Direct flights from Charleroi to Caribbean islands from December

Air Belgium will begin direct flights from Charleroi to the French overseas territories of Guadeloupe and Martinique from this winter.

The Belgian airline will run twice-weekly flights from 7 December, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, to Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) and Fort de France (Martinique).

Belgians are the second biggest source of tourism for the two Caribbean islands, after the French.

Air Belgium began operations last June, with a route from Charleroi to Hong Kong. But it was abandoned after just six months due to a dispute with a Chinese commercial partner.

Since then, Air Belgium has been operating flights on behalf of other airlines.

The airline hopes to resume flights to China next year. Chief executive Niky Terzakis said two other routes would be announced soon, with flights starting in early 2020.