Brussels Airlines (SN, Brussels National) has been contracted by the Belgian Ministry of Defence (MoD) to operate five return flights between Brussels National and Chania, a city on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete. The ministry also purchased capacity on a further eighteen flights for a total sum of EUR325,870 (USD384,000).

According to tender documentation made public in the European Union registry, the Belgian MoD's contract with the Lufthansa Group-owned carrier is valued at EUR214,720 and is to operate five return Brussels-Chania flights.

On top of that, the authorities have also purchased capacity on in total of eighteen single flights between Brussels and Chania for EUR111,150. According to the ch-aviation schedules module, no scheduled airline serves this route during the winter season. Until October 2, it was operated by Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium (Brussels National) which has since closed down with all of its staff, slots and two out of five A320s being taken over by Brussels Airlines. Next summer, both Brussels Airlines and TUI fly (Belgium) (TB, Brussels National) will operate on the route 3x weekly.

Chania is home to a large NATO naval base and training facility.