Brussels Airlines appoints Ilse Adriaen as Country Manager Ghana
Brussels Airlines is pleased to announce the appointment of Ilse Adriaen as Country Manager Ghana. Ilse has held various managerial positions in Benin in telecom and in Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire in the transport and logistics sector.
She joined Brussels Airlines in 2019 as Country Manager Benin.
Ilse Adriaen succeeds to Geert Lemmen, who retired in December 2024 after an impressive 41 years in the airline business. Ilse was born in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and moved to Belgium at the age of 15.
After completing her studies and working in Belgium for four years, she felt a strong call to return to the African continent. This led her to Benin, where she joined MTN as a commercial manager in the telecom sector, and then to Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast with Bolloré in transport and logistics.
In September 2019, Ilse joined Brussels Airlines as Country Manager in Benin.
“Working on the African continent has been a journey filled with challenges and incredible rewards. My time here has opened my eyes to endless possibilities and taught me the power of resilience, collaboration, and community. As I say goodbye to Benin, I am filled with gratitude and anticipation for what lies ahead in Ghana.
“Though still within West Africa, I know the differences in language, culture, and work style will offer new opportunities for growth. Ghana’s competitive market presents a tough challenge, but it’s one I’m eager to embrace. Partnering with Elizabeth Quansah, our Station Manager, I’m committed to strengthening connections, building on our achievements, and creating unforgettable travel experiences for our passengers,” said Ilse Adriaen, Country Manager Ghana, Brussels Airlines.
“We are delighted to welcome Ilse in her new role, bringing her expertise and passion to another of our 18 sub-Saharan African destinations. With Ilse’s wealth of experience across in West Africa, we look forward to strengthening our market position and fostering the trusted relationships we have built with local authorities, business partners, and customers,” stated Coline Everard, Head of Regional Sales West & Central Africa, Lufthansa Group.
Continuously expanding the sub-Saharan African network
Brussels Airlines is the African competence center of the Lufthansa Group. For summer 2025, the Belgian airline has added more capacity to sub-Saharan Africa than ever before.
The carrier will operate 56 weekly flights to the region, an increase of 10% compared to summer 2024.
In the coming years, Brussels Airlines will grow its long-haul fleet to 13 aircraft.
Brussels Airlines has been operating flights to and from Kotoka International Airport since July 2010.
The airline currently offers six flights a week connecting Accra (Ghana) and Brussels (Belgium).
