Image: Brussels Airlines / Facebook.
Brussels Airlines, Belgium’s largest airline, is set to add Funchal, located on Madeira Island in Portugal, to its list of destinations.
As part of its summer 2025 expansion plans, the airline will create over 300 new jobs.
Brussels Airlines Boosting Capacity
To accommodate increased demand, Brussels Airlines will expand its fleet by six aircraft, bringing the total to 50, and boosting capacity by 18 per cent compared to summer 2024. The airline’s European focus next summer will be on Spain and Portugal, with Funchal joining the network as a new summer destination.
Starting in April 2025, Brussels Airlines will operate weekly direct flights to Funchal, known for its stunning natural beauty. This addition increases the airline’s Portuguese destinations to five. There will also be more flights to Faro and Porto.
In Spain, the airline already flies to 15 locations. Fuerteventura, a Canary Island destination introduced during the winter season, will now also be available in summer.
Brussels Airlines Year-Round Flights to the UK
Additionally, the airline has confirmed year-round flights to Birmingham in the United Kingdom, which resumed during the winter season.
For its long-haul network, Brussels Airlines is adding an 11th Airbus A330-300. While full details are pending, the added capacity is expected to serve its core African routes.
The expansion includes plans to recruit 370 new employees: 190 cabin crew, 50 pilots, 60 airport staff, 40 technicians, and 20 office personnel. For the first time, the airline will also employ job students on flights during the summer of 2025.