News & Facts

Press releases

• 1.Martinair Launches New “Your Choice” Campaign - September 25, 2008

  Schiphol, September 25, 2008 - Martinair will soon launch a completely new consumer campaign under the “Your Choice” pay off. The advertising campaign kicks off on October 1 and replaces the well known and acclaimed* campaign featuring Martinair cabin attendants in 1950s attire that has been running since 2000.

  “Your Choice” is more than just a pay off. It is a profile that serves as the central theme for Martinair’s development in the consumer market.
  It reflects two central aspects. First, Martinair has in recent years developed from a charter airline to offer scheduled services to far away vacation destinations. Second, the individual needs of vacationers are more pronounced than before and they increasingly like to create their own journey. Consumers who book through a tour operator or travel agent still account for the lion’s share of Martinair’s passengers, while growth can be seen in the market segment of national and international passengers who book directly. They make their own choices.

  Consumers are generally willing to pay for extras, but only if they are given the choice to do so themselves. They don’t want what they don’t need and they certainly don’t want to be charged for what they don’t want either. Martinair offers a wide variety of choices.

  Martinair operates high flight frequencies to its destinations, providing passengers with a wide range of possible arrival and departure days. For example, a daily connection with Miami and several flights a week to Cuba and the Netherlands Antilles (daily service to Curaçao starting next winter!). Additionally, choices can be made for more legroom, entertainment and care.

  “Your Choice” will help to raise awareness for all these choices, exudes quality and can be enjoyed around the globe.

  * Gouden peperbus 2004 (as the popular favorite, chosen as the best outdoor advertising campaign in the Netherlands); Bronze Emma (for online marketing); Campaign of the Year in 2002, chosen as the best campaign in the Dutch travel industry by Dutch travel agents.

• 2.Martinair reorganizes and renews - May 15, 2008

  Schiphol, May 15, 2008. Martinair closed 2007 at a net loss of € 68.9 million. A net loss of € 7 million was achieved for 2006. Operating profit for 2007 amounted to minus € 71 million (2006: minus € 5 million). Net revenue for operations in 2007 totaled € 951 million, practically equal to that achieved in 2006.

  One-off costs associated with activities such as phasing out and renewing the cargo fleet, discontinuing European passenger flights and the associated phasing out of the Airbus 320s and voluntary resignation arrangements for more than 120 of our valued employees, coupled with a provision set aside within the scope of the ongoing airfreight investigation brought considerable pressure to bear upon the results.

  Martinair Cargo's outdated, environmentally unfriendly Boeing 747-200s were replaced completely by the modern, more efficient Boeing 747-400BCFs. This creates a solid foundation to shape Martinair Cargo's growth in the future.

  Since discontinuing European flight operations, Martinair's Passenger unit has focused on the Greater Caribbean and Canada. Connecting flights are also available to numerous destinations in the Caribbean via Miami in cooperation with American Airlines.

  The intended sale of Martinair's subsidiaries is also almost entirely complete. Following the sale of Martinair Partyservice in 2006, Marfo and Skyjob have since been taken over by new owners. Martinair reached an agreement in principle with the Colombian carrier Avianca concerning the sale of all Tampa Cargo's shares. The intention is to maintain the current strategic cooperative relationship between Martinair Cargo and Tampa Cargo, and to expand our network by including Avianca’s network.

  Studies conducted into possibly outsourcing activities previously carried out by Martinair departments are largely drawing to a close.

  A number of steps have been taken with an eye to securing Martinair's future:

  • Today, the new crew uniforms will be presented to Martinair's employees and the press
  • At the end of the year, construction will commence on Martinair's new headquarters at Schiphol-East
  • A start has been made on renewing Martinair's Boeing 767 passenger fleet. Talks are underway with Airbus, Boeing and the lease companies. Based on its rigorous fleet renewal program, Martinair will be able to include new destinations in its route network.

  Martinair's Annual Report and Financial Statements can be viewed from today.

• 3.Martinair flies five times a week to Curaçao this summer - April 15, 2008

  Schiphol Airport, April 15, 2008. On commencement of June 16, 2008 Martinair will expand its flights to Curaçao. The four planned weekly flights on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be followed by a fifth flight on Monday. Growing demand for flights between the Netherlands and Curaçao prompted Martinair to include its fifth weekly flight.

  Last week Martinair announced its winter schedule which strengthens its position in the ‘Greater Caribbean’. In wintertime daily flights will be operated to Curaçao, three days of the week in combination with Aruba. This expansion in the summer season is part of the gradual transition to the daily flights to Curaçao. 

• 4.Martinair strengthens its position in the ‘Greater Caribbean’ area - April 9, 2008

  Schiphol Airport, April 9, 2008. On commencement of the forthcoming winter season, Martinair will fly its passengers more frequently to destinations in the ‘Greater Caribbean’.
  The winter season 2008 starts on October 28 and ends on March 28, 2009.

