A two-decade connection between Amsterdam and Curaçao was celebrated in high style this week, as TUI marked the 20th anniversary of its first flight to the island — and honored the milestone by naming a Dreamliner after Curaçao itself.

Flight OR365 departed Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport with a festive sendoff and touched down at Curaçao International Airport to a ceremonial welcome, culminating in the official naming of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner “Curaçao.”

The event marked a symbolic tribute to one of TUI’s longest-standing routes — and one of its most vital. “Curaçao has been one of our most valued destinations for two decades,” said Arjan Kers, Managing Director of TUI Netherlands and Belgium. “It is a tribute to the enduring bond we as TUI have with the island.”

That bond began in 2005, when the airline — then operating as ArkeFly — began with just two weekly flights and a small sales team on the island. Today, TUI operates twice-weekly flights between Amsterdam and Curaçao, supported by a headquarters in Willemstad staffed by 150 local employees.

Upon arrival, the newly named Dreamliner was greeted with a traditional ceremony featuring prominent local voices. Tumba Festival winner Jefdany Manuela and singer Dibo Doran christened the aircraft, while Curaçao Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas extended congratulations on behalf of the government and people of the island.

“For Curaçao, aviation is not just another sector — it is an essential lifeline,” said Pisas. “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.”

Curaçao’s tourism leaders emphasized the economic and cultural impact of the route. “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,” said Muryad de Bruin, Director of the Curaçao Tourist Board.

TUI’s long-haul flights to Curaçao are operated using Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, part of a modernized fleet designed for fuel efficiency and passenger comfort. The airline, which was the first Dutch carrier to fly the Dreamliner, now operates five of the aircraft along with six Boeing 737 MAX planes.

The celebration underscores a relationship that goes far beyond airlift. For many on the island and in the Netherlands, these flights have been about more than vacations.

The flights come as Curaçao is seeing its strongest tourism in years, with surging arrivals from markets like the US and from The Netherlands.