TUI fly Belgium

TUI fly Belgium is a Belgian leisure airline legally incorporated as TUI Airlines Belgium nv. It operates scheduled and charter passenger services for the TUI Group, with its registered office and principal home base at Brussels Airport. The airline serves holiday destinations across the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Africa, the Caribbean and the United States, while also operating from a number of secondary Belgian, French and Moroccan bases. The carrier originated in 2002 under the name Sunrise. It was established as a home carrier for Jetair, the Belgian tour-operator business associated with the TUI tourism group. The original plan called for a two-aircraft operation, but the closure of Sobelair, previously Jetair's home carrier, led the new airline to begin operations with five Boeing 737-400 aircraft. On 13 November 2003 it was re-established as TUI Airlines Belgium. The company adopted the Jetairfly name on 23 November 2005 as part of the wider branding of Jetair's travel activities. A major change in the airline's business model took place in 2012. Jet4you, a Moroccan low-cost airline that was also part of the TUI group, was integrated fully into Jetairfly during that year. In March 2012, Jetairfly formally became a full scheduled airline rather than relying primarily on charter flying. The change enabled customers to book flights in both directions, including passengers who were not European Union citizens, and broadened the carrier's role beyond package-tour transportation. The airline pursued fleet and infrastructure development during the following years. In early 2013 it became the first leisure airline worldwide to introduce the Embraer E190. Later that year it opened the Jetairport office and maintenance complex at Brussels Airport. In December 2013 it introduced a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, described in the reference material as the first and only such Belgian airline introduction at that time. Jetairfly also agreed in November 2014 to provide up to four aircraft and crews for wet-lease operations on behalf of ECAir, the Republic of the Congo's flag carrier, from the middle of 2015. Environmental management became part of the airline's corporate positioning when it obtained ISO 14001 certification in 2015. The certification was associated with efforts to reduce its ecological footprint and was described as a first for a Belgian airline. In May 2015, TUI Group announced that its five airline subsidiaries would progressively adopt the common TUI fly name while retaining separate air operator certificates. Jetairfly completed this transition on 19 October 2016 and became TUI fly Belgium; its legal corporate name remained TUI Airlines Belgium NV. TUI fly Belgium combines low-cost and leisure-airline characteristics with a broader scheduled network. Short- and medium-haul flights may use buy-on-board service, standard catering on selected routes, or an enhanced Service Plus/VIP Selection product. Its historical long-haul service offered economy and premium-style products, including additional legroom, lounge access, priority facilities and onboard entertainment on Boeing 787 flights. The group has also pursued fleet modernization through Boeing 737 MAX deliveries. In February 2025, the airline announced that it would end long-haul operations and retire its remaining Boeing 787-8 by November 2025. The decision followed the relocation of another aircraft of the same type to TUI fly Netherlands in 2024. TUI fly Belgium stated that maintaining such a small long-haul fleet was no longer commercially viable. Its continuing identity is therefore centered on short- and medium-haul leisure and scheduled services within the TUI Group network.

TUI fly Belgium was established in 2002 as Sunrise, a home carrier intended to support Jetair, the Belgian tour-operator business linked to the TUI tourism group. The initial concept involved two aircraft. When Sobelair, Jetair's previous home carrier, ceased operations, Sunrise began flying with five Boeing 737-400 aircraft. The airline was re-established as TUI Airlines Belgium on 13 November 2003. On 23 November 2005, the company was renamed Jetairfly as part of the broader use of the Jetair trade name. Its relationship with TUI's other aviation businesses expanded in 2012, when Jet4you, a Moroccan low-cost carrier within the group, was fully integrated into Jetairfly. That same year marked a structural shift in Jetairfly's business model: in March it officially became a full scheduled airline. Previously, a substantial share of its flying had been conducted as charter operations. After the change, flights could be booked in both directions by a wider range of customers, including non-EU citizens. The carrier developed its fleet and operating infrastructure during the early 2010s. In 2013 it introduced the Embraer E190, identified in the reference material as the first introduction of that aircraft by a leisure airline worldwide. In the autumn of the same year, Jetairport, a new office building and maintenance hangar at Brussels Airport, was inaugurated. In December 2013, Jetairfly introduced a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and became the first Belgian airline to operate that type according to the cited material. In November 2014, it concluded a wet-lease agreement under which up to four aircraft and their crews were to operate for ECAir, the flag carrier of the Republic of the Congo, from mid-2015. Sustainability also became a formal area of activity. In 2015 the airline obtained ISO 14001 certification for environmental management and its work to reduce its ecological footprint. The same year, TUI Group announced a common TUI fly identity for its five airline subsidiaries. The airlines were to keep separate air operator certificates while progressively adopting the shared commercial name. Jetairfly completed the change on 19 October 2016, becoming TUI fly Belgium; the company's legal name remained TUI Airlines Belgium NV. As TUI fly Belgium, the airline has operated from Brussels Airport and additional bases including Liège, Ostend–Bruges, Antwerp, Lille in France, Casablanca and Marrakesh in Morocco. Its network has covered leisure destinations in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Caribbean, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Africa and the United States. The carrier has offered both charter and scheduled flying, with service levels ranging from buy-on-board economy to enhanced products with catering, lounge access, priority airport facilities and additional onboard benefits. Its Boeing 787 service historically included economy, extra-legroom and premium-cabin options with onboard entertainment. The airline participated in TUI Group's fleet modernization program, including deliveries of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft beginning in 2018. In February 2025, it announced a strategic withdrawal from long-haul flying. The remaining Boeing 787-8 was scheduled to leave the fleet by November 2025, while another aircraft of the same type had already been transferred to TUI fly Netherlands in 2024. The stated rationale was that a very small long-haul fleet was no longer commercially viable. This decision marked a shift toward a more concentrated short- and medium-haul leisure-airline model.

