Airlines Primera Air announces long-haul operations from Brussels Airport

In 2017 Primera Air announced plans to join the long haul low cost market operating flights from destinations in Europe to several US airports. In a first statement, the carrier planned to offer flights from Birmingham, London Stansted and Paris Charles de Gaulle. As the carrier is affected by delivery delays of the first Airbus A321 LR, some weeks ago Primera Air was forced to announce cancelation of all operations at Birmingham Airport by October 2018.

Now, Primera Air has revealed plans to establish a new European base for long-haul low cost flights. By June 2019, the carrier plans to connect Brussels Airport with the three US destinations Boston-Logan, Newark and Washington-Dulles International Airport. Two new Boeing 737-9 MAX should be based in Belgium.

On the new routes, Primera Air is facing weak competition: The carrier is the only airline offering direct flights between Brussels and Boston. On the route to Newark United Airlines is the only competitor. Flights to Washington-Dulles are offered by Brussels Airlines and United Airlines.

Primera Air currently operates a fleet of four Airbus A321 Neo, two Boeing 737-700 and seven B737-800. Beside its long-haul connections, Primera Air provides scheduled and charter passenger services to leisure destinations from Northern European countries to over 40 destinations in Europe and the Middle East. For the long-haul low cost expansion Primera Air has ordered two A321LR (Long Range version) and ten Boeing 737 MAX 9. As launch customer, Primera Air will be the first carrier to offer long-haul flights with the new Airbus single-aisle aircraft.