Lufthansa Group is set to acquire full control of Brussels Airlines (SN, Brussels National) after the move secured Group Supervisory Board approval.

A decision was to have been taken by the beginning of June but was subsequently postponed in the wake of April's terrorist attacks at Brussels National Airport.

In a statement, the German carrier said it would now exercise its call option to acquire the outstanding 55% of Brussels Airlines' parent, SN Airholding, that it does not own.

SN Airholding is a Belgian holding of over thirty shareholders which include blue-chip firms, financial institutions and investment groups such as the Virgin Group, Fortis, ING, Suez, Tractebel, Brussels Airport, la Société Régionale d’Investissements Wallone (SRIW) and Société Régionale d’Investissements Bruxelloise (SRIB).

As such, Lufthansa Group hopes to conclude talks on a suitable buy-out price with SN Airholding's other shareholders by the end of the year in time to close the deal in early 2017.