Martinair has lost €8m per freighter, per year, for the past three years, due to competition from other cargo carriers. Reportedly, 330 Martinair employees, including 110 of the carrier's 140 pilots, will be let go, with an additional 170 ground jobs and 50 on-board personnel cuts due to occur. This will leave a new total of 85 pilots flying Martinair aircraft.
Of the cuts, Marcel de Nooijer, Managing Director and Executive VP of Martinair, said: "We deeply regret the social consequences, but these steps are unavoidable if the cargo business is to have a durable future."
All six of the Dutch carrier's MD-11Fs will be retired, leaving Air France-KLM with two 777Fs, operated by Air France, based in Paris, and three 747-400ERFs, operated by Martinair, based in Amsterdam. The fleet reduction is expected to be complete by mid-2016, while staff cuts may become effective as early as June this year.
