KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is preparing to end an era on Sunday, March 29, 2020. The carrier is ready to operate the last Boeing 747 revenue flight.
Flight KL 686 from Mexico City is due to touch down at the Amsterdam base at 1510 (3:10 pm) local time on March 29. This will be the last Boeing 747 revenue flight.
The aircraft assigned at this time is PH-BFT.
Copyright Photo: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 747-406 PH-BFW (msn 30454) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 945006.
KLM aircraft slide show:
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines works with three Chinese airline partners: China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Xiamen Airlines. These partners have now stepped in to generously support KLM and the Netherlands by donating many tens of thousands of face masks and gloves to KLM in our struggle against the coronavirus outbreak. In light of scarce resources at Dutch hospitals, KLM will in turn be helping the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam and other Dutch healthcare institutes.
On March 25, in the early hours of the morning, the first shipment arrived at Schiphol carried by one of Xiamen Airlines’ aircraft. On behalf of the employees of the three Chinese airlines, KLM President & CEO Pieter Elbers accepted this first shipment of in total around 90,000 face masks and 50,000 pairs of gloves. KLM’s CEO was accompanied by Ernst Kuipers, Chairman of the Boards of Erasmus MC and the Dutch Network for Acute Medical Care (Landelijk Netwerk Acute Zorgย — LNAZ), and Brinio Veldhuijzen van Zanten of KLM Health Services.
Over the past 20 years, KLM has established a broad-based route network, coupled with especially close relations in China. Before the outbreak of the corona crisis, KLM and its partners operated 59 flights a week from Schiphol to mainland China. Shipments of this nature serve to underscore the enormous significance of connections by air in general, and those with China in particular. Medical supplies like this can only be transported swiftly and efficiently to the other side of the world by aircraft. This is especially important in times of scarcity and interdependence.
KLM aircraft photo gallery:
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has made this announcement:
Due to the coronavirus crisis, KLM will start the summer schedule with a significantly reduced network. From March 29, 2020 until and including May 3, 2020, KLM plans to fly to 25 intercontinental and 32 European destinations. During this period, KLM will fly according to an adjusted schedule, which amounts to about 10 percent of the normal number of flights.
Intercontinental: 777s and 787s
The intercontinental network will be operated with Boeing 777s and 787s. The Boeing 747s will be taken out of the fleet early. The remaining aircraft will be parked at Schiphol. A plan for this is currently being drawn up together with the airport.
The following destinations will be offered from March 29 to May 3 (subject to changes):
| Airport | Frequency per week |
| Atlanta | 3 |
| Abu Dhabi/Muscat | 2 |
| Bangkok | 2 |
| Curacao | 2 |
| Delhi* | 2 |
| Dubai* | 3 |
| Sao Paulo | 2 |
| Hong Kong | 3 |
| Incheon (Seoul) | 3 |
| New York JFK | 7 |
| Johannesburg | 3 |
| Kansai (Osaka) | 2 |
| Los Angeles | 3 |
| Lima* | 3 |
| Mexico City | 3 |
| Nairobi* | 2 |
| Narita (Tokyo) | 2 |
| Chicago OโHare | 2 |
| Beijing* | 3 |
| Panama City | 2 |
| Shanghai | 3 |
| Singapore | 3 |
| Taipei* | 3 |
| Calgary | 3 |
| Toronto | 3 |
| Total | 69 return flights |
* These routes are subject to very strict travel restrictions and KLM will initially fly with cargo only.
Europe: as many connections as possible
The European network has been set up in such a way that as many European flights as possible connect to the intercontinental network. The following destinations will be flown daily from Schiphol from March 28 to May 3 (subject to change):
Geneva, Vienna, Zurich, Brussels, Paris, Lyon, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Berlin, Rome (from April 4)**, Stockholm, Billund, Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Oslo, Barcelona**, Lisbon, Madrid**, Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, London City, London Heathrow, Manchester, Newcastle.
** These routes are currently subject to very strict travel restrictions and it will be considered at a later stage whether/when these flights can be operated.
KLM aircraft photo gallery:
KLM has made this announcement:
KLM has applied for a reduction in working hours (werktijdverkorting) of approximately 70% for all staff and is still discussing with trade unions how this can be achieved in the best possible way. This is necessary, because KLM will have to reduce the flight schedule to 10 to 20% in the coming period.
