Summary
- Exciting partnership between United Airlines and Brussels Airlines goals to boost travel between Africa and the USA.
- Lufthansa Group’s ambitious plans could make Brussels a worldwide hub for passengers flying to and from Africa.
- Growth in Africa-US travel expected post-pandemic, with increased routes and competition benefiting passengers.
Brussels, a long-standing hub for travel between Europe and Africa, is now set to grow to be a convenient gateway for travelers venturing to a brand new continent- North America. In a promising development, Lufthansa Group subsidiary Brussels Airlines is in talks with United Airlines to boost travel between Africa and the USA, with Brussels because the strategic hub.
This exciting prospect could open up recent travel opportunities, making the journey between the 2 continents more convenient and enjoyable for passengers.
The connection
Lufthansa, its subsidiary Brussels Airlines, and United Airlines are a part of the Star Alliance, allowing the three entities to share flights. Currently, teams in Chicago and Frankfurt are working together to secure codesharing agreements and route plans to facilitate intercontinental travel.
Photo: Joe Kunzler I Easy Flying
Brussels Airlines flies to 18 destinations on the African continent and has been an energetic player within the African aviation industry. The airline has a single every day flight from BRU to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Alternatively, United Airlines operated every day flights BRU from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
Travel from Africa to America
Africa is one in all the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, and United goals to establish a foothold within the region ahead of time. Statista shows that between 2011 and 2022, travel from Africa to the US grew consistently until the pandemic hit.
Photo: Brussels Airlines
Within the three years between 2011 and 2014, traffic from Africa nearly doubled. After the pandemic in 2022, there was a robust resurgence in traffic within the region, with 366,585 passengers. It is certain to follow and exceed the trend set prior to now.
The codeshare agreement between United Airlines and Brussels Airlines can be profitable. The rise in routes can even profit customers, as more competition will reduce ticket prices and lead to additional destinations.
The extent of traffic between the routes is roughly the identical. In 2022, nearly 500,000 passengers traveled to Africa from the US. Nonetheless, it’s the least chosen destination for outbound travel destinations amongst US travelers.