A new Belgian low cost airline aims to begin offering direct flights from three Chinese cities to Belgium next summer, European media reported.
Air Belgium is being launched by Niky Terzakis, the long-time (2000 – 2014) former managing director of Liege-based and now defunct Belgian cargo airline TNT Airways SA. With Niky, a face well
known in the industry steps back into the aviation arena.
Air Belgium will provide three or four direct weekly flights between Belgium and China with Brussels, Charleroi or Liege being considered for becoming the carrier’s Belgian home base.
Chinese partners
It is not yet clear which destinations in China will be served, although Air Belgium is reported to be interested in serving "secondary" Chinese cities other than the major metropolitan travel
hubs. According to press reports, Terzakis has brought together three partners in the new venture: Skywind International (Hong Kong), Sky Master Holdings Limited (Hong Kong) and Pioneer Topworld
(Shanghai).
Initial fleet of 4 aircraft
The new company has about 10 staff, including several former TNT executives, working on the launch from premises in Louvain-la-Neuve, southern Belgium.
The company hopes to buy and refurbish four aircraft for a launch in June 2017. Terzakis didn't specify which type of aircraft would be used for the new low-cost airline.
Nol van Fenema
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