Brussels Airlines was created following the merger of SN Brussels Airlines (SNBA) and Virgin Express. On 12 April 2005, SN Airholding, the company behind SNBA, signed an agreement with Richard Branson, giving it control over Virgin Express. On 7 November 2006, the new name, Brussels Airlines, was announced at a press conference at Brussels Airport. Brussels Airlines began operations on 25 March 2007. On September 15, 2008 it was announced that Lufthansa will acquire a 45% stake in Brussels Airlines with an option to acquire the remaining 55% from 2011. As a part of this deal Brussels Airlines will join Star Alliance. On March 13, Brussels Airlines announced that the airline will codeshare all their flights to Germany with Lufthansa. The codeshare agreement will start from March 29. This new step is part of the integration of Brussels Airlines into the Star Alliance network. Brussels Airlines becomes a Star Alliance member in 2009. Homepage: www.brusselsairlines.com Headquarter: Belguim, Brussels Airline Alliance: Star Alliance (summer 2009) HUB: Brussels-Zaventem Airport Frequent Flyer Program: Privilege/ Miles and More Service On European flights, the airline offers three types of tickets, b.flex economy + b.light economy and b.business (business class): b.flex economy+ is the more expensive ticket, offering full service, such as free newspapers and catering. b.light economy is the cheapest option, with a buy on board programme offering snacks and drinks available for purchase.[9] b.business On medium- and long-haul flights (Africa, Moscow, Helsinki, and Tel Aviv) Brussels Airlines continues to offer economy and business classes. On March 3rd, Brussels Airlines announced that they will re-introduce business class from March 28, called b.business on all their European flights. This features a higher baggage allowance, VIP parking spaces, lounge access, priority boarding and premium meals. The re-introduction of business class configuration by brussels airlines is part of the steps that Brussels Airlines is taking for its entry into Star Alliance.   Fleet (details to come) Destinations Africa • Angola • Luanda (Quatro de Fevereiro Airport) • Burundi • Bujumbura (Bujumbura International Airport) • Cameroon • Douala (Douala Airport) • Yaoundé (Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport) • Côte d'Ivoire • Abidjan (Port Bouet Airport) • Democratic Republic of the Congo • Kinshasa (Kinshasa International Airport) • The Gambia • Banjul (Banjul International Airport) • Guinea • Conakry (Conakry International Airport) • Kenya • Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) • Liberia • Monrovia (Roberts International Airport) • Rwanda • Kigali (Kigali International Airport) • Senegal • Dakar (Dakar-Yoff-Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport) • Sierra Leone • Freetown (Lungi International Airport) • Uganda • Entebbe (Entebbe International Airport)   . Airline Partners Brussels Airlines has a variety of codeshare agreements with well-known airlines such as Lufthansa, SWISS, British Airways, Jet Airways and Ethopian Airlines. These agreements offer their passengers connect to 128 destinations. In addition to that passengers can earn miles on all flight operated by one of these partner airlines. Frequent flyer program Brussels Airlines' frequent flyer program is called Privilege. Miles can be earned on all the flights operated by Brussels Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Etihad Airways, Finnair, Hainan Airlines, Jet Airways, Lufthansa, Malmo Aviation, Swiss International Air Lines, including all codeshare flights of brussels airlines and its Privilege partners. Miles can also be earned by Brussels Airlines's non-airline partners. Brussels Airlines will soon convert its frequent flyer program Privilege into Lufthansa's Miles and More as part of the preparation to become a Star Alliance member. Brussels Airlines is already a full member of Miles and More.