Last Tuesday, Brussels Airlines added a new design to the rainbow of tails of international airlines that fly into Washington Dulles International Airport. Announced in January, the Belgian carrier has begun flights five times a week between Brussels and Washington, using A330s. Flying as flight number 515, the flights will arrive at Dulles five days a week every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as the second direct link between Washington and Brussels, the first being United's flight 950. Coming in at 7:30, the flights will also be one of Dulles' few evening international arrivals, meaning shorter wait times in customs.
Brussels Airlines is a member of Star Alliance, and because Washington is a major hub for United, also a Star Alliance member, it allows passengers a much smoother connection to reach many other cities in the US. Not only that, but in the other direction, flights leaving Washington can have passengers connecting to other Brussels Airlines destinations. During the summer season, passengers flying to and from the Belgian capital will fly Brussels', A332s and A333s, newly refurbished with more comfortable business and economy class cabins.
The new route is all part of Brussels' expanding long haul route structure. Last year, they added New York as their first transatlantic destination, making Washington its second destination in the Americas. According to CEO Bernard Gustin, over the last four years, Brussels Airlines has doubled its long haul fleet size from 4 to 8 aircraft and added 4 intercontinental destinations. "Washington is part of our strategy to operate the most important intercontinental destinations from Brussels Airport" Gustin said.
