Anniversary aircraft honours airline founder and celebrates six decades of accessible flying
Transavia celebrated its 60th anniversary today with a special ceremony in Hangar 2 at Schiphol Airport, highlighted by the unveiling of a retro-liveried Airbus A321neo (PH-YHD) named “John Block”, in honour of the airline’s founder and first CEO.
The event was attended by outgoing Minister Robert Tieman, Air France-KLM Group CEO Ben Smith, KLM CEO Marjan Rintel, and Airbus EVP Wouter van Wersch, among others.
Tribute to a Pioneer
John Block (1929–1994) co-founded Transavia Holland in 1965 and played a key role in making air travel accessible to a wide audience in the Netherlands. The newly christened Airbus A321neo — combining retro design with state-of-the-art technology — symbolises Transavia’s connection between past and future.
CEO Marcel de Nooijer said:
“Sixty years of Transavia is above all a story of people — colleagues, partners, and millions of passengers. John Block was there at the beginning of that story. It’s only fitting that our retro Airbus bears his name. We are proud of our heritage and look ahead with the same energy: affordable, reliable, and sustainable.”
Looking Ahead
As Transavia celebrates six decades of growth, it continues to invest in:
- A new Airbus A321neo fleet, offering quieter, more fuel-efficient operations
- Digital innovations to enhance customer and employee experiences
- A focus on affordability, reliability, and sustainability, true to the airline’s founding principles
COO Marloes van Laake also participated in a panel discussion on the future of Dutch aviation, addressing sustainability, innovation, and accessibility.
“The best way to celebrate our anniversary is to continue investing in the future — exactly as John Block would have intended: with ambition, entrepreneurship, and care for our customers,” added de Nooijer.
The event marks both a tribute to Transavia’s pioneering roots and a commitment to shaping the next generation of responsible, customer-focused aviation.