Air Belgium
Air Belgium is a Belgian airline brand that moved from scheduled long-haul passenger services into charter, ACMI and cargo operations before its operating company entered bankruptcy proceedings in 2025.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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History
Air Belgium was founded in 2016 with the ambition of becoming a Belgian long-haul passenger airline. Its initial plan centered on flights from Brussels South Charleroi Airport to major destinations in China and Hong Kong. Niky Terzakis, previously associated with ASL Airlines Belgium, became chief executive. The planned October 2017 launch was postponed because the company had not yet obtained its air operator's certificate. In late 2017, the airline moved its planned base from Brussels Airport to Charleroi, citing lower charges and easier access, and described plans for separate premium and economy passenger facilities. The Belgian civil aviation authority issued Air Belgium's certificate on 14 March 2018. Before the airline's own passenger launch, it completed a revenue flight for Surinam Airways using an Airbus A340-300 in Air Belgium colors, linking Amsterdam and Paramaribo. Its inaugural own-brand Hong Kong service was postponed again because it lacked permission to use Russian airspace, eventually beginning on 3 June 2018. Air Belgium also placed another aircraft with Air France for a seasonal Paris–Libreville service. The passenger model quickly encountered difficulties. The Charleroi–Hong Kong route was suspended for the winter in September 2018 and was ultimately not restarted. Instead, Air Belgium emphasized charter work and considered prospective routes to mainland China, the Caribbean, Central Africa and Miami. Announced plans for Fort-de-France, Pointe-à-Pitre and Kinshasa demonstrated the intended breadth of the network, but the airline did not establish the originally envisioned scheduled intercontinental system. The company expanded into cargo in 2021. It operated four Airbus A330-200 freighters from Liège for CMA CGM, which had purchased the aircraft and engaged Air Belgium as operator. Air Belgium also announced two Airbus A330-900 aircraft for a Brussels–Mauritius passenger service. The shift toward cargo, charter and aircraft services for other airlines reflected the difficulties of sustaining a conventional scheduled passenger network. Financial pressure intensified after the coronavirus pandemic reduced charter demand and weakened the company's passenger business. In November 2022, Air Belgium said it needed recapitalization and reported severe losses. Chinese minority owners supplied €19 million during 2022, but that funding was reportedly exhausted. In January 2023, Air Belgium stated that private investors had provided enough capital to continue, while the Belgian state supplied no further support. In September 2023, the airline announced that scheduled passenger flights would end on 3 October. Aircraft and personnel were to be used for ACMI and charter assignments for other carriers, while cargo operations continued. In 2024, the business reduced its workforce and reviewed the future of its Airbus A330-900 aircraft, whose engines had generated continuing operational difficulties. Air Belgium then filed for judicial reorganization, with the restructuring focused on cargo and ACMI rather than the restoration of its passenger network. On 30 April 2025, the commercial court of Walloon Brabant declared Air Belgium NV bankrupt. CMA CGM took over the airline's cargo activities and 124 jobs. The French shipping and logistics group, which also owns CMA CGM Air Cargo, said that Air Belgium would be maintained as a separate brand. The available material does not establish whether all activities continued under the same legal entity, so the post-bankruptcy status of the brand remains uncertain.
- 2025
CMA CGM takes over cargo activities
[1]CMA CGM assumes Air Belgium's cargo activities and 124 jobs as the commercial court declares Air Belgium NV bankrupt.
- 2024
Judicial reorganization is filed
[1]The company seeks court-supervised reorganization while planning to preserve cargo and ACMI operations.
- 2023
Passenger network is terminated
[1]Scheduled passenger services end on 3 October, leaving ACMI, charter and cargo operations as the principal activities.
- 2022
Recapitalization becomes necessary
[1]After substantial losses, Air Belgium seeks new capital and receives reported funding from Chinese minority investors.
- 2021
Cargo operations begin for CMA CGM
[1]Air Belgium begins operating Airbus A330 freighters from Liège on behalf of CMA CGM.
- 2018
Air operator's certificate obtained
[1]Air Belgium receives certification from the Belgian civil aviation authority, clearing the way for commercial operations.
- 2018
Scheduled passenger service begins
[1]The carrier launches its own scheduled Charleroi–Hong Kong service after earlier delays.
- 2018
Hong Kong route is discontinued
[1]The airline first suspends and then abandons its Hong Kong passenger route, turning more strongly toward charter operations.
- 2016
Air Belgium is founded
[1]The Belgian airline is established with an initial plan to operate long-haul passenger services from Charleroi to destinations in Asia.
Products and positioning
A Belgian long-haul airline that evolved into a charter, ACMI and cargo operator serving airline and logistics partners.
Passenger airline services · 2018
Scheduled long-haul passenger services
Air Belgium's original proposition was scheduled intercontinental passenger flying from Belgium to Asia and other long-haul markets. The principal operated route was Charleroi–Hong Kong, launched in 2018 and later discontinued. The carrier also announced prospective services to China, the Caribbean, Africa and Miami, but these plans did not develop into a durable broad network.
Airline capacity services · 2018
Charter and ACMI operations
After its scheduled passenger model weakened, Air Belgium increasingly supplied aircraft and crews to other airlines through charter and ACMI, or wet-lease, arrangements. Its early examples included operating for Surinam Airways and providing an aircraft to Air France for a seasonal Paris–Libreville service. These activities became central after scheduled passenger flights ended in 2023.
