Tag Archives: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

KLM unveils “Travel Well” to redefine the travel experience

KLM recently launched its latest brand platform, KLM Travel Well. This platform is designed to inspire and enable travelers to make more meaningful connections with people, places and experiences when they travel.

With this platform, KLM is calling on people to move beyond the “well-traveled” autopilot that emphasizes ticking off destinations to a true “meaningful travel” experience that prioritizes real connections with people, places and experiences.

Recent research conducted by KLM with Norstat indicates that people want to change how they travel: 3 out of 4 travelers indicate they would like to travel more meaningfully on their next trip, especially Gen Z and Millennials. According to the research, a shift in travel mindset is observed: 97% of Chinese travelers express a desire for meaningful experiences on their next trip with 89% prioritizing meaningful connections with people and places over simply visiting destinations. For them, meaningful travel is all about connecting with their own self, connecting with the natural environment and enjoying spontaneity.

The decision to launch Travel Well resonates with traveler’s needs and stems from KLM’s commitment to enhancing the meaningfulness of every traveler’s journey. Guided by Travel Well, KLM will continue to prioritize genuine connections with travelers, embedding thoughtfulness and care about each and every journey into all aspects of the KLM experience: to do our own small part in creating more meaningful – and therefore more memorable and enjoyable – travel experiences.

KLM, an enabler to a more connected and meaningful travel experience

KLM strives to inspire travelers to explore new destinations and embrace diverse cultures, while facilitating opportunities for meaningful connections along the way. By introducing next-generation aircraft, integrating AI technology, offering more spacious seating, fine dining, augmented entertainment and other service upgrades both on the ground and in the air, we ensure enhanced comfort for every traveler. In addition, through our travel guides, curated recommendations for places and activities, we enable travelers to delve deeper into the cultural fabric of their destinations, weaving connections with local communities and experiences.

KLM offers travelers the opportunity to purchase an additional SAF contribution during booking, which helps to reduce air travel’s dependence on fossil fuels and makes a meaningful contribution to sustainable air travel.

The Travel Well platform is just the beginning of KLM’s multi-year commitment to enable people to make more meaningful connections with people, places and experiences while traveling. KLM has been committed to providing world-class service to its Chinese customers since its first commercial flight to China in 1948. In the Spring/Summer 2024 season, KLM will operate 23 weekly passenger flights to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol from March 31 to October 26, from 4 destinations in Greater China: Beijing (7 weekly flights), Shanghai (7 weekly flights), Hong Kong (4 weekly flights) and Taipei (5 weekly flights). The flights will be operated with Boeing 777 and 787-9 aircraft.

KLM aircraft photo gallery:

KLM resumes flights from Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta

KLM has made this announcement:

For its winter 2022-2023 schedule, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will offer the following flights from Kuala Lumpurand Jakarta as of 31 October 2022.

From Kuala Lumpur, KLM offers four weekly non-stop flights to Amsterdam and will also resume four weekly flights to Jakarta.
From Jakarta, KLM offers four weekly flights to Kuala Lumpur and will increase its frequency to four weekly flights to Amsterdam via Kuala Lumpur.
KLM also offers daily flight options from both Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta via Singapore with our interline partners.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic until April 2020, KLM offered daily flights from Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta.

KLM’s Country Manager for Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, Mrs. Estee Ng commented,

“After suspending flights for 2,5 years due to the COVID crisis, we are delighted to resume our direct flights again to Amsterdam from Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The resumption means more choice for our customers to connect between Europe and South East Asia.”

Flight schedule between Kuala Lumpur –Amsterdam / Jakarta – Amsterdam

Valid from 31 October 2022 to March 2023

FLIGHT NUMBER	ROUTE	DEPARTURE		ARRIVAL	DAYS	AIRCRAFT
KL809	Amsterdam – Kuala Lumpur		20:45	15:45+1	Tue-Thu- Sat-Sun	B777-200
	Kuala Lumpur – Jakarta		17:05	18:10	Mon-Wed- Fri-Sun
KL810	Jakarta – Kuala Lumpur		19:25	22:30
	Kuala Lumpur – Amsterdam		23:50	06:20+1

KLM aircraft photo gallery:

KLM and the Dutch Airline Pilots Association (VNV) have reached an agreement on a new contract

KLM and the Dutch Airline Pilots Association (VNV) have reached an agreement in principle on a new collective labour agreement (CLA), effective March 1, 2022 through 1 March 2023, for pilots covered by the CLA for KLM cockpit crew. KLM is satisfied with the result. This will ensure calm and stability for the coming year and reflects KLM’s current circumstances. KLM and VNV will now finalise the protocol texts, which VNV will then present to their members’ council for approval.

KLM has ensured that the new CLA takes account of price developments in the Netherlands. A wage clause specifying a 2% increase effective 1 October 2022 and further 2% effective 1 March 2023 has been agreed. This reflects agreements recently reached with the trade unions representing ground personnel.

We also reached an agreement with VNV on productivity and flexibility in the coming period.

The existing international commuting arrangement for pilots has been discontinued. Pilots who live outside the Netherlands will now pay for their flights when commuting to work.

