Elevating Onboarding at 30,000 Feet: How Transavia Transformed Cabin Crew Training with Totara

Totara award winner for Best Onboarding Experience

As the largest low-cost carrier in the Netherlands, Transavia ensures a high standard of safety, service, and hospitality on every flight. But what passengers rarely see is the rigorous training behind the scenes. Every cabin crew member completes an intensive four-week program covering flight procedures, safety, emergency protocols, and aviation regulations.

To streamline this process, meet strict compliance requirements, and enhance the onboarding experience, Transavia turned to Totara.

The Challenge

Onboarding cabin crew was once a labor-intensive process. Training relied heavily on classroom instruction and physical paperwork, leading to inefficiencies and administrative overhead. With seasonal peaks and a growing number of new hires, the need for a scalable, modern training solution became critical.

At the same time, the aviation industry imposes strict compliance and certification requirements. All crew members must complete verifiable training to meet regulatory standards. Transavia needed a solution that could:

• Support a blended learning approach with digital and in-person training

• Track compliance and certification status in real time

• Reduce manual administration and paperwork

• Easily scale during seasonal recruitment peaks

The Solution

Transavia reimagined its onboarding process with a blended learning approach powered by Totara LMS. Partnering with Articulate 360, the training team created interactive e-learning modules to cover theoretical content—everything from service procedures to emergency protocols.

This flipped-classroom approach allowed new crew members to study core concepts before attending hands-on sessions, ensuring classroom time could focus on practical skills and collaborative exercises.

Totara played a pivotal role by integrating:

1. Blended Learning and Content Integration
   E-learning modules created with Articulate Rise and Storyline are fully integrated into Totara. Trainees can access the platform anytime, anywhere, to prepare at their own pace. Totara seamlessly transitions learners from online study to in-person sessions while keeping all progress visible to instructors.

2. Powerful Compliance Tracking and Reporting
   Totara’s compliance management tools give trainers a real-time view of who has completed their required modules and is ready for classroom training. This visibility helps ensure only certified learners move forward, while automated reporting has significantly reduced manual tracking and human error.

3. Digital Assessments and Sustainability
   Assessment forms, once printed and carried across airports and training pools, are now entirely digital. Trainers can easily record, evaluate, and archive results within Totara—improving efficiency and supporting Transavia’s sustainability goals.

The Results

Transavia’s revamped training program delivered immediate impact:

• Higher Engagement and Confidence
  Trainees feel more prepared and empowered when entering the classroom, reducing stress and improving learning outcomes. In 2024 alone, 347 out of 415 new cabin crew successfully completed the training—an impressive 83.6% pass rate.

• Improved Efficiency and Sustainability
  The blend of digital and physical training, supported by Totara, reduced onboarding time, minimized paperwork, and simplified trainer workloads.

• Scalable Training for Seasonal Peaks
  With Totara’s flexibility, Transavia can efficiently ramp up training for seasonal hiring surges without compromising quality.

The success of this program has sparked interest from other departments within Transavia, who are now exploring Totara for onboarding, compliance, and recertification—proving the platform’s value far beyond cabin crew training.