Airliner World — September 2017

40 AIRLINER WORLD SEPTEMBER 2017

B

russels Airlines has made no

secret of the fact that time

is limited for its remaining

fleet of BAE Systems Avro

RJ100s. The first British-

built jets were originally delivered to

predecessor Delta Air Transport (DAT), a

subsidiary of former flag carrier Sabena,

in 1995. Since then, they have flown

under three different banners – Sabena,

SN Brussels and most recently Brussels

Airlines – during which they have

provided sterling service.

But the jets are starting to show their

age and, with more modern and efficient

alternatives available on the market, the

carrier has elected to phase the type out

of service. Today, just three of the once

26-strong RJ fleet remain in operation.

And the date of the last revenue flight of

the type is already known – on October

Brussels Airlines’ fleet of BAE Systems Avro RJs has served

the flag carrier with distinction over the past two decades. But

the aircraft is very much in its twilight years and, with just months

remaining until its impending withdrawal, Viktor Koren took a

nostalgic flight on the classic jet.

Avro

RJ100

Brussels Airlines’ fleet of BAE Systems Avro RJs has served

the flag carrier with distinction over the past two decades. But

the aircraft is very much in its twilight years and, with just months

remaining until its impending withdrawal,

FROM

THE

COCKPIT

Av ro

RJ100 Whisperjet

40 AIRLINER WORLD SEPTEMBER 2017

the type is already known – on October

Flying the Whisperjet

28, RJ100 OO-DWD (c/n E3324) will fly

SN2719/20, the final return trip from

Brussels to Geneva. It’s a rather

poignant way of closing a significant

chapter in the carrier’s history – the

route was the first to be operated by an

Avro in the post-Sabena era.

In the short term, Brussels Airlines is

plugging the gap in capacity created

by the RJ100 withdrawal with Sukhoi

Superjet 100s acquired initially under a

two-year lease deal with Dublin-based

CityJet. Meanwhile, Brussels Airlines’

remaining Avro crews will be retrained

to fly Airbuses and transferred on to the

carrier’s A320s.

A Day to Remember

With time rapidly running out, I was

keen to sample the ‘Whisperjet’,

particularly on one of the more unusual

routes served by the type. The RJ100’s

excellent short take-off and landing

(STOL) performance means it’s ideally

suited for more challenging airports

such as Florence and Stockholm/

Bromma (ICAO: ESSB, IATA: BMA).

The latter, a city-centre facility at the

heart of the Swedish capital, is a popu-

lar route for the carrier with four-times

MAIN PHOTO • Brussels

Airlines is replacing its

outgoing BAE Systems

Avro RJ100s with Sukhoi

Super100s leased from

Dublin-based CityJet.

AIRTEAMIMAGES.COM/

RUDI BOIGELOT

The construction plate

for RJ100 OO-DWB (c/n

E3315) is mounted in

the cockpit and shows

the aircraft owner

along with airframe and

manufacturer data.

ALL PHOTOS AUTHOR

UNLESS STATED