Almost one million passengers traveled via Eindhoven Airport last year for work. That accounts for about fourteen percent of all passengers, according to the airport’s 2024 Traveler Monitor. One of these business travelers is Philippine Kaiser, co-founder of 5PM Footwear from Eindhoven. For her, the airport is so close that it saves a lot of time. She shares her travel experiences and the importance of the ‘shoe flight’ to Italy. Philippine: “The entire shoe industry gathers at those trade fairs there.”

Philippine travels for work about ten times a year from Eindhoven Airport to Portugal and Italy. “Portugal is home to major suppliers of shoes and soles. And all the professionals in the shoe business take the ‘shoe flight’ to the big trade fairs in Italy. Because that’s where the deals are made,” says the entrepreneur.

Philippine and her partners started their women’s shoe and handbag business in the mid-range segment almost two years ago. The Eindhoven-based company supplies around two hundred stores in Belgium and sells directly to consumers via its webshop. The entrepreneurs behind 5PM Footwear fly to Italy for inspiration for the new collection. There, they attend trade fairs where they purchase materials such as leather, accessories, and soles. Philippine: “It’s efficient and convenient to be able to travel so close to home for my work.”

Networking on the Plane

Philippine is one of the many passengers traveling via Eindhoven Airport for work. She regularly departs with suitcases full of samples from Eindhoven to her suppliers. In addition, the entrepreneur visits the trade fair Expo Riva Schuh in Italy twice a year. There she meets manufacturers and buyers of shoes and bags. “Shoe professionals and buyers from major retail chains go to that fair. So networking already starts at Eindhoven Airport.” According to Philippine, these flights are almost entirely filled with shoe buyers and brand representatives, so the networking continues on the plane.

Easier Business

The flights for the Micam fair in Milan are also packed with business travelers. Philippine flies twice a year via Eindhoven Airport to Bergamo for Micam. She goes there for inspiration and mainly uses the fair to network. “The entire shoe industry gathers at those fairs,” says Philippine. She sees many European shoe brands there. It doesn’t surprise her—Milan remains, in her words, “the mecca of shoes.” Because of the beautiful materials and high quality, she also attends the Milanese materials fair Lineapelle twice a year, where she hunts for leather, accessories, and soles. For soles, she also regularly travels to Portugal, where some of her suppliers are based. Occasionally, she hosts suppliers and international customers in Eindhoven. “Picking them up and dropping them off at the airport takes little time. And if needed, I can quickly be in Italy or Portugal myself, which makes doing business easier.”

Time Savings and Efficiency Are Key Advantages

Philippine sees the proximity of the airport as a major advantage, mainly because of time savings and efficiency. “I can quickly get to trade fairs and suppliers. And after spending days at a fair and working hard, I’m happy to fly back and sleep in my own bed that same evening.”

Curious About All Destinations?

Eindhoven Airport offers around eighty destinations for travelers with various travel purposes. Want to know which destinations Eindhoven Airport is connected to? Check them all here.