Working in close partnership with Sola, Brussels Airlines has elevated its Business class experience with the introduction of a new cutlery set onboard. We spoke to the people behind it.
Sandy Coenen
Working with the team at Sola is a smooth, collaborative experience. They quickly translate ideas into designs with minimal need for rework. The team provides valuable input tailored to onboard use and support testing and development throughout. It is a strong and productive partnership.
Introducing stainless steel cutlery in Business class is part of our broader commitment to more sustainable and responsible flying. Stainless steel cutlery is durable and reusable.
By investing in high-quality, 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 across travel classes.
Our new Business class cutlery complements our overall design.
Brussels Airlines’ tableware has a round, organic shape and the cutlery aligns with this. For us, these two blend perfectly.
The tableware includes a subtle colour accent and the cutlery subtly mirrors the contours of an airplane, reinforcing the cohesive aesthetic
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 – very personalised with attention for detail.
You can see our cutlery like a present: it often comes wrapped in a napkin, so you ‘discover’ it while opening that napkin.
Luke Hop
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.
The development process went very smoothly. From the initial brainstorming sessions and sample meetings to the final refinements, we encountered hardly any other obstacles.
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.
Sandy Coenen is Brussels Airlines Inflight Product Manager and Luke Hop is Sola Export Manager
