The complete take-over of Brussels Airlines by Lufthansa does not cause a lot of worry in the Brussels air cargo community. Of course, it is early days yet.
According to the airport’s Head of Cargo Steven Polmans the merger is not yet an issue . Viscount Etienne Davignon, the chairman of the Board of Brussel Airlines, has said that the
shareholders want to reach an agreement on the terms of the take-over by the end of the year. “We will discuss the preservation of employment and the brand name, the network and the location of
the decision centre”, he said. According to the Viscount, employment has a central place in the negotiations. He is convinced that no staff will be made redundant and no ‘Sabena bis’ scenario is
to be feared.”
Africa network is jewel in the crown
In the weeks to come the take-over of Brussels Airlines will be discussed within Lufthansa and Brussels Airlines by the shareholders”, says the company’s VP Cargo Alban François. “Lufthansa
itself has expressed the hope that the take-over will be concluded early next year. Within this context we do not expect the possible take-over to have any changes for SN Cargo. As a matter of
fact, we shall discuss how to collaborate well with the other cargo players in the group as soon as the take-over has been concluded.”
Alban wishes to point out that that collaboration already exists today. “Brussels Airlines has developed a very specific cargo activity in Africa and this specificity demands a separate approach
and strategy. For the moment, we cannot say anything more about this. Our situation is totally different from that of Austrian Airlines, precisely because of the special African region. We are
convinced that we will emerge from this take-over story stronger than ever.”
Marcel Schoeters, Brussels / Michael Taweel, Frankfurt
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