This article from NYTimes.com has been sent to you by psa188@xxxxxxxxx /-------------------- advertisement -----------------------\ THE DREAMERS - NOW PLAYING Set against the turbulent political backdrop of 1968 France when the voice of youth was reverberating around Europe, THE DREAMERS is a story of self-discovery as three students test each other to see just how far they will go. THE DREAMERS is released uncut with an NC-17 rating. Watch The Dreamers trailer at: http://www.thedreamers.com \----------------------------------------------------------/ SN Brussels, Virgin Express Back in Talks February 20, 2004 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Filed at 2:11 p.m. ET BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- SN Brussels Airlines, the scaled-down successor to Belgian flag carrier Sabena, and low-cost, Brussels-based rival Virgin Express are back in merger talks a year after their partnership agreement expired, airline officials said Friday. Both sides said the talks were well-advanced, with an announcement possible in a couple months. A Virgin Express spokesman confirmed comments Thursday by British owner Richard Branson, who told reporters talks were ``reasonably advanced.'' Analysts said a takeover would make sense for both, with Brussels too small for two airlines to flourish. ``Neither is really that profitable,'' says Nick van den Brul, airline analyst for BNP Paribas in Brussels. ``This is a reasonable consolidation.'' The two tried once before to merge, in 2001, but talks collapsed over issues of control. They settled on a partnership that expired in March 2003 and have been competing ever since. SN has been gaining ground. In the past 12 months, it has increased bookings by 23 percent. Although it lost euro36.8 million ($47 million) in 2002, it is expected to turn a slight profit in 2003 when it release figures in mid-March. Virgin Express eked out a profit of euro2.6 million ($3.3 million) in 2002. Full-year 2003 results also will be released in March. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Belgium-Airlines.html?ex=1078308947&ei=1&en=5832d93219d3651c --------------------------------- Get Home Delivery of The New York Times Newspaper. Imagine reading The New York Times any time & anywhere you like! Leisurely catch up on events & expand your horizons. Enjoy now for 50% off Home Delivery! Click here: http://www.nytimes.com/ads/nytcirc/index.html HOW TO ADVERTISE --------------------------------- For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or other creative advertising opportunities with The New York Times on the Web, please contact onlinesales@xxxxxxxxxxx or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help@xxxxxxxxxxxx Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company