After the bankruptcy of Sabena in 2001, part of its assets had been taken over in February 2002 by the newly formed SN Brussels Airlines, which became Brussels Airlines after a merger with Virgin Express in March 2007. While on European services SN resembles more of a Low Cost Carrier (LCC) rather than a Full service one, on long-haul flights it developed a high-standard onboard product, which it dubbed “a boutique hotel in the air”, by introducing an ultra-comfy Premium Economy Class and a luxurious Business Class, which features an area dedicated to a stand-up bar adorned by an Art Decò-style cupola. Its Loft Lounge at Brussels airport has received many accolades as one of the most beautiful throughout Europe. It is famous for the special liveries applied to its Airbus A320, including themes dedicated to the Smurfs and Tintin cartoon, painters Brueghel and Magritte and the Red Devils national soccer team (Photo Wikimedia Commons / Kambui)
- - 5 STARS: Awarded to airlines achieving a very high, overall quality performance. It recognizes high standards of onboard product together with consistent and excellent standards of staff service across airport and cabin environments
- - 4 STARS: Awarded to airlines that deliver a good overall quality performance and provide good product standards across different travel cabins
- - 3 STARS: Awarded to airlines delivering a fair quality performance equating to the industry 'average' of acceptable product and service standards
- - 2 STARS: Shows airlines delivering a lower total quality performance, in some instances below the industry average across many rating categories
- - 1 STAR: Represents a poor quality of product delivered across the assessment sectors