European Air Transport N.V. (EAT in short) was a cargo airline based in Brussels Airport and headquartered in Zaventem, Belgium,"General Conditions of Carriage ." DHL. Retrieved on 27 June 2010. "European Air Transport N.V./S.A., a company registered in Belgium with its business address at Building 4-5, Brussels Airport, 1930 Zaventem, Belgium;" founded in 1971 and dissolved in 2010. It expanded by contracting with DHL Worldwide Express in 1985, became a member of the DHL Group a year later, operating the DHL-branded parcel and express services in Europe. It became a part of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in 1993. After 2002 the airline was owned by Deutsche Post after the takeover of DHL. In February 2010, EAT was dissolved and its operations merged into European Air Transport Leipzig.

History European Air Transport was founded in Belgium in December 1971 as an air taxi company by two pilots, Pirlot de Corbion and Dessain. EAT started operations in April 1972 with two aircraft, a Beechcraft Queen Air and a Gardan Horizon. In response to the need for pilots in the Belgian market, EAT established a training school. In 1973, EAT was the first Piper Flying Centre in Europe. A few years later EAT was approached by Sabena and started flying regional routes on their behalf in 1976 with Fairchild Metroliner III regional aircraft. These activities lasted until Summer 1987. Later on also Convair CV-580 were used

In 1985, EAT expanded its activities by contracting with DHL Worldwide Express. Previously, DHL had selected Brussels Airport as its European hub. The co-operation between EAT and DHL was so successful that in 1986, DHL decided to make EAT part of the DHL Group, and thus it became the major DHL airline with services to Europe and Africa. On January 19, 1993, EAT became a member of the International Air Transport Association. In that same year, the airline obtained the necessary permits to transport various dangerous goods and live animals. In those years were mainly used Boeing 727-100F, Boeing 727-200F and later Boeing 757-200PF.

In 2002, Deutsche Post completed the takeover of DHL, making EAT a wholly owned subsidiary. In October 2004, Deutsche Post announced that from 2008 Brussels Airport would no longer be DHL's major hub for Europe. This was due to the failure of the Belgian Federal Government and Deutsche Post to reach an agreement on a framework that would permit DHL to expand its future flight operations at Brussels airport. Instead, Deutsche Post decided to transform Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany in its international hub. EAT's headquarters were re-located in Schkeuditz, with daily flights to all major cities in Europe. EAT obtained a license for scheduled and unscheduled cargo flights all over the world. Through a merger agreement dated February 10, 2010, European Air Transport N.V. was dissolved, and its assets incorporated by European Air Transport Leipzig GmbH. The agreement came into force on March 26, 2010.Unternehmensregister (german), entry of March 26, 2010, made public on March 31, 2010

Fleet European Air Transport had formerly operated the following aircraft:

+ European Air Transport fleetAircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredNotesAirbus A300B4F1919982010Airbus A300-600RF120032005Leased from IslandsflugBoeing 727-100F619902003Boeing 727-200F1419942004Boeing 737-300QC119961997Leased from Air Belgium119991999Boeing 757-200PF220002010Boeing 757-200SF1420002010CASA C-212 Aviocar119861991Convair CV-5801319872000Fairchild Metroliner III1319761994

Accidents and incidents On 22 November 2003, an Airbus A300B4-200F (registered as OO-DLL) was struck on the left wing tip by a surface-to-air missile shortly after takeoff from Baghdad, Iraq. The damage resulted in a fire and complete loss of hydraulic flight control systems. The crew returned to Baghdad, there were no injuries.

See also List of defunct airlines of Belgium 2003 Baghdad DHL attempted shootdown incident

References

Further reading Guy Viselé, European Air transport : vingt ans dejà, "Aviastro" magazine, Bruxelles, Novembre-Decembre 1991

External links

DHL