WILLEMSTAD - In the travel sector of 2024, Corendon made a remarkable move by opting for its own flights to Curaçao. This decision arose from a conflict with KLM over a new contract, in which KLM wanted Corendon to pay more for fewer seats. Steven van der Heijden, the recently resigned CEO of Corendon, emphasizes in Quote the importance of smart choices in the travel industry.
Corendon's bold move was a response to the demands of KLM, which, according to Van der Heijden, were impossible. After opening a third hotel in Curaçao, stopping flights to the island was not an option for Corendon, and continuing with KLM was also not feasible.
Corendon, which previously collaborated with KLM for flights to Curaçao, now flies five times a week from Schiphol to Hato. This increases the total number of weekly flights between the two airports from 15 to 20. Van der Heijden describes the move as "with a heavy heart," but necessary to ensure sufficient flight capacity.
The choice to fly independently comes with significant risks. Corendon is now responsible for selling individual seats, an area where they have less experience. Additionally, there are challenges associated with long-haul flights and high compensation costs for delays.
Berlin
The solution came during a meeting between founder Atilay Uslu and the airline World2Fly at a trade fair in Berlin. World2Fly, with surplus aircraft due to the aftermath of the pandemic, offered Corendon the opportunity to set up cost-effective independent flights. "That was lucky," says Van der Heijden.
Corendon's strategy is focused on creating scale and keeping the chain as much as possible in its own hands. According to Van der Heijden, Corendon cannot compete with the efficiency of airlines like EasyJet or Ryanair, nor do they offer the variety of accommodations like Booking.com. However, what Corendon does offer is a fully serviced product.