  Daily flights will be operated to Curaçao, three days of the week in combination with Aruba. To Curaçao this means three times more flights a week than in this summer season and one time more to Aruba.

  This winter all Martinair destinations are situated in the ‘Greater Caribbean’ area. While daily flights will be operated to Miami and further to Costa Rica with American Airlines, Mexico (Cancun) and Cuba (Havana and Varadero) will be served five times a week,  the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana and Puerto Plata) three times and Surinam (Paramaribo) twice a week.

  This new winter schedule realizes our intended objectives to focus on utilizing a route network offering destinations served by frequent, nonstop flights.

• 5.Avianca buys Tampa Cargo and forms strategic alliance with Martinair - April 8, 2008

  Schiphol Airport, April 8, 2008  - Tampa Cargo, an all-cargo airline from Colombia, will be sold by it’s shareholders Martinair and private Colombian investors to Colombian carrier Avianca, one of the leading passenger airlines in Latin America.

  In Bogotá, Colombia the parties reached a principle agreement on the sale of 100% of the shares. The transaction is expected to be finalized in June 2008. 

  Furthermore Martinair, Tampa Cargo and Avianca are working on the details to reach an agreement on the formation of a long term Strategic Cargo Alliance to jointly develop the cargo business. “This new alliance opens up tremendous opportunities for Martinair and its new alliance partners by expanding our network and capacity throughout the Americas”, said Paul Gregorowitsch, CEO for Martinair.

  In this alliance the current cooperation between Martinair and Tampa Cargo with joint sales offices throughout the Americas will continue. The alliance permits the inclusion of Avianca’s belly cargo capacity on its domestic and international network. Through the alliance the 3 airlines offer one of the largest cargo networks in the Americas.

  The Parties will carefully consider the competition law aspects of the envisaged Alliance Agreement and will seek any governmental approval required from the authorities regarding competition law.

  Until all transactions are completed and approved by the relevant authorities it will be business as usual at Martinair Cargo and Tampa Cargo.

• 6.Martinair Suspends Service Between Miami and San Jose, Costa Rica - February 27, 2008

  Doral, Florida February 27, 2008 - Effective May 1, 2008 Martinair will discontinue its A320 flight operation between Miami and San Jose, Costa Rica which currently provides passengers seamless connectivity to Martinair’s intercontinental service between Amsterdam and Miami.

  For many years local U.S. and Costa Rican travelers have enjoyed experiencing European flavored service between Miami and San Jose.  Martinair’s refocus on providing non-stop, long-haul passenger service between Europe and the Americas played a major factor in this decision.  Passengers between Europe and Costa Rica can still travel on Martinair via its Miami hub in partnership with American Airlines.  All passengers currently booked beyond May 1st will be re-protected on American Airlines flights.  Details on the re-protection procedures will be forth coming next week.

  Martinair, 50 years young, provides daily non-stop service between Miami and Amsterdam with easy connecting service to the rest of Europe, the Middle-East and Asia.

• 7.Diederik Pen appointed Chief Operations Officer Martinair - December 28, 2007

  Schiphol, December 28, 2007 - Martinair’s Supervisory Board has appointed Mr.
  D. (Diederik) Pen (39), currently Senior Vice President Operations, to the position of Chief Operations Officer (COO).
  
  In his capacity as COO, Mr. Pen will carry final responsibility for operational processes within Martinair, joining CEO Paul Gregorowitsch and CFO Rob de Fluiter Balledux with a seat on the Management Board of Martinair.

  Diederik Pen joined Martinair on November 1, 2006. For ten years prior to that, he worked in Australia for Virgin Blue and Brisbane Airport. His career started at the Schiphol Group.

• 8.Martinair Cargo starts new service to Xiamen, PRC China - August 13, 2007

  Amsterdam/Hong Kong, August 13, 2007. Following the successful operation in Nanjing & Tianjin, Dutch freighter specialist Martinair Cargo will extend its step in China and start a weekly Boeing 747 freighter service between Xiamen and Amsterdam (the Netherlands) as from August 26, 2007.
  The flights will operate every Sunday on the route Xiamen-Bangkok-Sharjah-Amsterdam. Martinair will offer capacity to Europe as well as to its cargo hubs in Bangkok & Sharjah. Cargo from Europe to Xiamen will be accommodated on Martinair’s flights every Saturday on the route Amsterdam-Sharjah-Tianjin-Xiamen.

  Xiamen is located on the southeastern coast of Fujian Province and its economy is growing rapidly as an increasingly popular site for foreign investors. Xiamen has become a “window city” for China’s opening to the outside world since its establishment as one of China’s first four Special Economic Zones in 1981.

  Mr. Ivan Wu (36), graduated from Xiamen University, is appointed as Sales Manager Xiamen and will oversee all the commercial activities of Martinair Cargo in Xiamen. Mr. Wu has more than 13 years of experience in Air Cargo industry by starting his career in Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited.  Moreover, he has good connection in sales and operations in Xiamen.
  He reports to Mr. Francis Tsao (61), Sales Director Eastern & Northern China, who is based in Shanghai.

