After four-year absence, another Belgian returns to top management at Brussels Airlines

After a four-year gap, a Belgian national is once again part of the top management team at Brussels Airlines. Filip Aerts, currently Head of Flight Operations, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) and will join the airline’s Management Board on 1 August 2025. He succeeds Tilman Reinshagen, who is leaving the Lufthansa Group to explore new professional opportunities.

Aerts, 53, brings over three decades of operational experience to the role. He began his aviation career as a First Officer at Delta Air Transport (DAT), a Sabena subsidiary, and steadily rose through the ranks to become Captain, Technical Pilot, and eventually Nominated Person Crew Training. In his current position, he leads Flight Operations at Brussels Airlines, a role in which he has been widely credited for his operational expertise and people-focused leadership. Notably, Aerts has continuously maintained an active pilot license and intends to keep flying even after taking up the COO post.

This appointment is symbolically significant. The last Belgian to hold a top executive role at Brussels Airlines was Dieter Vranckx, who served as CEO until the end of February 2021. Vranckx, who now serves as Chief Commercial Officer of the Lufthansa Group and Chairperson of SN Airholding’s Board of Directors, welcomed the appointment with pride.

“Filip started as a young First Officer on the Avro-jet and worked his way up through different departments. His deep knowledge of the company and strong operational background will further help Brussels Airlines strengthen its stability and punctuality,” said Vranckx. “It’s an important moment to once again have a Belgian in our highest ranks.”

Aerts joins a streamlined Management Board, alongside CEO Dorothea von Boxberg and CFO Nina Öwerdieck, at a time when Brussels Airlines is expanding its long-haul fleet and investing in new cabin interiors. His appointment is expected to reinforce the airline’s operational resilience and strategic growth plans.

“I’m passionate about this company and the people working here,” Aerts commented. “I look forward to this new chapter and to working closely with all teams at Brussels Airlines.”

Tilman Reinshagen will remain with the airline until the end of July to ensure a smooth handover. His tenure is widely recognized for enhancing operational performance during a turbulent post-pandemic recovery period.