Matthijs Boertien
Founder and member of supervisory board
Amsterdam Airlines

After a study in electronic engineering he joined the RNLAF to be fighter pilot. After officers and initial flight training, the RNLAF decided that they did not additional pilots in the foreseeable future and offered him a position as an ATC controller. He declined, left the Service and completed his flying training in England for his commercial licenses. After various jobs as flight instructor and 5 years working for the National Civil Aviation flying School (RLS) in the Netherlands, he joined a start-up operator (Netherlines, later sold to KLM) as chief-pilot. Later he joined Martinair as First Officer on DC-10, later 747. He received his first command on large jets at the age of 35 and flew as captain, later training captain on 767, MD-11, 757 and A320. Immediately after receiving his command he was promoted to chief pilot and in the following years progressed through management at Martinair, his last position being Senior VP flight operations. During these years he completed the Advanced Management programme at Nijenrode Business University. In 2003 he left the company to be appointed CEO for Denim Air (ACMI provider operating up to 25 F-50 and Dash 8 turbo-prop aircraft on worldwide ACMI operations). He has managed a major turn-around of Denim air from almost bankruptcy to healthy profits in 2007. He has left Denim Air in July 2007 to start Amsterdam Airlines.  Per 1 September 2008 he has handed over the day-to-day running of Amsterdam Airlines to Jaap Horsten and remains as shareholder and member of he supervisory board. Since 1 September he is active with AFT Amsterdam (leasing company). Matt maintains a vast international aviation network and is an active member of the Aviation club of the UK. He has a solid background in business accounting, business planning and optimizing operations. He has also attended formal courses on aircraft leasing. He has kept his flying license valid and is rated as Captain on A320. He has 12,000 flying hours, the majority as captain on international and intercontinental passenger and cargo operations.