Air Belgium suspends Charleroi-Hong Kong flights for six months

Belgium's new airline, Air Belgium, has suspended flights on its first route from Charleroi to Hong Kong for six months, so as not to "endanger its financial position".

The long-haul carrier said it would pause its direct flights to China from October to the end of March due to "lost confidence" in its Chinese commercial partner.

Le Soir reports that Air Belgium is not happy with UTour, which sells its flights as part of a range of package tours for Chinese visitors to Europe.

The airline said in a statement: "Under these conditions, Air Belgium is unwilling to carry out the winter program as initially planned and to endanger its financial position. In good faith we’ve tried to find a solution for our partner’s defaulting situation to date.

"The negotiations went on for several weeks. Because the new season was about to start, and due to the lost confidence in the partner, Air Belgium however did not want to risk having to operate from an even more complex situation."

Air Belgium said its development plans remained on track and that no jobs would be lost. The airline will continue operating flights over the winter under licence from other airlines such as Air France and British Airways.

In its statement, Air Belgium added that it remained committed to Charleroi airport, citing "massive positive feedback" from passengers.

The airline began flying from Charleroi to Hong Kong four times a week from June, after a small delay due to administrative formalities. Air Belgium is led by Niky Terzakis, the former managing director of the Liège-based TNT Airways.