During 2004 SN Brussels Airlines welcomed more than 3,584 million passengers* on its own flights and on the flights operated by its codeshare partners…
During 2004 SN Brussels Airlines welcomed more than 3,584 million passengers* on its own flights and on the flights operated by its codeshare partners . The load factor increased from 57,4 percent in 2003 to 61,2 percent last year.
On board the 38 aircraft SN operates, more than 3,2 million passengers were flown to European or African destinations. This is an increase of 9 percent over 2003 statistics when 2,964 million passengers checked in for a flight operated by SN Brussels Airlines.
2,87 million passengers selected SN for a European flight and 358.430 flew with SN Brussels Airlines between the European Capital and Africa.
Including the SN clients flown with a partner “codeshare” airline, SN welcomed 3,584 million passengers in 2004. This is an increase of 9,5 pct. over 2003.
SN attracted a heavier stake of business travellers who selected SN Brussels Airlines for the efficient comfortable flight offer. Also more price sensitive travellers booked tickets with SN for their city trips or visiting friends and relatives trips. The new value for money travel offers for seniors (Senior Pass) and youngsters (Youth Discovery Pass), both launched in 2004, became in no time popular. The number of reservations made via the completely restyled website flySN.com grew with 110%.
SN Brussels is happy with the passenger increase given the ongoing difficult market conditions. Chief Executive Officer Peter Davies : « All of us at SN are very encouraged by the passenger growth. This increase fully demonstrates that the service levels offered by SN are paying dividend. »
Network expansion
The passenger increase was not the result of a fleet expansion. However, the existing fleet capacity and network offer were optimised. As a consequence, the result of the passenger growth was a load factor increase. The load factor grew with 7 points from 57,4 pct in 2003 to 61,2 pct in 2004.
In Spring 2004 new direct services were launched to Moscow, Istanbul, St Petersburg, Naples and Porto. The existing partnership with American Airlines was expanded by the launch of a new daily AA/SN flight between Brussels and New York JFK. New partnerships with Air Malta, Bulgaria, Iberia and Tarom allowed SN to offer its clients services to Malta, Sofia, Oviedo and Bucharest. Since Autumn SN also connects Brussels with the very comfortable city airport of Bromma (Stockholm) where the new Swedish partner Malmoe Aviation is located.
Next to its regular flight offer, SN Brussels Airlines managed efficiently a busy charter programme in spring, summer and autumn 2004. SN aircraft operated charter flights from Belgium, The Netherlands, France, Switzerland and the UK to holiday destinations in the Mediterranean. The result is not visual in the overall pax figures. More than 100.000 charter passengers were flown by SN Brussels Airlines.
Service
The in-flight service offered on the European flights was expanded considerably thanks to the introduction of the new highly appreciated catering concept Brussels Bistro. Also the service on the long haul business class was upgraded.
SN Brussels Airlines received several awards during the past year. Some weeks ago, the Belgian travel agents elected in the yearly Travel Magazine poll SN Brussels Airlines as best short haul Airline.
Earlier this year, SN Brussels Airlines has won the Airline Excellence Award of the recognised organization for airline quality surveys Skytrax for its excellent level of service before, during and after the flight. ‘Brussels International’, the European capital’s tourism and congress office, has acclaimed SN as Brussels Tourism Ambassador.
The completely renewed website flySN.com has just been nominated for the ‘website of the year` price by the internet magazine Clickx. The Executive Chairman of SN, Mr Rob Kuijpers has been nominated for the famous ‘Manager of the Year’ distinction by the economics magazine Trends-Tendances.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
