Airlines
Air Belgium Gains Operating Certificate
Plans to launch Airbus A340 service to Hong Kong in mid-April
Air Belgium took delivery of its first of four Airbus A340-300s in mid-February. (Photo: Air Belgium)
Air Belgium took delivery of its first of four Airbus A340-300s in mid-February. (Photo: Air Belgium)

Startup long-haul, low-fare airline Air Belgium has received its operating certificate from Belgium’s Direction Générale Transport Aérien (DGTA), allowing it to start selling tickets for planned first revenue service with one of four Airbus A340-300s between Brussels and Hong Kong in mid-April. Headquartered in the municipality of Mont-Saint-Guibert in the province of Walloon Brabant, Air Belgium launches operations with starting capital of €20 million, divided among Belgian and European majority shareholders and Asian minority shareholders. It plans to provide low-fare direct services between Brussels and several destinations in China, such as Shanghai and Beijing, as well as other points in Asia.