Olivier Prévot, a Brussels Airlines representative in North America, recently spoke at the Africa Travel Association’s (ATA) Presidential Forum on September 22, 2014 in New York City and covered a variety of subject matters. Brussels Airlines is the official carrier of the ATA’s 29th Annual World Congress taking place in Kampala this November.
Mr. Prévot spoke of the airline’s partnership with the ATA, and the discounted rates being offered to those who wish to book a trip to Kampala for the Congress in November. Brussels Airlines flies three times a week to Kampala from Brussels and offers daily non-stop connections from New York’s JFK Airport, as well as other points of origin within the U.S. with partner United Airlines.
Beginning March 29, 2015, Mr. Prévot stated that the airline’s flights out of Washington, D.C. will be retimed to connect with most of their African destinations from Brussels. For those who do not live in the Washington, D.C. area, those travelers will be able to connect to the WAS-BRU flight from more than 60 U.S. destinations.
Mr. Prévot also touched on the subject of the Ebola virus, noting that Brussels Airlines is maintaining its operations to outbreak countries such as Liberia and Guinea as long as their daily risk-assessments allow the airline to do so.
“We herewith follow the guidance of, amongst others, the World Health Organization as to not leave these countries without connections with the outer world,” said Mr. Prévot.
“I can assure you that Brussels Airlines, as we have always done in the past, will maintain its operations as long as possible ensuring the humanitarian bridge between these countries and the rest of the world, allowing the conveyance of medical supplies and humanitarian personnel to those affected by the Ebola virus.”
Brussels Airlines is a longstanding partner of Africa and believes strongly in the future of the region, so when asked about servicing new destinations in Africa, Mr. Prévot noted that while they are constantly exploring new opportunities, at this stage it is still very premature to make any announcement.
Brussels Airlines, www.brusselsairlines.com