From boyhood fascination with airplanes in the Netherlands to commanding the cockpit of a Boeing 747, Thomas’s path is one of passion, discipline, and lifelong learning. His career timeline at Cargolux shows how dedication and mentorship can turn a dream into reality.
For Thomas, flying was a calling. Growing up in Breda, Netherlands, he eagerly awaited the flights home from family vacations in Greece, counting down the days until he could board a 737. “My parents were amused, if slightly disappointed!”, he says. “I mostly enjoyed the flights, and not so much the holidays!” His grandfather, a former Air Force mechanic, nurtured this passion by bringing young Thomas to hangars filled with restored Spitfires and Harvards. “It just caught me—the atmosphere, the smell of oil and old airplanes. From then on, I was hooked.”
Every Flight Has a Beginning
By 2004, Thomas had enrolled in a flight school in Antwerp, working part-time and saving every cent to fund his training. A determined student with a rebellious streak, he credits his Belgian instructor Luc Sobrie—a veteran with over 35,000 flight hours—for instilling the discipline that shaped his future career. “He told me, study hard and we’ll be friends. If not—we’ll be enemies. That made me the pilot I am today.”
Graduating into a favorable market, Thomas landed his first job with Tyrolean Airways in Vienna, flying the Dash 8 Q300. At just 19, he found himself living in the heart of Austria and flying turboprops across Europe. “I was having the time of my life”, he recalls.
But the financial crisis of 2008 soon disrupted aviation. When the Austrian airline downsized, Thomas moved to Germany to fly the Dash 8 Q400 for Air Berlin. At just 25, he became Captain—an unusually early promotion. Still, he longed to fly jets.
Breaking through the barrier from turboprops to jets, Thomas joined Cargolux at 27, stepping directly into the cockpit of the Boeing 747. “It was a steep climb,” he admits, looking back at the nearly decade-long path from First Officer to Captain.
The Toolbox of Mentorship
Throughout his career, Thomas benefited from mentors who shaped both his technical skills and his leadership style. At Cargolux, instructors introduced him to what they call the “toolbox”: each mentor providing a different tool—discipline, social skills, decision-making frameworks—that he could draw on in challenging moments. “It’s a fair deal. They demand effort, but they give you everything you need to succeed.”
After nearly ten years as a First Officer, Thomas earned his captain’s stripes in 2024. The transition, he explains, is less about technical flying and more about leadership and decision-making. “The hardest part is making decisions—big ones, under pressure—while keeping the whole crew aligned.”
Training prepared him for real-world pressure. He recalls simulator sessions recreating Quito’s high-altitude challenges, followed by real-life flights through typhoons into Hong Kong. “Cargolux prepares you so that when you face chaos in real life, you know you can handle it. The goal isn’t to avoid stress, but to manage it.” This openness helped Thomas build resilience, a cornerstone of his role as Captain.
Beyond the Cockpit
Alongside his flying career, Thomas pursued a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Business Administration, driven by curiosity and a desire to contribute beyond the flight deck. Today, he also serves as a union representative, applying his academic insights to foster constructive dialogue between employees and management. His Master’s research on sustainability reflects a deep commitment to aviation’s future. From fuel-saving innovations to sustainable air fuels, Thomas believes collaboration and transparency across airlines can significantly help developing innovative solutions to reduce emissions. “Everybody loves to travel and it would be culturally damaging to stop flying completely. We just need to make it sustainable so that everyone—not just the wealthy—can keep exploring the world.”
For Thomas, Cargolux stands out because it combines the professionalism of a legacy airline with the closeness of a family. “We’re big, but not too big. You know the people you fly with, you share meals on layovers—it feels personal.”
He’s grateful, too, for Cargolux’s willingness to trust young pilots with responsibility. “They value you as a person. If you meet the standard, they put you in the seat, no matter your age.”
Now at 38, with a decade at Cargolux behind him and the captain’s seat ahead, Thomas is charting new horizons. Whether it’s leading in the cockpit, supporting colleagues, or shaping aviation’s sustainable future, his journey reflects the very essence of Cargolux: growth, opportunity, and long-term commitment.
“Flying is still magic to me. And Cargolux makes sure there’s always room to grow.”
