FlightCare Revealed: An Interview with Hendrik Noorderhaven

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Insight
August 2018
 

EUclaim CEO speaks to Maiden about how FlightCare was born and what makes it unique.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hendrik Noorderhaven and I am CEO of EUclaim. I started my career at Caterpillar where I was quickly sent abroad. After 12 years, I switched to a company that specialized in alarm systems. After returning to The Netherlands I decided to start my own company that turned out to be EUclaim.

What gave you the idea for FlightCare?
One of our USP’s is the development of our own flight information database. At one point we wanted to investigate what the financial effects of the passenger protection regulation would be. It was at this point that we realized that passenger delay and flight cancellation were matters that could be insured.

How did this idea then develop?
We contacted an actuary to verify our findings and do a reality check to see if this was indeed a viable idea. It turned out that FlightCare could provide even greater coverage than was provided for in the regulation. At this point, we came into contact with Maiden and with their knowledge and support we came to what is now FlightCare.

In what way do you think the FlightCare product most benefits the end-customer?
It offers complete protection in the event of a delay or cancellation, even in cases where an airline would claim extraordinary circumstances. However, I feel that the most stand-out benefit is that the end-customer is proactively compensated in the event that an incident happens, making this a truly hassle free product.

How do you think FlightCare distinguishes itself from the other flight compensation providers in the Dutch market?
The depth and range of our specialized information, our professional and unique IT solutions and greater coverage offered to the end-customer puts this service in its own league.

What do you enjoy most about your job today?
The variety of challenges that arrive on my desk. In the morning I could be discussing a legal case against an airline while in the afternoon a strategy meeting concerning our future in the insurance industry.

What do you see as the future for European flight delay insurance?
I feel that it is only now beginning to start. Once this insurance becomes more mainstream I see multiple parties adopting the insurance and I am sure that we’ll see innovative new services being launched.