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Martinair Soon to End Amsterdam, Orlando, San José Flights
Inside Costa Rica

During one of the busiest seasons at the Orlando International (OIA) and the Juan Santamaría (San José) international airports, Martinair has decided to pull stakes from both, dealing a blow to travellers to and from Florida and Europe. The decision by airline takes effect on March 30, 2008, when Martinair will no longer fly from San José to Orlando, non stop to Amsterdam.

Representatives of the airline have yet to comment on the decision, however, in a press release distributed through European tour operators, the airline said it decided to consolidate all its Florida flights at Miami International Airport (MIA).

Currently, Martinair offers five flights a week to Amsterdam and three to San José and is the only airline to offer non stop flights from Orlando to San José. Although the news is bad for OIA, it may not effect travellers to Costa Rica as the German airline, Lufthansa, which is now flying Orlando from Frankfurt, could pick up Martinair's Amsterdam flights to Costa Rica.

According to Vicki Jaramillo, OIA marketing director, the airport is now talking to multiple carriers about starting flights from Orlando to San José, though she declined to name the airlines. In addition to Lufthansa, the Irish carrier Aer Lingus has new service to Orlando and British Airways has announced plans to expand its existing service.

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

I am a fan. Though when things got delayed, they really got delayed. However, the $80 walk up upgrade was the Nutz. As long as they keep Miami its cool.

Bad news, and I was going to give them a try on the next trip, I just cant live with the 2.5 hour trip to Miami when OIA is just 30 minutes away.

I actually have a ticket for a Martinair flight from orlando to San jose on martinair for June. I bought it on orbitz. anyone know what happens now? Do they simply refund the price or try to replace it for me?

I'm not liking this at all. I've been to CR twice, the first time getting stuck with Spirit going OIA to FLL and then to SJO. Second time, direct to SJO on MartinAir. I hope they change their mind or Lufthansa picks it up, I'd hate to have another connection on my next trip.

I got an email from orbits saying my itinerary was changed. THe flight is now out of Miami. Lot of good that does me since I live in orlando four hours by car away.I guess i will take the refund and fly spirit or just go to the DR or columbia instead. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me to monger in a new locale.

I like them. Their meals were better than AA and they flew directly from Orlando. AA has proven more reliable in terms of departure/arrival times.

YO Martinair:

This is bad news. This was the only alternative to flying from the Pits of Jax. I used their service a number of times when you could upgrade to their concept of first class for $50. along with enjoying the Crown room in Orlando. That is until the end of 2005. When they began using the smaller planes things begin to change and the Crown room closed along with no longer an upgrade to first class in late 2006.

But still.....not having to change planes in frigging Miami and go through that shit. Big plus.

The big problem was their consistent late flights. But damn, at leat they fed you something other than peanuts.

The airlines are making travel to Central America more difficult and expensive as well. This will indeed curtail my travel since I enjoyed short hops of 4 to 6 days. The days of 6 or 7 trips a year are long gone. Not to mention the lure of even wanting to travel there with increased crime, inflation and becoming tired of the whole scene. The real down side is not connecting with some very good friends I have there

Looks like it's Nells's Truck Stop in Baldwin, Fl for the Super Bowl.

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Damn if I'm going to repeat this shit again. I need a drink.
I've been drinking vodka every day for 45 years and I have certainly never found it to be habit forming.

I was a fan of them before this news. Before all the airlines started their nickel and diming they were really great. Even though they no longer do the free unlimited beer and wine or steaming hot face clothes towards the end of the flight they were still one of my favorites. I flew them to Amsterdam earlier this year and upgraded to their "comfort class" for $65 each way, mainly for the extra few inches of leg room. In Feb or March I hope to use them to fly direct from MCO to SJO.