Brussels Airlines Eyes Airbus A350 Order

Brussels Airlines is reportedly eyeing new aircraft from Airbus to overhaul its fleet and improve long-term efficiency.

According to CEO Dorotha Von Boxberg in an interview with aeroTELEGRAPH, the carrier is assessing its options.

The Airbus A350 is the most optimal choice for long-haul operations, ahead of the Boeing 787.

According to their airline CEO, the A350 is better suited to Brussels Airlines’ operation thanks to noise restrictions implemented at its home airport. Moreover, the A350 offers quieter night landings, making it a fantastic alternative.

Additionally, Brussels Airlines knows it needs to ensure it can adequately replace the Airbus A330 fleet. While the A330neo is the like-for-like replacement, this aircraft is out of the question because of the higher noise levels during landing.

The Airbus A330neo cannot be considered by Brussels Airlines due to restrictions around noise at its home airport.

While these concerns may appear minor, they are big thanks to regulations in place in 2026. Brussels Airport isn’t the only location that has implemented something similar, and airlines must react.

Currently, Brussels Airlines has 7 Airbus A330-300s active, with two aircraft listed as being parked, per data. The A330s, however, average an age of 16.1 years. The whole fleet averages some 16.8 years. As a result, the carrier knows it needs to transition towards a next-gen fleet as quickly and smoothly as possible.

Airbus A321neo Interest

Away from the Airbus A350, the CEO cites the A321neo as an aircraft the company is interested in for narrowbody fleet renewal efforts.

The carrier isn’t considering the A321XLR but rather the base A321neo model. This aircraft is believed to be the perfect jet for boosting capacity and enhancing its short-haul network.

Airbus’ A321neo is already an immensely popular aircraft within the Lufthansa Group. The belief is that if the airline moves ahead with this aircraft type, it will be able to see great levels of harmony across the group.

The A321neo remains an incredibly successful yet also in-demand aircraft type. As a result, analysts argue that airlines should get in quick for the type as the line begins to sell out through the 2030s.