Hi everybody !
I used to write my flight report in french. But this time I wanna write in english to present the new building in Brussels Airport call the Connector. He connect, like his name, the departure/arrival hall to the Terminal A ( the european terminal). And also present Brussels Airlines to our non-european reporter.
This is a simple flight from Brussels to Lyon. I'm going to see a friend for this long weekend of May.
This simple flight is also my 100th flight and my 40th report :)
- Brussels (BRU) - Lyon (LYS) , Brussels Airline, Airbus A319, Economy
Lyon (LYS) - Brussels, Brussels Airline, Airbus A319, Economy (Will follow)
The departure hall with the old school FIDS, well know at Brussels :)
My flight is on time so no problem ! I gonna take my ticket to the star alliance self-terminal,
After that let's go discover the new Connector ! It's the first time for me too, he just open in March this year.
Let' go this way,
Just before enter, a check for your BP,
Welcome to the new Connector ! I find this new building beautiful, spacious and luminous. Just after the BP check, the priority lane, for us his after,
There are a lot of control open so it's going fast,
After the control, you have a good view on the tarmac, with on the right the international terminal call B. They still left just the EY and QR flight and a SN to Manchester this side,
To the other side the european terminal call A. At this time of the day, it's really like a desert ^^
Let's continue the visit, after the control we have to go to the left,
The FIDS, my flight still on time but I don't have my gate for the moment. I have to wait until 4pm. So I arrived at 3:40pm at the airport and I'm airside at 3:53 :). That's really faster than the old way !
A general view, that's look nice ! Let's go !
But before we have to go down and cross the new duty free,
After that, it's a really good surprise. Much better than before ! Luminous, spacious !
The new symbol of BRU, the Tintin rocket !
A ERJ arrive from Bristol, operated by SN, but with a BMI aircraft,
To the terminal A is this way, the T gates are for the African flight of SN and they are at the end of the terminal A,
Last view of the Connector with a sushi bar on the left,
Now, we arrive in the old part and it remains in work.
This shop it's like a signature for me ^^. The favorite of my girlfriend but not from my credit card ^^
I finally arrive in the Terminal A, it's now 4pm ! My gate is the A52,
Toyota has the honor today,
Welcome to the terminal A, I like it! Luminous and spacious :)
After the Toyota, we gain a level with the Audi,
Arrived at my gate,
I can see my plane. Today I have OO-SSU, a special A319 because he has 2 emergency doors over the wing,
Next to my gate, there is a Mercedes,
I think this flight will be full,
The 787 QR is leaving,
The new seats have plug and usb,
The boarding start at 4:40pm so I think we will be late ! Just next to us, a A320 SN just arrived,
Last view on our plane,
That's right we are flying from Brussels,
Arrived at my place, check of the pitch,
The view for the next hour,
The boarding ends quietly,
It's always important to read the safety card,
Push back at 5pm so 15min delay,
A cousin from EasyJet pass just before us,
During the taxiway I can catch this B737 JetairFly,
The C-130 Hercule of the Belgian Air Force,
The EasyJet is going away,
A Falcon 50 of the Belgian Air Force is landing,
A Cesna Citation is taking off and it's our turn just after him,
Today we will use the 25R as usual,
Bye bye Brussels !
Just after the take off when the weather isn't too bad, you can see the National Stadium King Bauduin Stadium and the Atomium,
During the climbing we can see some landscape of Belgium,
Brussels Airline fleet with the two special livery, there are 2 A320 with the Red Devils livery and one with the Rackham livery,
The destination of SN, their main market is Africa with 19 destinations,
Aerial view during the cruise,
The WingTip,
During the descent we passed on the west of Lyon, perfect for me because I'm on the left so I can have some aerial view of the city,
Last turn, I can see the airport,
Final and landing with 10 minutes delay,
Before us landed a A319 LH and following us a ATR72 Hop!,
On the gate at 6:20pm so 10 minutes delay, I have the streetcar RhoneExpress at 6:37 that will be short !
Thanks for reading !
I hope my english writing wasn't so bad ^^
Nice to read you from our last meeting. Thank you for this FR with fine pictures of The connector. It is really spacious and clean !
Moreover, Tintins's rocket will be a good mascot^^
PS: Your English is better than others. So no problem ;)
PS 2 : Clear for a Belgian FR meeting ? ^^
Thanks for your comment !
The Connector is much better than before ^^
Yeah sure for a Belgian FR meeting ;)
Thank you for sharing this report in English with us, I've read some of your reports in French before (New Zealand trip).
Nice spotting of Blue Moon Rising EY livery^^ Very good spotting at BRU and the picture of Atomium brings back good memories.
The Connector looks like a nice refresh addition for BRU, very bright and open. I have only been to BRU once, but from my memory it did not leave an impression (so it was neither good or bad). Will the terminals also be renovated soon to match?
Cabin comfort looks fine, but it's a same SN is following IB into LCC territory, at least BA and LH seem to still offer reasonable catering.
PS - I can understand your English with no problems, no need to be shy.
Thanks for your comment and reading me :)
I'm glad to bring you back some memories !
Exactly, the Connector is a real refresh for BRU ! The old way was dark and not pleasant...
I don't think there will be a refresh for the terminal A but I read some documents about a refresh for the terminal B and that will be a good think because he look and he is old.
Yeah it's really a shame for SN because they have a good cabin comfort and good crew so with a little catering, you can do much better !
Thanks for my english ^^
Thank you for sharing this report.
Great presentation of BRU.
I do like the SN Cabin.
I ignored SN had such a big fleet.
See you,
Thanks for the comment :)
Thanks for taking the time to write a report in English to show us the new Terminal in BRU! It looks really nice if a little too white and hospital-like. But it looks really fresh. I love the Tintin rocket!
Great shots of the Atomium on takeoff! As far as the flight is concerned, SN is very average and you are right that it is not good that a flag carrier only has B.O.B
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Kevin for your comment !
Yeak it looks hospital-like but not so much like on the photos because I had my old camera and the quality of the photos aren't so good ;)
Yeah SN is very average with the B.O.B but without that, it will be a very good airline I think.
The new building, and most of the terminal in BRU looks great. SN seems like a cheap version of LH.
I loved the aerials of Brussels and Lyon.
Thanks for joining the English FRs, I hope to read more reports from you!
Thanks Chibcha for your comment !
Yeah I agree with your comparison. SN is the cheap version of LH like IB is the cheap version of BA !
Your welcome ! I can translate some interestin' flight of my world tour if you want ?