Zeist, The Netherlands – As of April 1st, Brussels Airlines has elevated its business class experience, introducing a new cutlery set onboard.
At Sola The Netherlands, we are proud of our longstanding partnership with his Belgian airline, which dates back to the early 2000s.
“The development process went very smoothly,” says Luke Hop, Export Manager at Sola The Netherlands. “From the initial brainstorming sessions and
sample meetings to the final refinements, we encountered hardly any obstacles.”
The newly introduced cutlery is meticulously designed, subtly mirroring
the contours of an aircraft and seamlessly blending form with function.
“When designing cutlery, we always have to strike a balance between creative
ambition and practical aspects like size and weight. The ‘twisted’ shape at the top of the handles presented a real challenge, as we couldn’t make the pieces any thicker due to weight limitations. It took real craftsmanship to achieve the perfect balance,” Luke explains.
Sola always works closely with its customers. “We truly appreciated the collaboration with the Brussels Airlines team, especially with Sandy Coenen. Her honest feedback and the short lines of communication made this a process to remember,” Luke adds.
A BOUTIQUE HOTEL IN THE SKY
Sandy Coenen, Inflight Product Manager at Brussels Airlines, shares her vision of the
renewed business class concept: “Beyond the menu and tableware, Brussels Airlines also
elevated its service approach. Inspired by the elegance of boutique hotels, meals are
presented in a more personal, hand-delivered manner. Our aim in business class is to
embody the atmosphere of a boutique hotel in the air.”
“A boutique hotel is very personalized with attention for detail. Therefore we need to have
an eye for all aspects of the service, hence the reason that the design of cutlery is also crucial
as a finishing touch of the concept. You can see our cutlery like a present: it often comes
wrapped in a napkin, so you ‘discover’ it while opening that napkin.”
When asked how the new cutlery blends in with the new cabin concept, Sandy said: “The
cutlery seamlessly complements the overall design. As the tableware has round organic
shape, the cutlery perfectly aligns with this. For us these two blend perfectly. The tableware
includes a subtle color accent and the cutlery subtly mirrors the contours of an airplane, reinforcing the cohesive aesthetic.”
SUSTAINABILITY AND VISION
Sandy continues: “Introducing stainless steel cutlery is part of our broader
commitment to more sustainable and responsible flying. Stainless steel cutlery is
durable and reusable. By investing in highquality, long-lasting materials, we’re not only
elevating the onboard experience with a more premium, restaurant-style feel, but also
making a conscious choice that aligns with our long-term sustainability goals.”
At Sola, we see a big increase in airlines that introduce stainless steel cutlery in all classes
on board. Do you see a future for stainless steel cutlery in all classes at Brussels
Airlines?
Sandy responds: “If we ever would want to switch to stainless steel, we need to take
into account the increase of manual labor as we need to repack all the cutlery sets and
roll them up in napkins. So as it is more time consuming, higher in weight and have an
increased cost versus our current disposable cutlery, makes it currently less feasible to implement across all travel classes. We do keep on calculating what the most interesting option is, balancing overall cost, sustainability and passenger experience.”
STRONGER TOGETHER
Sandy concluded with some highly appreciated feedback on the cooperation with Sola The
Netherlands:
“Working with Sola was a smooth and collaborative experience. They quickly translate ideas into designs with minimal need for rework. Their team provides valuable input tailored to on-board use and supports testing and development throughout the process. It is a strong and productive partnership.”
At Sola The Netherlands, we believe that good design is about more than aesthetics—it must be functional, sustainable, and enhance the user experience. Our collaboration with Brussels Airlines is a shining example of that philosophy. We look forward to continuing this inspiring partnership in the future.