MARTINAIR CARGO: A COMPREHENSIVE DISCUSSION

Martinair Cargo: A Comprehensive Discussion



Table of Contents

Table of Contents2

Abstract3

Introduction4

History4

Company Operations5

Company Resources7

Business Relationships8

Future Plans13

References14

Martinair Cargo: A Comprehensive Discussion

Abstract

This paper provides an overview to the Martinair Cargo. It explains the history of Martinair Cargo, gives us a brief introduction and tells us about its Managerial Aspects, Business Relationships, Resources and its operations.

Introduction

Martinair restructured its regional offices in the Americas, splitting its business into cargo and passenger business units.

The carrier, with U.S. headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla., said the reorganization will yield a more efficient, financially-sound business structure.

Operational support staff and systems located at Boca Raton will assist the cargo and passenger units by ensuring compliance and training at the station level. Four sub-regions have been established to bring the organization "closer to its core business" (Doganis, 2002). Arturo Brownell has been named the director for Latin America-Southern Cone based in Buenos Aires. Carmen Fernandez has been named the new director for the Miami/Caribbean/Central America region based in Miami. Debbie Lanci is the new director of the North America region based in Atlanta. Maurice Thorin has been appointed director of Latin America-Andes region, based in Bogota. The company said Peter Scholten remains as vice president and general manager of the Americas, overseeing all of Martinair's commercial business in the Western hemisphere (Daly, 2004).

History

The airline was founded on 24 May 1958 as Martin's Air Charter (MAC), by J. Martin Schröder, with one aircraft, a de Havilland Dove and five employees. In 1963 Mr. Schröder sold 49% of the company to four equal shipping company shareholders (12.25% each, these eventually combining as Nedlloyd). KLM would later purchase the 50+% that Mr. Schröder owned, buying him out. The name was changed to Martinair Holland in 1966. A healthy boost came in 1967 with the opening of business to the United States. Martinair became all jet-powered in 1971.

In 1991, the first aircraft with the "Martinair Cargo" name was introduced, and "Holland" was dropped from all aircraft. In 1996, Martinair bought a 40% stake in Colombian cargo carrier TAMPA Cargo, based in Medellín. Martinair President and CEO Martin Schröder, who received the Tony Jannus Award in 1995 for his contributions to commercial aviation, retired in 1998 from day-to-day activities. Also that year, the European Commission in Brussels refused KLM's offer to purchase Nedlloyd's shares, which would have made KLM the sole owner. In 2003 the company increased its stake in TAMPA Cargo to 58%, becoming Tampa's majority shareholder.

On 22 June 2007, Martinair announced that it wanted one shareholder, preferably KLM. In November 2007 Martinair ceased its short haul operations to concentrate on its cargo activities and intercontinental flights. In February 2008, Martinair sold its share in Tampa to Avianca of Colombia. On 17 December 2008 Martinair announced that it had secured European Commission approval to have KLM as its only shareholder, the transfer of remaining shares took place on 31 December 2008. On the 5th February 2009 KLM said it is investigating the option of incorporating Martinair and Transavia, both fully owned by KLM, ...