As we say goodbye to 2024 and welcome the opportunities of 2025, we take a moment to look back on the first RHIA Talk of the year, hosted by Transavia. This event, held on February 13, set the tone for a year filled with innovation and collaboration, promising a forward-thinking approach that is quintessentially Rotterdam.
Unveiling the annual plan
Lennard Verhoeff, member of the RHIA board of directors, presented the annual plan for 2025. His presentation laid the groundwork for an ambitious year ahead, highlighting initiatives that aim to revolutionize aviation through sustainable, concrete practices and innovative collaborations.
Introducing The Innovation Route
Highlight of the event was the introduction of The Innovation Route by Oliver Newton (lead sustainability and innovation) en Kristina Palovicova (Innovation Expert, Sustainability & Innovation) at Transavia. This pilot project is a pioneering effort to reduce the impact of the whole process of flying: from ground operations to inflight by testing various innovations on flights between Rotterdam The Hague Airport and Faro, Portugal. By citing the example of the British Cycling Association, where they tried to achieve a 1% improvement in all aspects of cycling, which ultimately led to an unparalleled success for the final total team result, Transavia also sees the opportunity through the Innovation Route to achieve an equally great result with perhaps initially ‘small’ but important interventions.
With the ‘Innovation Route’, Transavia can take new steps that contribute to reducing the impact of flying. Airports, crew and passengers are involved in evaluating these tests within the pilot. Because these tests always take place on the same flight path, the impact can be compared accurate.
Collaborative creativity in action!
The RHIA community’s collaborative spirit was on full display during an interactive workshop that followed after the introduction of Transavia. Participants eagerly shared and refined creative ideas aimed at enhancing sustainability and efficiency in air travel. Some of the standout creative ideas included:
- Awarding flyers for bringing less baggage: encouraging passengers to travel light to reduce fuel consumption
- Coat hangers / lockers at Rotterdam The Hague Airport: offering the possibility to leave your coats or winter clothes at the airport when flying to Faro Airport
- Pre-order meals: reducing food waste by allowing passengers to select meals in advance
- Inflight service trolleys at destination: Streamlining service processes to optimize resource use
- Flying in straight lines towards destination: Improving flight paths to reduce fuel usage.
The call to innovate
The session concluded with Transavia expressing interest in further exploring these creative concepts. They extended an open invitation to participants and others interested in bringing their ideas to life. A big -thank you- to all the participants who contributed ideas and shared their creativity during this RHIA Talk!
If you were unable to attend the talk but have insights that align with the ambition of The Innovation Route, you are encouraged to reach out and contribute to this exciting initiative. For more information or to share your ideas, contact us!
The Innovation Route is a collaboration between Rotterdam The Hague Airport, Faro Airport and Rotterdam The Hague Innovation Airport (RHIA). More info
