Air Belgium welcomes 1st passenger A330-200

On 10 October, Air Belgium welcomed its first passenger Airbus A330-200. The aircraft, OE-LCL (1521) arrived at Brussels from Woensdrecht and will be joined by a second one in the coming months. Both aircraft are the replacement aircraft for the airline's two final retired A340-300s.

Last month, on 4 September, Air Belgium also added a fifth A330-200F to the fleet. This aircraft, OE-LAL (832), a A330-200P2F, is wearing Hongyuan Group-titles, similar as the two B747-8Fs in the fleet. It hasn't, however, entered commercial service yet and has been parked at Brussels ever since, sance for a test-flight on 4 October.

The Belgian carrier's fleet now consists of one Airbus A330-200, two A330-900s, one A330-200P2F (operated for Hongyuan), four A330-200Fs (operated for CMA CGM) and two B747-8Fs (operated for Hongyuan). It's said that the four A330-200Fs operated for CMA CGM are planned to leave the fleet in the coming months and will be transferred to the shipping giant's own Air Operator Certificate and join the fleet of two B777Fs.

Photo by Air Belgium.