Stratofreighter]

...see
http://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air-b ... l-network/

31 January, 2018

Air Belgium will launch its flights to Asia from Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA),
the start-up announced on a press conference this morning.

Four Airbus A340-300 will be based at the Walloon airport,

http://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air-b ... l-network/

While the air operator’s certificate (AOC) is expected to arrive at the end of February, the very first flight is scheduled to Hong Kong this March.

...regarding the current runway length at Charleroi, see
http://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air-b ... l-network/
for more...

[pjotrtje]

I fear we need to check out those A340s quickly before the whole Air Belgium operation goes belly-up... Four A340s for only four return flights a week - a lot of sunk cost with limited additional revenue. Operating from a 2.5km long runway - even less revenue. Operating 4 engined aircraft - high running cost with (again) limited additional revenue.

But hey, I'd like to be proven wrong.

[YS11]

This is the second AIR BELGIUM, the first one flown in the beginning of the eighties, with 4 B737's and a B757
the A340 will be OO-ABB, was also wearing on one of the B737's.

[Stratofreighter]

The latest update:
http://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air-b ... istration/

An Air Operator Certificate (AOC) is expected from the Belgian CAA in the next few days,
and Air Belgium plans to launch 4-weekly flights from Brussels South Charleroi to Hong Kong at the beginning of the summer season,
on 26 March.

[Bennie]

Regarding the usable runway length: RWY25 is only 2405 meters long (excluding a 205m long clearway).

[Stratofreighter]

The first two Airbus A340s are currently at Brussels.
http://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air-b ... arch-2018/
has photos.

Air Belgium’s first two aircraft OO-ABA and OO-ABB were ferried to Brussels Airport on 1 and 2 March 2018

By request of the Belgian Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA) and to have a better accessibility to maintenance facilities, the A340s touched down on Brussels Airport soil first, instead of going straight to their base at Brussels South Charleroi Airport.

The last steps and technical controls for obtaining the AOC will be completed in Brussels, among others at Sabena Aerospace. The aeroplanes will also receive their final Air Belgium makeover, both inside and outside, in this country.

Repeat: photos at
http://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air-b ... march-2018

[Stratofreighter]

http://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air-b ... thorities/

Air Belgium finally received its overflight permit from the Russian authorities, Belgian newspaper La Libre Belgique reported online.

Flying over the Russian airspace is necessary for the airline’s flights from Brussels South Charleroi Airport to Hong Kong, starting next 3rd of June 2018.

...more thru
http://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air-b ... thorities/