Starting in 2018, Brussels Airlines will be part of Lufthansa’s Eurowings Group. Lufthansa acquired Brussels Airlines; the airline will now operate its 23 long-haul flights and 79 European flights under the Eurowings umbrella.

Brussels Airlines has grown in the past few years, increasing its passenger numbers 30 percent between 2013 and 2015 to a total of 7.5 million people. The company also invested in plans to improve fleet efficiency and increase capacity further on both short- and long-haul flights.

Brussels Airlines has more than 3,500 employees and 49 planes flying around 300 flights a day, connecting Brussels to 90 destinations. The airline is also adding five weekly flights to Mumbai, India, starting in March.

On its long-haul flights, Brussels Airlines has an all-new business class with fully lie-flat seats as well as a new economy class with ergonomic seats and individual entertainment touchscreens.

Brussels Airlines was founded in 2002 and is owned by SN Airholding.

“Over the past eight years, our collaboration with Lufthansa has proven its potential to create perspectives and safeguard jobs,” said Viscount Etienne Davignon, chairman of the board, SN Airholding. “More than ever, consolidation in the aviation business is key. Joining the Lufthansa Group allows us to further increase our synergies, while keeping our specificities. Operating under the umbrella of Lufthansa will help us to further strengthen our competitiveness within a tough market environment and develop our long-haul and short-haul operations. Furthermore, the Lufthansa Group power enables us to expand our Africa-reach, by positioning Brussels as the Sub-Saharan Africa Hub of the Lufthansa Group.”