Air freight · 2021
Air cargo services
Air Belgium operated Airbus A330-200 freighters from Liège for CMA CGM. The cargo business connected the airline to the wider logistics operations of its shipping partner and became the principal activity retained during restructuring. CMA CGM took over these activities in 2025 together with 124 jobs.
Brand decisions
2025
Transfer cargo activities to CMA CGMM&ABackground
Air Belgium NV entered bankruptcy after an unsuccessful period of restructuring, while its cargo business remained commercially valuable to its existing logistics partner.
Action taken
CMA CGM took over the cargo activities and 124 jobs on 30 April and said the Air Belgium brand would be retained separately.
Aftermath
The transaction separated the continuing cargo business from the bankrupt operating company, but the full post-transaction legal and operational status of the brand remains unclear.
2024
Enter judicial reorganizationOtherBackground
Continuing financial and operational pressure led Air Belgium to seek court-supervised protection.
Action taken
The company filed for judicial reorganization while intending to retain cargo and ACMI operations and refund affected passenger bookings.
Aftermath
The restructuring preceded the bankruptcy of Air Belgium NV and the transfer of cargo activities to CMA CGM in 2025.
2023
End scheduled passenger flightsStrategyBackground
Air Belgium's scheduled passenger network had not achieved a sustainable scale and the company was concentrating on services for other airlines and cargo customers.
Action taken
The airline ended all scheduled passenger flights on 3 October and redirected its fleet toward ACMI and charter operations.
Aftermath
Air Belgium continued as a smaller aviation-services and cargo operator while reducing its exposure to direct scheduled passenger flying.
2022
Seek recapitalizationStrategyBackground
Air Belgium reported severe losses after the pandemic weakened its primary charter business and said additional capital was needed to avoid bankruptcy.
Action taken
The company pursued recapitalization and received reported funding of €19 million from Chinese minority owners during 2022.
Aftermath
The reported funding was used up, and Air Belgium later relied on private investment and restructuring measures.
Funding received from Chinese minority owners. €19 million (2022)
2021
Expand into cargo for CMA CGMStrategyBackground
Air Belgium needed additional sources of utilization beyond its scheduled passenger network, while CMA CGM was developing an air-freight capability.
Action taken
Air Belgium began operating four Airbus A330-200 freighters from Liège on behalf of CMA CGM.
Aftermath
Cargo became an important continuing business line and was ultimately the part of the operation taken over by CMA CGM in 2025.
2018
Shift emphasis from scheduled flying to charter operationsStrategyBackground
The Hong Kong route was suspended for the winter and the airline faced difficulty building the originally planned scheduled network.
Action taken
Air Belgium placed greater emphasis on charter work and considered alternative long-haul destinations rather than immediately restoring the Hong Kong route.
Aftermath
The airline's business increasingly combined charter, ACMI and later cargo activities.
2017
Move the planned base to CharleroiStrategyBackground
Air Belgium was preparing its first scheduled long-haul services and evaluated the cost and accessibility of its Belgian airport base.
Action taken
The airline chose Brussels South Charleroi Airport rather than Brussels Airport for its planned passenger launch, citing lower airport charges and accessibility.
Aftermath
The airport became the base for the initial Hong Kong service, although that route was later suspended and discontinued.
Recent events
- 2025
CMA CGM takes over Air Belgium cargo activities[1]
M&A · Bankruptcy
CMA CGM took over the cargo activities and 124 jobs on 30 April, the same day Air Belgium NV was declared bankrupt by the commercial court of Walloon Brabant. CMA CGM said the Air Belgium brand would remain separate.
- 2024
Air Belgium reduces workforce and reviews A330-900 fleet[1]
Product generation · Leadership change
The airline significantly downsized its workforce and considered phasing out its Airbus A330-900 aircraft because of continuing engine problems.
- 2024
Air Belgium files for judicial reorganization[1]
Bankruptcy · Regulation
The company entered judicial reorganization while intending to retain cargo and ACMI activities and end passenger operations; later passenger bookings were to be refunded.
- 2023
Private funding enables Air Belgium to continue operating[1]
Other
Air Belgium announced that private investors had provided sufficient funding to keep the business running without further state support.
- 2023
Scheduled passenger operations end[1]
Other
Air Belgium ended its scheduled passenger flights on 3 October and redirected its fleet toward ACMI and other airline-support operations.
- 2022
Air Belgium seeks recapitalization amid heavy losses[1]
Bankruptcy
The airline disclosed the need for new capital after pandemic-related weakness and accumulated losses, while reporting €19 million of funding from Chinese minority investors during the year.
- 2021
Air Belgium announces cargo operations for CMA CGM[1]
M&A
The airline announced cargo flights using four Airbus A330-200 freighters based at Liège and operated for CMA CGM.
- 2021
Air Belgium announces Airbus A330-900 passenger aircraft[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The carrier announced plans to add two Airbus A330-900 aircraft and launch Brussels–Mauritius services.
- 2018
Air Belgium receives its air operator's certificate[1]
Other
The Belgian civil aviation authority granted Air Belgium the certification required to begin commercial airline operations.
- 2018
Air Belgium operates first revenue service for Surinam Airways[1]
Other
Before launching its own scheduled network, Air Belgium operated an Airbus A340 service between Amsterdam and Paramaribo for Surinam Airways.
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