On 16 July Deutsche Lufthansa AG appointed Lorenza Maggio, currently Chief Strategy & Integration Officer at ITA Airways, as the next Chief Executive Officer of Brussels Airlines. Maggio, 48, will also serve as the group’s representative to the European Commission, a role that positions Brussels-based lobbying at the core of the carrier’s strategy. Her appointment, pending SN Airholding board approval, follows the departure of Dorothea von Boxberg, who steps down on 31 August. For global mobility teams, leadership changes at an airline with a 40 % share of Belgium’s corporate-travel market matter. Maggio is known for spearheading ITA’s integration into the Lufthansa Group and for championing digital distribution agreements that simplify mass-ticketing for multinational employers. Industry watchers expect her to accelerate Brussels Airlines’ fleet renewal and network optimisation, particularly on European trunk routes used by posted workers and EU officials. The timing coincides with peak summer traffic and growing competition from high-speed rail between Brussels, Amsterdam and Paris. Analysts say a stronger Brussels Airlines could shore up hub connectivity ahead of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) go-live in October, when passenger-flow management will be critical. Maggio’s portfolio includes sustainable-aviation initiatives; she oversaw ITA’s first SAF procurement deals last year. A continuation of Brussels Airlines’ ‘Green Fare’ strategy would support corporate customers pursuing science-based emissions targets and could eventually feed into Belgium’s mooted air-passenger tax reforms. The hand-over is expected to be seamless. Interim CEO Nina Östendorf (chief finance officer) will steer the airline until Maggio relocates to Brussels later this summer. No network or schedule changes have been announced, but travel managers should monitor GDS updates for possible autumn frequency adjustments.
Source: Brussels Airlines Press Office