• 2025

  Long-haul operations scheduled for closure

  [1]TUI fly Belgiumen.wikipedia.org

  The airline announced the withdrawal of its remaining Boeing 787-8 and the end of long-haul operations by November.

• 2016

  TUI fly Belgium brand launched

  [1]TUI fly Belgiumen.wikipedia.org

  Jetairfly adopted the TUI fly Belgium brand on 19 October while retaining the TUI Airlines Belgium legal entity.

• 2015

  Environmental certification obtained

  [1]TUI fly Belgiumen.wikipedia.org

  The airline obtained ISO 14001 certification connected with environmental management and efforts to reduce its ecological footprint.

• 2013

  Fleet and Brussels infrastructure expanded

  [1]TUI fly Belgiumen.wikipedia.org

  Jetairfly introduced the Embraer E190, opened its Jetairport office and maintenance complex, and later introduced the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

• 2012

  Jet4you integrated and scheduled model expanded

  [1]TUI fly Belgiumen.wikipedia.org

  Jet4you was integrated into Jetairfly, and the airline formally became a full scheduled carrier in March.

• 2005

  Jetairfly name adopted

  [1]TUI fly Belgiumen.wikipedia.org

  The airline changed its commercial name to Jetairfly on 23 November as part of Jetair's wider rebranding.

• 2003

  Operations begin under TUI Airlines Belgium

  [1]TUI fly Belgiumen.wikipedia.org

  Following Sobelair's shutdown, the airline began operations with five Boeing 737-400 aircraft and was re-established as TUI Airlines Belgium on 13 November.

• 2002

  Airline established as Sunrise

  [1]TUI fly Belgiumen.wikipedia.org

  Sunrise was created as a Belgian home carrier for Jetair, initially planned to operate two aircraft.

A TUI Group leisure airline combining package-holiday charter operations with scheduled services, primarily serving European and international vacation destinations from Belgium and related bases.

• Airline service · 2012

  Scheduled passenger flights

  TUI fly Belgium operates bookable scheduled services alongside its traditional holiday-charter activity. The scheduled model was formally introduced in 2012, allowing passengers to purchase flights in both directions rather than limiting the airline primarily to package-tour movements. Its network focuses on leisure destinations in Europe, North Africa, the Atlantic islands and selected longer-distance markets.

• Airline service · 2002

  Charter passenger flights

  Charter flying remains part of the airline's leisure-oriented operating model. Services connect Belgian and related bases with holiday destinations and can support TUI tour packages as well as broader seasonal demand. The carrier's origins were specifically tied to its role as a home carrier for Jetair.

• Onboard service

  Economy service

  Short- and medium-haul economy service has included a buy-on-board option for snacks and drinks. On selected routes, including services to Cabo Verde and Senegal in the cited description, standard catering has also been offered. The product is designed for leisure travelers and varies by route and aircraft.

• Premium airline service

  Service Plus/VIP Selection

  The historical Service Plus/VIP Selection product provided an enhanced experience on selected short- and medium-haul flights. Benefits described in the reference material included premium meals, complimentary alcohol, newspapers, Brussels Airport VIP-lounge access, separate check-in and an expedited security lane.

• Long-haul airline service · 2013

  Boeing 787 long-haul service

  The airline's historical Boeing 787 product included standard economy, an Economy+ extra-legroom option and Premium Club. Premium benefits included lounge access, priority airport facilities, premium meals, complimentary alcohol, amenity kits and additional seat space. Audio-video-on-demand entertainment was available to passengers on the aircraft.

• 2025

  Withdrawal from long-haul operationsStrategy

  Background

  TUI fly Belgium stated that operating a very small long-haul fleet was no longer commercially viable. One Boeing 787-8 had already been relocated to TUI fly Netherlands in 2024.

  Action taken

  In February 2025, the airline announced that it would end long-haul operations and phase out its remaining Boeing 787-8 by November 2025.

  Aftermath

  The decision concentrates the airline's future network on short- and medium-haul leisure and scheduled services.

  Source

• 2015

  Adoption of the common TUI fly airline brandStrategy

  Background

  TUI Group sought to present its five airline subsidiaries under a common commercial identity while preserving their separate air operator certificates.

  Action taken

  The group announced a phased transition to the TUI fly name. Jetairfly completed its own rebranding as TUI fly Belgium on 19 October 2016.

  Aftermath

  The airline became more visibly integrated into TUI Group's international airline portfolio while retaining its Belgian legal identity.

  Source

• 2012

  Move from predominantly charter flying to a full scheduled modelStrategy

  Background

  Jetairfly had historically conducted a substantial share of its operations as charter flights for the holiday business. The airline sought to broaden access to its network and make its flights more directly bookable.

  Action taken

  In March 2012, Jetairfly officially became a full scheduled airline, allowing flights to be booked in both directions, including by non-EU citizens.

  Aftermath

  The change broadened the carrier's customer base and strengthened its role as both a leisure charter operator and a scheduled airline.

  Source

• 2012

  Integration of Jet4youM&A

  Background

  Jet4you was a Moroccan low-cost airline and another subsidiary of the TUI group.

  Action taken

  TUI announced the integration of Jet4you into Jetairfly in January, with the merger completed in April.

  Aftermath

  The integration consolidated the group's Moroccan low-cost airline activities within Jetairfly.

  Source

1. 1TUI fly Belgiumen.wikipedia.org