BRUSSELS – Virgin Express and SN Brussels airlines, both of whom fly out of Brussels’ Zaventem airport, may be considering joining forces, Belgian broadcaster RTL reported on its website on Thursday.

According to RTL, top executives from the two companies are in involved discussions about the possibility of pooling some or all of their operations.

Analysts say such a link up would make sense in Europe’s increasingly competitive short haul air travel market, which has been revolutionised by ‘low cost’ carriers like Ireland’s Ryanair and the UK’s ‘Easyjet’.

Both Virgin and SN Brussels are in comparatively good financial shape among international airlines.

SN Brussels boss Rob Kuypers said his company was preparing to announce a slight profit for 2003.

[Copyright Expatica News 2004]

Subject: Belgian news