3 June launch for Air Belgium's Charleroi-Hong Kong flights

Air Belgium's first passenger flight from Charleroi to Hong Kong is ready to take off on 3 June, after a two-month delay.

The new Belgian long-haul airline delayed its 30 April launch while it awaited permission to fly over Russian airspace. La Libre Belgique reports that the administrative procedure "dragged on" but has now been resolved.

Chief executive Niky Terzakis said the airline had looked at alternative flight paths to China, but this would have extended the journey time by about an hour and a half and required more paperwork with other countries.

Air Belgium will fly four times a week to Hong Kong using Airbus A340s. The outbound flight leaves at 14.10, landing in Hong Kong the following morning at 7.40. The return flight at 11.40 touches down in Charleroi at 18.25.

Charleroi airport has been making changes to the terminal to serve long-haul passengers, including new business class facilities.