Since June 1, 2012, Brussels Airlines has been operating services between New York and Brussels, the European capital. The company now takes off from New York’s JFK daily on fully refurbished Airbus A330-300 planes. This is the first scheduled flight operated by Brussels Airlines from the United States since the company’s set-up in 2002.

Brussels Airlines has served the United States since June 1, with the aim of offering travelers dynamic and superior quality services. The June 1 date is of particular importance in the airline’s history because by launching a scheduled flight on that day between the two destinations, Brussels Airlines reintroduced Belgian aviation to the United States after a 10-year hiatus.

The top managers at Brussels Airlines spared no effort in their quest to operate a daily flight from New York’s JFK on A330-300 planes outfitted with brand-new Business Class and Economy Class cabins. The Business Class seats transform into fully flat seats and the Economy Class seats are ergonomic. Both cabins offer cutting-edge individual in-flight entertainment to guarantee a supremely comfortable journey.

The new route is of utmost importance to Brussels Airlines management. According to Bernard Gustin, the airline’s CEO, “We are particularly happy to be able to operate this flight to New York, the top long-haul destination from the Belgian market.”

For him, “In doing so, we are not just investing in a new air route to the United States. Thanks to the new cabins, we are more than ever offering a state-of-the-art product to our passengers.”

Schedule

The flight leaves New York in the early evening and reaches Brussels the following morning. The return flight from Brussels Airport leaves in the morning and lands in the United States in the early afternoon.

Thanks to this schedule, the New York flight fits in particularly well with Brussels Airlines’ European and African flights, meaning fast and easy connections are guaranteed between this trans-Atlantic route and dozens of destinations in Europe and in Africa, with only a simple transfer at Brussels Airport required.

At New York JFK, Brussels Airlines operates out of Terminal 1. While at Brussels Airport, the flight is based in Brussels Airlines’ exclusive long-haul terminal zone T.

Hospitality

During the flight, passengers are treated to the traditional Belgian hospitality of the Brussels Airlines crew and an excellent gastronomic experience. In addition, passengers traveling to/from New York with Brussels Airlines can earn miles from the Miles & More loyalty program on each flight.

Since the beginning of the year, Brussels Airlines has invested almost €30 million in luxurious seats that convert into flat-lying beds for its Business Class cabin, in extra comfortable seats in Economy Class, in trendy design and in the latest revolutionary in-flight entertainment technology. By thus improving the quality of its flights, Brussels Airlines repositions itself as a leading trendsetter. Over the course of this year, the passenger cabins of the Brussels Airlines’ Airbus A330 planes are set to undergo a facelift focusing on design, innovation, comfort and the highest level of quality.

“Our expectation and our ambitions aim high as we are introducing a superior quality in-flight product based on the very latest technology and the feedback of thousands of passengers,” said Gustin.

Business Class

Brussels Airlines’ Business Class passengers benefit from a new, state-ofthe- art superior quality seat that can be easily converted into a flat-lying 180-degree bed almost seven feet long.

And that’s not all. The flat bed is equipped with a pneumatic air cushion allowing passengers to decide on the seat’s softness or hardness, and the body weight never exerts any pressure against the seat. In fact, Brussels Airlines is one of the first airlines in the world to introduce this “pneumatic cushion” technology in a new, more finely tuned version.

The flat bed also offers a pleasant massage function, modular and dimmed lighting and several storage possibilities for shoes or books, newspapers and magazines. Warm, contemporary colors inject the concept with a superior feeling of comfort. The cabin’s ingenious configuration means 24 out of 30 passengers have direct aisle access and 10 of the 30 Business Class passengers do not have a neighbor. All the seats guarantee a high degree of privacy.

Economy Class

Economy Class passengers travel in elegant ergonomic seats created by Italian designers offering greater seated comfort, with a 33-inch legroom which allows them to stretch out and relax more during the flight. The head support can be adapted height- and width-wise. The tactile individual television screens come equipped with a USB port and measure no less than nine inches.

Innovative In-Flight Entertainment

There is no doubt RAVE, the new in-flight entertainment technology, can be described as anything short of revolutionary. As one of the launch clients, Brussels Airlines is among the first in the world to benefit from the technology. The RAVE program is available in six different languages in both cabins.

The Business Class screen measures no less than 15 inches and, like a tablet, is tactile and works with the help of a modern scroll-down function. The on-demand entertainment system, more reliable than the traditional centralized systems because it is linked to each screen wirelessly, contains around 100 hours of films, documentaries, current affairs programs, games, audio and reading programs. Those who wish can connect their iPads or tablets to the screen in Business Class. With this technology, there is little chance of getting bored on long-haul flights.

Equally modern is the flight information program ‘Niceview,’ developed by Lufthansa Technik. The program offers cartographic information in three dimensions taken by cameras from different angles of view — plane, cockpit, cabin and more — to precisely follow the flight itinerary. Even passengers not seated next to a window can cast a virtual, but realistic eye over the landscape.

According to Gustin, this is a new dimension in seats, cutting-edge information and entertainment systems. In all, Brussels Airlines invested €30 million in its long-haul flights. This is “a considerable investment that adds a totally new dimension to the term ‘passenger comfort.’”

Gustin adds, “The passengers that board a Brussels Airlines long-haul flight have the impression of getting on board a brand-new plane. If we compare the level of comfort with that of other airlines offering trans-Atlantic flights or flights to Africa, we can only conclude that we are precursors and trendsetters in terms of quality, both with regard to the seats and the possibilities for leisure and relaxation, not forgetting the legroom and the entertainment system.”

Similarly, Mr. Gustin continues, “We can add that this is also a green investment, as by using the very latest in modern materials, we can reduce the weight of our planes and therefore also the consumption of kerosene and CO2 emissions.” Thus, not only does the new New York-Brussels route operated by Brussels Airlines allow thousands of passengers to travel in extreme comfort at the highest standards, it’s also friendly to the environment.

Cuisine

Business Class passengers enjoy a lovely start with a choice of aperitif, including Laurent Perrier Champagne and a selection of delicious finger food. This is followed by a gastronomic four-course menu, incorporating highlights from Belgian cuisine. Desserts include world-famous Belgian chocolates, as well as ice cream and fresh fruit. Passengers can also enjoy fine wines and spirits from prestigious cellars.

Economy Class passengers are also pampered with a large selection of fine wines and spirits, including a sparkling wine aperitif. The menu features delectable Belgian and international dishes with an African touch.

For more information, go to brusselsairlines.com or call +1 (866) 308 2230