(BRUSSELS, BELGIUM) Brussels Airlines will launch a new route to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, on June 3, 2026, adding a twice-weekly link that the carrier will operate as a triangular service: Brussels to Kilimanjaro, on to Nairobi, and back to Brussels. The flights will run on Wednesdays and Saturdays, opening a fresh corridor for leisure travelers and tour operators planning access to Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
The airline positions the move as a boost for tourism flows between Europe and East Africa and a response to growing demand from safari travelers and the regional market’s steady recovery.
Airline strategy and leadership comment
Brussels Airlines described Sub-Saharan Africa as central to its long-haul strategy and framed the addition as a direct response to market demand.
“Sub-Saharan Africa is our second home, and we’re happy to add an attractive destination to our network on this beautiful continent. Tanzania is a top destination for safaris, and we’re proud to contribute to the local economy by connecting Kilimanjaro to Brussels and beyond,” said Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO of Brussels Airlines.
Aircraft, product and fares
- Aircraft: Airbus A330-300
- Configuration: 288 seats across Business, Premium Economy, and Economy cabins
- Service offering: the airline will maintain its standard long-haul product for Africa, including tailored menus and family-friendly services
- Fares: return tickets start from €519 (tickets available at https://www.brusselsairlines.com)
The carrier highlights that selling seats well in advance helps safari planners, climbing groups, and travel agents coordinate seasonal trips around school holidays and Kilimanjaro summit windows.
Route role and network impact
With this launch, Brussels Airlines’ Sub-Saharan Africa network will grow to 18 destinations. Kilimanjaro becomes the carrier’s fifth destination in East Africa, after:
- Entebbe
- Kigali
- Bujumbura
- Nairobi
Key aims of the addition:
- Widen choice in a competitive leisure market
- Deepen the airline’s Africa footprint across VFR, trade, and tourism segments
- Improve operational efficiency by linking Kilimanjaro and Nairobi in one rotation
Triangular service: routing and passenger benefits
Operational pattern:
1. Brussels → Kilimanjaro
2. Kilimanjaro → Nairobi
3. Nairobi → Brussels
Benefits for passengers and operations:
- More seats across two city pairs within a single rotation
- Fewer backtracking flights for multi-stop itineraries featuring Tanzania and Kenya
- Reduced ground time and improved schedule reliability via a single continuous loop
- Greater flexibility to manage peak safari demand using the A330-300
The airline has not announced separate turnaround flights for Kilimanjaro; the focus remains on the continuous triangular loop.
Tourism positioning and scheduling rationale
Brussels Airlines is marketing the route as a gateway to major wildlife and conservation attractions:
- Mount Kilimanjaro (climb destination)
- Serengeti (UNESCO World Heritage site)
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area (UNESCO-linked conservation and safari area)
A consistent mid-week and weekend schedule (Wednesdays and Saturdays) is intended to:
- Simplify onward lodge stays and park entry timing
- Help planners align arrivals with peak safari starts and summit schedules
- Ease logistics for tour operators with shorter ground transfers to popular lodges
The carrier expects the service to strengthen tourism and business ties between Europe and East Africa in coming seasons.
Wider Summer 2026 network changes
The Kilimanjaro launch headlines Brussels Airlines’ Summer 2026 long-haul expansion and accompanies other adjustments:
- West Africa: increase to Freetown, Sierra Leone — from five to six weekly flights (added Thursday service)
- Europe: 17 additional flights per week across Spain and Portugal (Barcelona, Malaga, Alicante, Oporto)
- Increased frequencies to:
- Copenhagen: +5 flights/week
- Prague: +4 flights/week
- Budapest: +2 flights/week
Purpose: smooth long-haul connections and meet high-season leisure demand.
Practical benefits for families, groups and tour operators
- Early sale window and fixed schedule help control budgets and plan logistics.
- The €519 starting fare provides a headline price point; actual cost varies with season and availability.
- Direct connection to Kilimanjaro International Airport should mean shorter ground transfers and fewer missed connections for clients carrying outdoor gear.
- Tour operators expect simpler baggage handling and streamlined itineraries compared with multi-hop alternatives.
Entry, visa and health requirements
Travelers must meet entry and health requirements set by Tanzania and Kenya depending on the itinerary. Recommendations:
- Check requirements and processing times well before departure, especially during peak safari months.
- Airlines typically verify entry documents at check-in.
- Confirm that multi-country trips comply with both Tanzanian and Kenyan rules when using the Nairobi sector.
Authoritative guidance on Tanzanian entry procedures is available at the Tanzania Immigration Department: https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/
Industry context and economic impact
Industry observers note the launch aligns with Brussels Airlines’ strategy of building depth in Africa rather than rapidly expanding into many new long-haul markets. Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests European carriers with established Africa networks often prioritize:
- Steady frequencies
- Efficient rotations
- Reliability for trade and tourism partners
Economic and community effects highlighted by the airline:
- Kilimanjaro climb seasons support employment for guides, porters, and outfitters
- Serengeti and Ngorongoro safaris sustain lodge staff, drivers, and rangers
- Connecting Kilimanjaro to Brussels “and beyond” aims to channel higher-spend visitors into northern Tanzania, supporting conservation-linked community projects and park management
Tour providers note that the mid-week flight can feed arrivals into weekend safari starts, easing pressure on Friday and Sunday peak days.
Product consistency and passenger experience
- Brussels Airlines is using its standard A330-300 three-class layout rather than a bespoke cabin for the route.
- This consistency helps corporate buyers and frequent flyers map benefits without surprises.
- For leisure travelers, the fixed Wednesdays and Saturdays rhythm makes it straightforward to combine a summit attempt with a post-climb safari or a recovery night in Arusha before onward travel.
Sales and rollout approach
- No additional promotional fares beyond the €519 return starting level have been released.
- The carrier is focusing its communications on the triangular service and its Nairobi link, suggesting a controlled demand test.
- With the route now on sale at https://www.brusselsairlines.com, passengers and agents can begin planning for Summer 2026 and locking in lodging and guiding services that often sell out months in advance in northern Tanzania.
This Article in a Nutshell
Brussels Airlines will launch a twice-weekly triangular service Brussels–Kilimanjaro–Nairobi starting June 3, 2026, using an Airbus A330-300 with 288 seats. Flights operate Wednesdays and Saturdays, with return fares from €519. The route enhances access to Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Ngorongoro, supports tour operators and families, and expands the carrier’s Sub-Saharan network to 18 destinations and its East Africa footprint to five cities. The schedule aims to simplify planning, improve operational efficiency and strengthen Europe–East Africa tourism ties.
