Dutch low-cost airline Transavia, a subsidiary of the KLM Group, plans to establish a permanent base for its crew members at Brussels Airport, according to a recent statement from the Dutch Pilots' Association (VNV). Although Transavia has been operating several aircraft from Brussels since June 2022, its crews are currently still based at its Amsterdam or Eindhoven locations.
Transavia cites persistently high operating costs, complex planning processes, and inefficient crew deployment at its Brussels base as reasons for the planned relocation. VNV quotes Transavia as saying that operations in Brussels are hampered by high costs and the limited availability of hotels for overnight crews, which are hindering further growth. The opening of a dedicated crew base is intended to address these problems.
The pilots' union VNV described this move as "economically logical," but announced a careful review of the cost implications. Transavia has had mixed experiences with crew bases outside the Netherlands in the past. A previous attempt to establish a base in Munich cost the airline several million euros. The decision to locate in Brussels appears to have been made in light of capacity constraints and rising costs at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Furthermore, the Belgian aviation market is attractive to Transavia, also because it allows it to better reach Dutch travelers from the southern parts of the country.
Transavia hopes the local crew base in Brussels will enable more efficient scheduling and lower operating costs, which should enable further growth in the Belgian market. The VNV union expects plans for the crew base to progress rapidly and the base to be fully operational by summer 2026. Despite internal challenges and fleet restructuring, Transavia is aiming for a stable number of flights for the coming summer season.