On March 16, CEO Pieter Elbers communicated this in a video message to KLM colleagues. More and more airlines are deciding to ground their fleets completely and send employees home unpaid. KLM has opted for a more balanced approach in which care for both customers and employees comes first.
With measures, such as a reduction in working hours (werktijdverkorting), KLM is looking for ways to significantly reduce costs. At the same time, the airline makes every effort to repatriate as many customers as possible and to allow employees to retain their jobs. KLM will continue to adapt to new developments.
KLM aircraft photo gallery:
Air France-KLM have released this message:
The COVID-19 crisis has continued to spread in recent days, leading many countries to take increasingly stringent measures in an attempt to slow the rate of spread of the epidemic. Some countries have imposed constraints on the movement of travellers from France, the Netherlands or more broadly from Europe. In France, the transition to a level 3 public health emergency requires the closure of all non-essential services since last weekend.
Faced with these growing restrictions on the possibility of travelling and a strong downward trend in demand which has resulted in a drop in traffic and sales over the last few weeks, the Air France-KLM Group is obliged to gradually reduce its flight activity very significantly over the next few days, with the number of available seat kilometers (ASK) potentially decreasing between -70% and -90%.
This reduction in capacity is currently scheduled to last two months, and the Group will continue to monitor the evolution of the situation on a daily basis andadjust it if necessary.
Photo: Airbus and Air France.
As a result of this reduction in capacity, Air France will ground its entire Airbus A380 fleet and KLM its entire Boeing 747-400 fleet.
To deal with this situation, the Group has already taken a number of strong measures to secure its cash flow:
which will be added the impact of the decline in activity on the amount of maintenance investments
In spite of the measures taken, the deterioration of the environment linked to the epidemic and the sharp reduction in its activity that has resulted today lead the group to forecast a sharply deteriorated financial trajectory compared to the outlook presented at the publication of its annual results. Indeed, the Group estimates that the drop in revenues from the Passenger business resulting from the reduction in capacity will only be offset by around 50% by the drop in variable costs before cost savings measures.
In this extremely difficult context, the Air France-KLM Group has welcomed the statements made by the French and Dutch governments, which have each indicated that they were studying all possible means to support the Group.
Air France aircraft photo gallery:
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has decided to early retire its last Boeing 747-400s in April due to decreased demand due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Then Jumbo fleet was previously scheduled to be retired in early January 2021.
In other news, KLM is reducing its capacity this month by 25 percent and 30-40 percent in the April – June period.
Above Photo: KLM. 747s at AMS in 1991.
Top Copyright Photo: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 747-406 PH-BFV (msn 28460) (100 Years) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 949394.
KLM aircraft slide show:
Air France-KLM issued this financial report for 2019:
OUTLOOK
Business trends
After a good performance for the Passenger Network activity with positive unit revenue in January 2020, recent developments with regards to the Covid-19 have impacted the demand outlook, especially in the Asian network. This translates in long-haul forward booking load factors down from February to May 2020. As a consequence the Group anticipates unit revenues at constant currency to be down for the first quarter of 2020.
The Cargo activity is also impacted by Covid-19, foreseen to maintain pressure on the load factor and yield in the first part of 2020.
Based on the Group announcement regarding Covid-19 (suspension of China operations in February- March and possible resumption of operations starting from April 2020), the high-level estimated impact on operating result is of between -150 and -200 million euros for February to April 2020.
Full year 2020 guidance
The 2020 fuel bill is expected to decrease by 300 million euros compared to 2019 to 5.2 billion euros, based on the forward curve of 14 February 2020
The Board of Directors of Air France-KLM, chaired by Anne-Marie Couderc, met on 19 February 2020 to approve the financial statements for the Full year 2019.
โIn 2019, the Air France-KLM Group posted an operating result at 1,141 million euros with a fuel bill hit and pressure on Cargo unit revenuesโ said Benjamin Smith, CEO of the Air France-KLM Group. Over the year we reinforced our foundations to build a European champion, notably through fleet optimization and restored trust that led to social stability and positive labour agreements at Air France and new CLA agreements at KLM. I am also proud that our Group was again at the top of the DJSI ranking and is recognized as an experienced and knowledgeable environmental leader in the industry. In November, we outlined our strategic plan with a substantial further step-up in financial performance foreseen, and we begin on this 5-year trajectory with a robust financial structure and strong unique assets.โ
2018 and 2019 results restated (with a similar impact in both years) for limited life parts componentization accounting change. See notes in the consolidated financial statements paragraph 2, page 12-15 and page 9-10 of this press release.
