MAN to BRU on SN Brussels Airlines

Here is part one of my recent holiday flight reports. This is about our flight between Manchester and Brussels on 6th September 2004.

We were booked to fly on flight number SN2174, the mid morning departure from Manchester. We checked in and I got seat 14F, a window seat on the right hand side. SN Brussels Airlines depart from terminal 3 at MAN, which has some good viewing from the departure area. We were to wait at gate 55. Our aircraft landed in good time, it was A319 OO-SSK.

The aircraft was fitted out completely with leather seating, and was very comfortable (and very full!) We were pushed back on time, and the safety demonstration was shown on overhead screens. There was a cabin crew of four – three stewardesses and one steward.

We took off after a short run, and climbed above sunny Manchester. The cloud soon increased and we could not see land, but by then the food had been served. I had a peach tart, which did not taste too good, and a carton of water. The efficient cabin crew soon cleared away the food, and handed out the delicious Neuhaus chocolates, and I took three from the basket.

The weather was clear and sunny when we crossed the Belgian coastline, and the flight was completely turbulence-free. We were told that the flight would last an hour, but we landed in Brussels 10 minutes early, and I caught a glimpse of the impounded An124.

It was great to be back in Belgium. We were bussed from the aircraft to the arrivals hall, and our luggage was very quickly loaded off the aircraft. A great flight with a great airline!

Pictures:

Dash 8 in Manchester.

View from the window before take off.

Climbing away.

Climbing away, with runway visible on right side!

Inside the cabin of the A319. The guy standing up is the steward.

The inflight magazine.

The peach tart.

OO-SSK in MAN.

Fokker 50s of VLM – OO-VLV and OO-VLN in MAN.