1970
Transavia becomes the first charter airline in the world to receive rights to operate charter flights to Indonesia, serving Jakarta and Bali with the Boeing 707. Transavia also receives traffic rights to Canada and the United States.
17 June 1971
Transavia opens its very first brand-new headquarters at Schiphol Centre on Havenmeesterweg.
1971
Neckermann Reisen expands from Germany to the Netherlands, opening travel agencies and a Dutch headquarters. Neckermann signs an exclusive contract with Transavia. This marks the beginning of a long-term partnership between Neckermann Reisen and Transavia.
1972
KNSM – Koninklijke Nederlandse Stoomboot-Maatschappij (Royal Dutch Steamship Company) acquires a 40% stake in Transavia. Transavia also introduces the “Executive Caravelle,” a VIP Caravelle outfitted with 64 First Class seats and a VIP lounge in the front cabin. Many pop groups and celebrities flew on this aircraft, including Michael Jackson, The Osmonds, and David Cassidy.
12 April 1972
Transavia receives its second Boeing 707, the PH-TVA, equipped with Boeing’s brand-new “widebody look” interior. Transavia is the first airline in the world to operate with this design. The TVA remained in the fleet until May 1982.
21 May 1972
In cooperation with Arke Reizen, Transavia begins operating Caravelle flights from Twente Airport to Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, and Salzburg. The flights proved a great success, carrying 8,500 passengers on 105 flights.
1974
KNSM increases its stake in Transavia from 40% to 60%.
17 May 1974
Transavia becomes the first airline in the Netherlands to operate the Boeing 737. The PH-TVC was collected brand new from the Boeing factory in Seattle.
June/July 1974
The Netherlands competes for the first time in the FIFA World Cup in (West) Germany. Transavia has the honor of transporting the players, their partners, and supporters on a Caravelle and Boeing 707 on behalf of the KNVB (Dutch Football Association). This marks the start of a long-term partnership, with Transavia becoming the official carrier of the Dutch national team.
13–19 September 1974
Japanese terrorists seize the French Embassy in The Hague. A Transavia cockpit crew, led by Captain Pim Sierks, flies the terrorists to Damascus aboard an Air France Boeing 707. The aircraft, provided by the French government, returns to Schiphol on 19 September under heavy media attention. Transavia makes world headlines, and the crew is knighted by Queen Juliana.
1975
KNSM appoints a CFO alongside director John Block: Pieter Hanrath. The oil crisis brings high fuel costs. On 1 November, John Block steps down as CEO. Pieter Hanrath becomes the second director of Transavia. Arke Reizen and Neckermann Reizen decide to exclusively purchase seats from Transavia, totaling 175,000 seats, securing a strong summer season for the airline.
May 1976
Transavia becomes the first airline in the Netherlands to operate the Airbus A300. The aircraft, leased from Airbus in Toulouse, seated 314 passengers and was named “Apollo 76,” with registration PH-TVL. The cabin featured red seats, and special red “Airbus dresses” were designed for the cabin crew to wear exclusively on this aircraft.
June 1976
Crown Prince Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia leases a Transavia Boeing 737 for one month. The aircraft, equipped with 48 First Class seats, toured Europe. Following this, Transavia signed a contract with Saudia Airlines to operate Hajj pilgrim flights. These flights took place in 1976 and 1977, transporting a total of 40,000 pilgrims. Some 165 “Transavians” were stationed in Saudi Arabia for these operations.
February 1977
The Airbus A300 proves too large for Transavia and is returned to Airbus in Toulouse.
A new corporate identity is introduced, featuring the colors green, black, and white, giving Transavia a modern look.
1978
Transavia signs a two-year contract to wet-lease aircraft to British Airways. Transavia Boeing 737s operate scheduled flights out of London Heathrow for British Airways until 1980.
1979
CEO Pieter Hanrath leaves Transavia, and Peter Legro becomes the new director. Legro goes on to serve as Transavia’s longest-standing director and earns the nickname “Mister Transavia.”