US Airways, Brussels Airlines sign code-share pact

US Airways has announced that it has signed a code-share agreement with Brussels Airlines. The pact is subject to approval from the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) as well as the government of Belgium.

The codes-share agreement allows US Airways, headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, the United States, and Brussels Airlines, based at Brussels Airport, Belgium, to market each other’s flights. This will give more access to the passengers of US Airways, with single-source booking and baggage connection, to over 20 new cities in Europe and Africa. The destinations in Africa include cities in Kenya, Senegal, Cameroon, and Gambia.

Andrew Nocella, senior vice-president (marketing and planning) of US Airways, said in a statement that the entry of Brussels Airlines into the Star Alliance will allow the passengers of US Airways access to Brussels Airlines’ lounges.

The code-share agreement between US Airways and Brussels Airlines will include, for example, flights to Florence (Italy), Nice (France), and Nairobi (Kenya). Passengers can book these flights directly from US Airways and enjoy “a convenient booking as well as travel experience” like they would enjoy on flights of US Airways, according to Andrew Nocella.

Passengers can buy tickets from April 3, 2010, for flights from April 7, 2010.

Also, on April 7, 2010, US Airways, a member of the Star Alliance, will resume service between Brussels and Philadelphia International Airport, the airline’s primary international gateway, as the airline shifts from summer-only flights to year-round service.

US Airways, along with US Airways Express and US Airways Shuttle, operates over 3,000 flights a day to destinations in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, South America, Central America, and the Middle East.

Brussels Airlines (with the airline code SN), based at Brussels Airport, Belgium, has a fleet of 48 short-haul and long-haul aircraft and operates services in Europe and Africa. Brussels Airlines was created, in 2006, through the merger of SN Brussels Airlines, the biggest full-service carrier based in Belgium, and Virgin Express, the first low-fare airline in Europe.

Originally, SN Brussels Airlines was established to replace Sabena, formerly the flag-carrier airline of Belgium, which went bust in 2001.

Lufthansa, the national airline of Germany, bought a 45% stake in Brussels Airlines in 2008, with an option for a complete takeover within 2 years. Because of this connection with Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance.

Brussels Airlines, in addition, acts as a feeder airline for Jet Airways, the India-based private airline, which has a hub at Brussels Airport.

Even though Brussels Airlines primarily is a regional airline of Europe, it also operates a network of routes throughout central Africa, west Africa and east Africa – which is uncommon among Europe-based carriers. The African destinations of Brussels Airlines include Monrovia (Liberia), Kigali (Rwanda) Kinshasa (Congo), and Conakry (Guinea).