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Brussels Airlines freezes long-haul expansion for 2027 after difficult first half of 2026

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Brussels Airlines has shelved plans to expand its long-haul fleet in 2027 after a first half of the year marked by soaring fuel prices, the Ebola outbreak in East Africa and repeated strikes in Belgium pushed the carrier to a loss.

Following discussions with Lufthansa Group, the airline said it will no longer add the two Airbus A330 aircraft that had previously been planned for next year. The long-haul fleet will instead remain at 11 aircraft. Brussels Airlines has also decided not to rely on wet-leased aircraft during the 2027 summer season, meaning the four Air Baltic aircraft currently operating from Brussels until the end of October will not return next summer.

The more cautious approach comes after Brussels Airlines reported an adjusted Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) loss of €70 million for the first six months of 2026, 50% worse than in the same period last year. The airline said profitability had fallen short of expectations due to a combination of higher operating costs, weaker demand on some routes and repeated external disruptions.

The carrier stressed that its long-term investment plans remain intact. A multi-million-euro refurbishment of its long-haul cabins is continuing, with new Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy cabins set to be unveiled during 2027.

Despite the financial setback, Brussels Airlines carried 4.5 million passengers on 34,200 flights in the first six months of the year, up 8.1% and 5.5% respectively compared with the same period in 2025. Revenue increased by 9.5%.

Operational performance also improved. The airline said greater reliability reduced disruption-related costs, with irregularity costs per passenger falling by 16%, while customer satisfaction increased. During the first half of the year, Brussels Airlines also launched flights to Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, introduced new tableware in Premium Economy and unveiled a Tintin-themed Belgian Icon aircraft.

However, those operational gains were outweighed by a series of external headwinds.

The conflict in the Middle East drove up oil prices, increasing Brussels Airlines’ fuel bill by €64 million compared with the first half of 2025. An Ebola outbreak in parts of East Africa reduced travel demand and complicated operations because of crew scheduling challenges and destination restrictions imposed by some countries.

The airline was also affected by several strikes outside its control. National protests in Belgium disrupted operations at Brussels Airport in March and May, while a strike by air traffic controller Skeyes in early June brought Belgian air traffic to a standstill for several hours. Brussels Airlines estimated those third-party disruptions cost it around €3 million.

Despite the difficult start to the year, the airline remains confident it can still deliver a positive result for the full year if the busy summer season performs as expected.

“Brussels Airlines is a robust company that is not afraid to take on a challenge. We have already navigated some storms this year, and now a successful Summer will be more crucial than ever to achieve positive full-year results,” said chief financial officer Nina Öwerdieck.

“We have more production compared to 2025, therefore we believe we can present stronger Summer results, if we can operate in an operational stable environment. I want to sincerely thank all Brussels Airlines colleagues who went above and beyond to take care for our guests during these demanding past months.”

During the second half of 2026, Brussels Airlines plans to introduce high-speed Wi-Fi on its first aircraft, reopen its fully renovated lounge at Brussels Airport and further expand its route network.

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