Virgin Express

Virgin Express
IATA code :	TV
ICAO code :	VEX
Call sign :	VIRGIN EXPRESS
Founding:	1991
Operation stopped:	2006
Merged with:	Brussels Airlines
Seat:	Brussels , Belgium
Home airport :	Brussels-Zaventem
Fleet size:	10
Aims:	continental
Virgin Express merged with Brussels Airlines in 2006 . The information in italics relates to the last status before the takeover.

Virgin Express (originally Eurobelgian Airlines ) was a Belgian low-cost airline based in Brussels and based at Brussels-Zaventem Airport . It was a subsidiary of the British Virgin Group until it merged with SN Brussels Airlines (now Brussels Airlines ) .

history

Eurobelgian Airlines

A Boeing 737-300 of Eurobelgian Airlines at Faro Airport in 1992

Eurobelgian Airlines (EBA) was founded in November 1991 by Victor Hasson as a subsidiary of the City Hotels chain with start-up capital of 50 million BEF to continue the IT charter flights of Trans European Airways (TEA), which had to file for bankruptcy that same month . Victor Hasson was supported by Georges Gutelman , the former owner of the TEA. Operations began on April 1, 1992 with three Boeing 737-300s that were used in charter traffic to destinations in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands . A year later, the company operated five Boeing 737-300s and one Boeing 737-400 . The entry into force of EU aviation law at the beginning of 1993 allowed the national airlines in the EU internal market to offer flight connections from third countries. EBA was the first charter airline to take advantage of this opportunity and, from January 23, 1993, initially stationed one, shortly afterwards two Boeing 737s at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport , which were operated on behalf of French tour operators . A third Boeing 737 sat EBA one on charter flights operated by Milan ( Italy ran out). In the 1993 business year the company made a profit of BEF 76 million.

Virgin Express

On April 30, 1996, the British Virgin Group bought 90 percent of the company's shares, almost completely taking over the company. It was renamed Virgin Express and from now on the low-cost airline tried to conquer the Belgian market, which was then dominated by the scheduled airline Sabena . Soon afterwards, however, a partnership was concluded with this in order to avoid direct competition.

The already economically troubled Sabena ceased operations as a result of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and the bankruptcy of the main owner Swissair on November 6, 2001. From now on, Virgin Express cooperated with the successor company SN Brussels Airlines , which belonged to SN Airholding . In 2005 this holding company bought the airline Virgin Express . This initially continued operations under its previous brand identity and was merged with the sister airline SN Brussels Airlines in March 2006 . Brussels Airlines emerged from the merger and began operating under this name in March 2007.

Destinations

Virgin Express mainly offered flights from Brussels to southern Europe. Most of the airline's destination airports were in Spain , France , Italy , Portugal and Greece . Destinations outside southern Europe were Brussels and Amsterdam, which was connected to Rome , Berlin , Hamburg , Frankfurt am Main and Munich .

fleet

As of February 2007, the Virgin Express fleet consisted of ten aircraft:

• 5 Boeing 737-300
• 5 Boeing 737-400

See also

• Former Airlines List (Europe)
• Virgin Group

Web links

Commons : Eurobelgian Airlines  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Commons : Virgin Express  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ^ Flight International, March 10, 1993
2. ^ Flight International, March 25, 1992
3. ^ Flight International, March 24, 1993
4. ^ Flight International, February 2, 1993
5. ^ Flight International, July 27, 1994