May 27, 2025
TUI fly celebrates 20 years of Amsterdam-Curaçao with special plane namegiving ceremony
Aviation
Plane gets name 'Curaçao' in tribute to popular vacation destination
Rijswijk, May 27, 2025 - TUI fly flight OR 365 was festively waved goodbye at Schiphol Airport yesterday and welcomed at Curaçao International Airport with a special ceremony. With this flight, TUI fly is celebrating a special milestone: the airline has been flying between Amsterdam and Curaçao for exactly 20 years this year. Before departure at Amsterdam, a delegation from TUI, Schiphol and the Curaçao Tourist Board celebrated this moment. And upon arrival of the aircraft, a special ceremony took place. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner used for the flight was officially renamed the 'Curaçao' and from now on will carry the name of this destination so valuable to TUI.
Arjan Kers, Managing Director TUI Netherlands and Belgium: "Curaçao has been one of our most valued destinations for two decades. I am therefore proud that one of our Dreamliners will henceforth bear this beautiful name. It is a tribute to the enduring bond we as TUI have with the island. With this special namegiving ceremony we not only celebrate our anniversary but also underline our lasting connection to Curaçao."
Festive reception
The aircraft was received at the airport with a festive ceremony. Following good custom, the aircraft was officially named by local celebrities. In this case none other than singer and TUMBA winner Jefdany Manuela and singer Dibo Doran: "I am super proud to represent the TUI family and my beloved island of Curaçao today. This is a historic moment and shows the importance of the connection and history between TUI and Curaçao!"
In addition to Jefdany Manuela and Dibo Doran, Minister President Pisas was also present who congratulated TUI on behalf of the government and the people of Curaçao on this special milestone: "For Curaçao, aviation is not just another sector - it is an essential lifeline. Thanks to TUI's continuous efforts, our tourism has grown, our international visibility has increased, and we as a country have been able to structurally benefit from stable visitor numbers from Europe. Thank you TUI for contributing to the progress of our island. Thank you for building bridges, literally and figuratively. And above all: thank you for twenty years of trust."
Muryad de Bruin, Director Curaçao Tourism Board adds: "The economic impact of twenty years of TUI fly on Curaçao tourism is significant. This stable air service has not only created countless jobs in our tourism sector, but also contributed to the development of local talent and sustainable growth. When a TUI aircraft lands in Curaçao, not only passengers land - opportunities for our tourism economy land."
The aircraft was received at the airport with a festive ceremony. Following good custom, the aircraft was officially named by local celebrities. In this case none other than singer and TUMBA winner Jefdany Manuela and singer Dibo Doran: "I am super proud to represent the TUI family and my beloved island of Curaçao today. This is a historic moment and shows the importance of the connection and history between TUI and Curaçao!"
In addition to Jefdany Manuela and Dibo Doran, Minister President Pisas was also present who congratulated TUI on behalf of the government and the people of Curaçao on this special milestone: "For Curaçao, aviation is not just another sector - it is an essential lifeline. Thanks to TUI's continuous efforts, our tourism has grown, our international visibility has increased, and we as a country have been able to structurally benefit from stable visitor numbers from Europe. Thank you TUI for contributing to the progress of our island. Thank you for building bridges, literally and figuratively. And above all: thank you for twenty years of trust."
Muryad de Bruin, Director Curaçao Tourism Board adds: "The economic impact of twenty years of TUI fly on Curaçao tourism is significant. This stable air service has not only created countless jobs in our tourism sector, but also contributed to the development of local talent and sustainable growth. When a TUI aircraft lands in Curaçao, not only passengers land - opportunities for our tourism economy land."
Other attendees at the ceremony included Minister Cooper (Transportation, Transportation and Land Use Planning and Interim Economic Development), Anuschka Cova (CEO CHATA) and Peggy Croes (Senior Vice President Aviation Market Development).
20 years of connection
Since its inception in 2005 - from then ArkeFly - TUI has become a fixture on the island. It started with a small office with six sales agents at the airport and two flights to Curaçao per week. Today, not only is there a modern headquarters in Willemstad that houses some 150 local employees, the airline now flies twice a day weekly between Amsterdam and Curaçao. Not only does it bring thousands of vacationers to the popular Caribbean island every year, but for 20 years it has united many families and friends at important life events.
Since its inception in 2005 - from then ArkeFly - TUI has become a fixture on the island. It started with a small office with six sales agents at the airport and two flights to Curaçao per week. Today, not only is there a modern headquarters in Willemstad that houses some 150 local employees, the airline now flies twice a day weekly between Amsterdam and Curaçao. Not only does it bring thousands of vacationers to the popular Caribbean island every year, but for 20 years it has united many families and friends at important life events.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner
TUI fly flights to and from Curaçao are, like the other long-haul flights, operated with a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. Forerunner Arke Fly was even the first Dutch airline to fly with this type of aircraft. The choice of the Dreamliner fitted with the strategy to offer passengers more comfort while operating more sustainably thanks to the lower fuel consumption of this type of aircraft. Meanwhile, the TUI fly Netherlands fleet consists of five Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners and six Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. This gives TUI a modern fleet of aircraft that produce significantly less noise and are more fuel efficient.
TUI fly flights to and from Curaçao are, like the other long-haul flights, operated with a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. Forerunner Arke Fly was even the first Dutch airline to fly with this type of aircraft. The choice of the Dreamliner fitted with the strategy to offer passengers more comfort while operating more sustainably thanks to the lower fuel consumption of this type of aircraft. Meanwhile, the TUI fly Netherlands fleet consists of five Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners and six Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. This gives TUI a modern fleet of aircraft that produce significantly less noise and are more fuel efficient.
