A change of guard is underway at many of the Brussels Airlines African stations.
As shown in a recent YouTube upload, Sebastiaan Spijkers is leaving the country after nearly three years at the helm of the Brussels Airlines team in Kampala and Entebbe, and moving to Kigali, Rwanda.
The airline used the opportunity to invite the Belgian community in Uganda, staff of the Royal Belgian Embassy, corporate clients, and officials on the occasion, not only to celebrate the upcoming festive season but also to say a fond farewell to Sebastiaan and welcome back a familiar face, Geert Lemmen, who already represented Sabena and SN Brussels in Uganda in past years.
Geert, who arrived in Kampala a few days ago from Conakry, expressed his delight to be back in familiar territory, and the function last evening showed how he was instantly settling in, and renewing old acquaintances and friendships.
Apart from Brussels Airlines staff on duty at the airport to handle the incoming and outgoing flight from and back to Brussels, every other team member was also at hand to interact with their regular clientele, combining the farewell for Sebastiaan with the welcome for Geert with Seasons Greetings to everyone present.
His Excellency the Belgian Ambassador Mr. Hugo Verbist was the guest of honor for the function and as usual took the opportunity to highlight the importance of Brussels Airlines not just for the Belgian community but for Ugandans at large.
Combined, Sabena, SN Brussels, and now Brussels Airlines have served Uganda since independence with uninterrupted flights, apart from the one-year transition from Sabena to SN Brussels, making it the oldest European carrier to fly to Entebbe.
Again, it is “Kwaheri Ya Kuonana” [Kiswahili for good bye until we meet again] to Sebastiaan and best wishes for his new assignment in Kigali, and a very warm welcome home or “Karibu Sana” to Geert.
PHOTO (L-R): Mr. Sebastiaan Spijkers, this correspondent, and Mr. Geert Lemmen
