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Brussels Airlines to scrap direct flights to Mumbai

21:33 19/09/2018

Brussels Airlines will axe direct flights to Mumbai from the new year, opting instead to reinforce its more profitable routes to Africa.

The Brussels-Mumbai link had only been operating since March 2017. The airline said in a statement that the route "had not delivered the expected results". The news means Brussels Airlines will close its base in India's biggest city, affecting 19 locally based staff - mostly air stewards.

The last flight will take off from Zaventem on 6 January. Passengers who have already booked a flight past this date will be offered an alternative route. The connection between Mumbai and Brussels will still be possible via Germany (Lufthansa) or Switzerland (Swiss).

The loss of flights to Mumbai will be offset by more flights to Africa, the airline said. From this winter, Banjul (Gambia) will be served daily instead of four times a week and there will be more direct flights to Dakar.

Brussels Airlines union rep Filip Lemberechts said the decision was to be expected. "For parent company Lufthansa, Africa is the most important market for Brussels Airlines," he said.

Written by The Bulletin