• 9.President & CEO Arie Verberk to be succeeded by Paul Gregorowitsch - July 27, 2007

  Schiphol Airport, July 27, 2007. Effective September 1, 2007, Arie Verberk will be succeeded by Paul Gregorowitsch as President & CEO of Martinair. Mr. Verberk will be reaching the age of 65 and will be retiring from Martinair after 12 years of service.

  Until recently, Paul Gregorowitsch (51) served as the commercial director of KLM’s Passenger Division. After joining KLM in 1980, Mr. Gregorowitsch held various Passenger and Cargo-related positions at home and abroad.

• 10.Sole shareholder for Martinair - June 26, 2007

  Schiphol, 21 June 2007. Developments in the market and fundamental changes in the airline industry over the past years force Martinair Holland to reposition itself in order to secure continuity of its operations in the future. Adjustments of destinations, product and organisation have so far not given the company a firm base to be sustainable in the years to come. In view of the above the Shareholders, Supervisory Board and Board of Directors have come to the conclusion that it would be in the interest of all stakeholders to realize a single shareholder structure for Martinair, preferably with KLM. It is the intention of shareholders to start negotiations to effectuate this.

  Apart from this the Supervisory Board and the Board of Directors have the intention to commence a restructuring program that should lead to a long term sustainable operation.
  A recent in depth study of the various Martinair activities has shown that Martinair's cargo business is healthy and has a solid reputation. The activity shows substantial upside.

  Martinair's long haul passenger business is considered to have enough potential to warrent continuation, but needs to improve its results drastically to be sustainable in the long run. This can not be said for the short haul passenger business. Martinair intends to exit this market as the sub scale operation leads to prohibitively high unit costs and in view of the price levels and fierce competition in this market it is not justified to invest to reach the necessary scale.

  Martinair will look at the sustainability of other activities and will either divest them or keep them where outsourcing is not possible or justified.
  The Supervisory Board and Board of Directors are aware that these substantial measures will have negative consequences for part of its staff. It goes without saying that a social plan will be put in place to deal with the unavoidable forced retirement of some of our staff as fairly as possible. In the coming weeks management will start discussions with all relevant stakeholders - especially Martinair's Works Council – in order to be able to effectuate the above intended decisions.

• 11.Martinair generates net loss of € 7 million in 2006 - April 24, 2007

  Schiphol, April 24, 2007. While a net profit of € 14 million had been achieved in 2005, Martinair closed 2006 at a net loss of € 7 million. Operating income for 2006 totaled minus € 17 million (2005: € 22 million). Total turnover amounted to more than € 1.2 billion (2005: € 1.1 billion).

  Cargo turnover rose by 13% to € 798 million (2005: € 706 million) and cargo volume grew by 6% to 3,712 million cargo ton/kilometers (2005: 3,518 million). Cargo activities achieved a loss of € 3 million (2005: € 40 million positive). The results were negatively impacted by high fuel prices and a number of one-off costs associated with phasing out the Boeing 747-200 fleet. The results achieved on cargo operations suffered also as a result of the negative figures generated by Colombian subsidiary Tampa Cargo.

  Turnover on passenger operations rose by 10% to € 377 million (2005: € 342 million). In relation to last year, the number of passenger seat/kilometers remained more or less constant at 9,068 million (2005: 9,095 million). Passenger operations generated a loss of € 15 million
  in 2006 (2005: minus € 17 million). Despite achieving various improvements, spiralling jet fuel prices rendered these largely ineffective.

  Other activities related to third-party work and the subsidiaries Marfo, MVVL and Skyjob and amounted to € 61 million (2005: € 50 million). The activities generated a profit of € 1 million (2005: a loss of € 1 million)

  Interest rate charges amounted to € 4 million (2005: € 4 million). Tax gains amounted to € 8 million in 2006, while the tax burden amounted to € 1 million in 2005.

  In 2007, Martinair strives to return to profitability levels comparable to the years before 2006.

• 12.Record volumes of Valentine flowers for Martinair Cargo - February 25, 2007

  Schiphol Airport, February 25, 2007. Martinair Cargo has been transporting thousands of flower boxes for this year’s Valentine’s Day around the world.  During the pick period of January 22 through February 7, Martinair Cargo moved 7,500 tons of flowers from South America to the United States and Europe. Martinair operations in Africa (Nairobi and Harare) accounted for an additional 1800 tons of cut flowers to Europe.  Combined that is a record 9,300 tons of flowers being transported to satisfy the ever growing demand by consumers of fresh cut flowers on this day dedicated to love and friendship.

  In the American operation Martinair and daughter Tampa Cargo Airlines jointly moved the cut flowers. Martinair is specialized in the transport of fresh cut flowers by providing state of the art cool-chain logistics using a combination of vacuum cooling, refrigerated trucks and warehouse coolers at their facilities.