1 The Air France strike had a -335 million euros impact on the Full year 2018 operating result
2 Passenger unit revenue is the aggregate of Passenger network and Transavia unit revenues, change at constant currency
FULL YEAR 2019
Operating result at 1,141 million euros, unit cost at -0.9%, pressure on Cargo unit revenue and a higher fuel bill
The Air France-KLM Group continues to closely monitor the developments of the outbreak of the coronavirus in China, while maintaining close contact with international health and aviation authorities. After careful consideration of the developing situation, on January 30, 2020 the Air France-KLM Group decided to suspend all Air France and KLM flights to and from China until ย February 9, 2020.
โThe health and safety of our 85,000 employees and our 100 million customers is our highest priority,โ said Benjamin Smith, CEO of the Air France KLM Group. ย โI am proud of the professionalism of our employees in Europe, in China, and abroad, and their relentless dedication to ensuring their operating and non-operating colleagues, as well as our customers, can return home to their families. We continue to closely monitor the situation together with our partner China Eastern. โ
Starting Thursday, January 30, 2020 Air France will operate special flights to and from Shanghai and Beijing using volunteer crew members in order to permit employees and customers to return to Paris, while KLMโsย flights departing from Amsterdam until Sunday, February 2, 2020 are intended to give as many employees and customers as possible the opportunity to return to Amsterdam from Beijing and Shanghai.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines warmly thanked customers and employees who made 2019 a memorable year for KLM with a KLM year film: ย 2019 the year of the century.
KLM welcomed 35 million passengers on board, added six new destinations to its network, Wroclaw, Boston, Bangalore, Guanacaste, Napels and Las Vegas. KLM is also pressing on with its fleet renewal programme and welcomed several new Boeing 737-800’s, B767-10’s and Embraer E2-195’s.
At Schiphol Airport a new Crown lounge opened up working towards the ambition to offering travellers the most attractive lounge in the world with innovative concepts, such as service on the spot, entertainment options and fine-dining.
In 2020, KLM will offer flights to 172 destinations including a new destination in March toย Cork, Ireland.
About KLM Philippines
KLM offers convenient daily flights between Manila and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport with a stop in Taipei.
MANILA โ AMSTERDAM โ MANILA (with a stop in Taipei)
| Flight number | From | To | Departure | Arrival | ||
| Flights operated by Boeing B777-300/200 | Winter | Summer | Winter | Summer | ||
| KL808 | MNL | AMS | 20:35 | 20:05 | 06:40+1 | 06:55+1 |
| KL807 | AMS | MNL | 20:50 | 20:55 | 19:20+1 | 18:45+1 |
KLM made this announcement:
This morning (December 21) KLM’s fourth Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner arrived at Schiphol, directly from the Boeing factory in Charleston, South Carolina.
The sustainable and energy-efficient aircraft with registration PH-BKF bears the name “Snow drop”.
Alongside the use of weight-saving materials, theoptimisation of flight procedures, and the use of more sustainable biofuels, our investment in a new fleet is the way to further reduce CO2 emissions. The 787 Dreamliner consumes up to 20% less fuel than other aircraft of similar size. In fact, compared to KLMโs Boeing 747 Combi, the Dreamliner is 46% more fuel efficient. And, the use of less fuel results in a comparable reduction in CO2 emissions. New engines, more lightweight composite materials, and the latest developments in aerodynamics all contribute to the Dreamlinerโs overall performance.
All KLM Dreamliners are named after flowers or flowering plants. With the arrival of Snow drop, KLM has seventeen Boeing 787s in its fleet: thirteen 787-9s and four 787-10s.
Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker.
In other news, on December 19, KLMโs thirty-first Boeing 737-800 arrived at Schiphol Airport from the Boeing in Seattle. The airliner is the very last Boeing 737-800 to be built. The sustainable aircraft with registration of PH-BCL bears is named โRed-crested Pochardโ.
KLM highlights and the KLM Facts and Figures sheet 2019:
You must be logged in to post a comment.