European Air Transport (Belgium)

European Air Transport N.V./S.A. (EAT) was a cargo airline headquartered in Brussels Airport (Building 4-5) and in 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 in 1993.

After 2002 the airline was owned by Deutsche Post with their takeover of DHL.

In February 2010, European Air Transport Belgium was dissolved and merged with European Air Transport Leipzig.

History


European Air Transport was founded in Belgium in 1971 as an air taxi service by two pilots, Pirlot de Corbion and Dessain. EAT started with two aircraft, a Beechcraft Queen Air and a Gardan Horizon. In response to the need for pilots in the Belgian market, EAT began a pilot training school. In 1973, EAT was the first Piper Flying Centre in Europe.

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 became the major DHL airline with service to Europe and Africa. On January 19, 1993, EAT became a member of the International Air Transport Association. In that same year, EAT obtained the necessary permits to transport various dangerous goods and live animals.

In 2002, Deutsche Post completed the takeover of DHL, making EAT a wholly owned subsidiary.

In October 2004, Deutsche Post announced that Brussels Airport would no longer be DHL's major hub for Europe starting in 2008. This was due to the failure of the Belgian Federal Government and Deutsche Post to reach an agreement on a framework to permit DHL to expand its future flight operations at Brussels airport. Instead, Deutsche Post decided to make Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany 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 the European Air Transport Leipzig GmbH. They merged in March 26, 2010.

Fleet
European Air Transport had formerly operated the following aircraft:

Accidents and incidents
On November 22, 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.