Air France-KLM-Alitalia, why no BA-Iberia-Swiss?

Yep, looks good indeed, but looks don’t mean everything. Or maybe it does ->http://www.airliners.net/open.file/545185/L/ The picture is taken from the ending towards the beginning. The right side (in the picture) has this unique form to avoid changement to the ILS signals on 25L.

Re: Re: Re: Swiss would be a problem

Originally posted by greekdude1
Couldn’t the new ATH also potentially fall into this category, Jeanske?

I have to say ATH does look very nice and modern:
http://www.aia.gr/EN/business/media/photo_gallery/body.shtm

Re: Re: Swiss would be a problem

Originally posted by Jeanske_SN
Brussels is the most modern airport of Europe.

Couldn’t the new ATH also potentially fall into this category, Jeanske?

Re: Swiss would be a problem

Originally posted by bkonner
The problem with BA-Iberia-Swiss is that Switzerland is not in the EU. That would pose a problem. Also, what benefit does Iberia offer BA.? Iberia does not offer a central base for good connections in the EU like KLM did. SN-Brussels and its Brussels base offers endless possibilities, though.

Think about it. Brussels is a full-fare market because of the EU and NATO. The airport is a good one, centrally based in the middle of Western Europe, and under used. It also just underwent a large expansion with the opening of the new wing. The only problem would be night operations. Although that does not seem to be a problem for cargo carriers, and BRU is a major player in the cargo market.

I just don’t understand the logic of not offering a strong hub in Brussels. Sabena couldn’t do it, because, unfortunately, it was not well run, and Swissair screwed up. Again, BRU is centrally located, a very good facility, lots of full fare potential, and a reasonably sized population base for tourists traveling from BRU to other destinations, especially to warmer destinations. An American carrier would setup a hub there is a second if it could.

American Airlines should expand at Brussels. Their codeshare with SN proves to be very succesful, but not a lot of flights have codeshare yet. AA only flies daily to Chicago, thats all.
Brussels is the most modern airport of Europe. Fuel comes out of the ground, there’s a pipeline that connects every gate. That’s only an example. There are so much facilities at Brussels. It’s a unique airport, a very good infrastructure. Beautiful pier, the A-pier is so impressive. Brussels is very fascinating, however there is nearly never told about the extreme handy and modern facilities. since Brussels is only running at half it’s capacity, there should be plenty of room for some new connections.Good to see an American that is so occupied with Belgium:).

I don’t think it’s quite that simple. As far as Hubs go, I’d suggest ZRH is better placed than BRU, much more central, as all of Europe is reachable within about 2 1/2 hours flight, whereas BRU is probably 3 hours+ to say Greece. ok, not a huge amount, but if you were connecting within Europe flight, that could potentially add an extra hour or so.

Having said that, I’m not a particular fan of Unique (Yes, that is Zurich’s subtitle. Unique Airport. :rolleyes: ).

As regards Swiss’ interests to BA, the fact that Switzerland isn’t a member of the EU shouldn’t make any difference, as the EU is currently half way through a 5 year implemantation of transferring EU Citizens rights to Swiss Nationals in EU Countries (and, shock horror, it is being recipocrally implemented by Switzerland, too, meaning EU Nationals can now take up jobs in Switzerland without needing to apply for Work Visas). Switzerland has already signed a bilateral agreement with the EU granting EU Carriers 5th rights from Switzerland. In fact, SNBrussels has based an RJ85 at Geneva with which it operates twice daily flights to Marseilles. So I can’t see many issues arrising should BA want to take over LX, except for the fact I can’t see any reason why BA would want to take over LX… they’re squeezing LX enough as it is… And LX have two many issues to deal with themselves first, anyway.

Swiss would be a problem

The problem with BA-Iberia-Swiss is that Switzerland is not in the EU. That would pose a problem. Also, what benefit does Iberia offer BA.? Iberia does not offer a central base for good connections in the EU like KLM did. SN-Brussels and its Brussels base offers endless possibilities, though.

Think about it. Brussels is a full-fare market because of the EU and NATO. The airport is a good one, centrally based in the middle of Western Europe, and under used. It also just underwent a large expansion with the opening of the new wing. The only problem would be night operations. Although that does not seem to be a problem for cargo carriers, and BRU is a major player in the cargo market.

I just don’t understand the logic of not offering a strong hub in Brussels. Sabena couldn’t do it, because, unfortunately, it was not well run, and Swissair screwed up. Again, BRU is centrally located, a very good facility, lots of full fare potential, and a reasonably sized population base for tourists traveling from BRU to other destinations, especially to warmer destinations. An American carrier would setup a hub there is a second if it could.