Transavia CEO steps down to lead Dutch shipping and offshore services company

Transavia is set to find a new top executive as Marcel de Nooijer leaves his role as CEO of the budget airline at year’s end to lead maritime services company Heerema.

De Nooijer took over leadership of Transavia Netherlands on January 1, 2020, succeeding Mattijs ten Brink, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the aviation sector hard. Prior to joining Transavia, he worked in several roles within the Air France-KLM Group, serving as Executive Vice President of KLM Cargo and Managing Director at Martinair.

The years that followed were dominated by recovery efforts, which proved challenging at times. In spring 2023, for instance, Transavia had to cancel many flights because of a shortage of planes.

The Supervisory Board thanked De Nooijer for his dedication “with heart and soul.” Chair Jenny Elissen noted that under his leadership, Transavia experienced a significant transformation, navigating COVID, sustainability initiatives, fleet upgrades, growth, and geopolitical challenges.

"I am proud of my time at Transavia and in the aviation industry. Together with my colleagues, we strengthened the organization, introducing a renewed fleet and ambitious sustainability goals, solidifying our revenue model, expanding our network with new destinations, and creating a strong foundation for maintenance and collaboration with KLM and Transavia France," De Nooijer said after the news was made public.

Each year, Transavia transports approximately 9 million travelers. In 2023, Transavia achieved a revenue of nearly €1.2 billion. This month marks the airline's 60th anniversary.