KLM employees will receive one-off payment when KLM no longer has a credit facility with government guarantees. This payment acknowledges the concerted effort made by KLM staff in the face of recent challenges.

Despite KLM’s successful recovery, the future remains uncertain due to factors such as high inflation, rising costs, uncertainties surrounding coronavirus and scarcity in the job market. KLM must therefore continue to cut costs structurally. The negotiating parties agreed to return to the table if the situation so demands in the coming period.

KLM takes additional measures to get summer holidays off to a smooth start

KLM made this announcement:

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will take various measures (some supplementing existing measures) to ensure that customers who book a flight with KLM get their summer holidays off to a good start, despite persistent operational challenges at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol due to the shortage of airport security staff. The measures will take effect from today (July 8) through August 28, 2022.

Work pressure at the airport is currently relentless as Schiphol and KLM are both faced with staff shortages. KLM’s measures are intended to restore operational stability, thereby relieving pressure on staff at Schiphol and KLM.

Through August 28, 2022, we will cancel 10 to 20 return flights to European destinations every day.

We will also strongly restrict the sale of remaining seats on KLM and KLM Cityhopper flights to European destinations. This will free up space for customers who are rebooked if their flight is cancelled. This measure will supplement the existing restriction on sales, in order to accommodate passengers who have to be rebooked after missing their flight due to long queues at Schiphol and to comply with restrictions Schiphol has imposed on the number of passengers boarding locally.

Customers who can’t fly will be informed in a timely manner and rebooked onto a different flight. In most cases, this flight will depart on the same day or as close as possible to the original booking. Passengers will not have to contact KLM for this purpose, but will be informed by KLM or their travel agent.

Cargo will not longer be booked and loaded onto KLM Cityhopper flights. This will reduce work pressure for handling staff on the ground.

We will also close the belly compartment for loose packages and mail bags aboard flights bound for intercontinental destinations. This loose bulk freight will be placed in containers, which will be brought in via the apron, making them easier to load onto the aircraft.

Measures relating to airfreight will remain in place until the end of the summer schedule (29 October).

KLM is confident that these measures will ensure smooth handling of incoming and outgoing flights in the coming weeks. KLM reasserts that these measures are temporary.

KLM aircraft photo gallery:

Air France-KLM signs agreement with CFM International for the engine configuration of its future Airbus A320neo family fleet

Air France-KLM announced on July 5 the signing of an agreement with CFM International for the acquisition of 200 LEAP-1A engines to power its new fleet of Airbus A320neo and A321neo.

This decision follows the Group’s order, last December, of 100 Airbus A320neo family aircraft – with purchase rights for 60 additional aircraft, to renew the fleets of KLM and Transavia Netherlands, and to renew and expand the fleet of Transavia France.

Manufactured by CFM International – a 50/50 joint venture between GE Aviation and Safran Aircraft Engines – the LEAP-1A, contributes as a latest-generation engine to the global performance and efficiency of the Airbus A320neo aircraft family.

CFM International already provides engines for the Group’s Boeing 737 NG (CFM56-7B) and Airbus A320ceo (CFM56-5B) fleets.

KLM operations return to near normal

KLM issued this statement:

KLM was able to operate flights on Sunday according to the original schedule for this Whitsun holiday weekend. Furthermore, by the end of the afternoon, more than 90% of the passengers who had been unable to fly to Amsterdam on Saturday evening had arrived at their destination, or been rebooked.

The number of passengers being rebooked is currently rising, which means that nearly all passengers have now been offered an alternative.

KLM expects its flights to operate on schedule on Whit Monday, June 6, 2022, as they did on Sunday.

KLM would like to stress that the decision to suspend passenger flights to or via Amsterdam on Saturday evening was extremely difficult and one that was not taken lightly. Unforeseen and acute circumstances beyond our control compelled us to intervene in this way. Unfavourable weather conditions combined with runway maintenance at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol led air traffic control to reduce capacity further on Saturday evening. Many aircraft were consequently unable to land in or depart from Amsterdam. This led to a build up of passengers at Schiphol, causing large queues to form. In the interests of guaranteeing safety at Schiphol and maintaining a manageable situation at the airport, it was not possible for KLM to bring passengers to Schiphol in a responsible manner.

KLM aircraft photo gallery:

KLM blocks passengers at European destinations from coming to Amsterdam on Saturday

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is going through a very tough period.

The airline issued this statement:

At the end of Saturday afternoon, 4 June, 2022 KLM was regrettably compelled to decide that passengers at European destinations would no longer be allowed to board flights to Amsterdam.

Although a substantial package of measures was taken before the weekend, KLM has faced unforeseen and urgent circumstances that are beyond its control.

Due to unfavorable weather conditions and runway maintenance at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, many aircraft couldn’t land or take off in Amsterdam.

This means a large number of KLM flights on Saturday were delayed or even cancelled. The number of passengers who were unable to depart from Amsterdam due to these external factors has increased sharply.

To ensure safe and workable operations at Schiphol for passengers and crew, KLM took the far-reaching decision that no further passengers would be brought to Amsterdam. This decision was taken to ensure that as many stranded passengers as possible can depart from Schiphol on Saturday and that KLM can operate as many flights as possible on Sunday.

“It’s incredibly unfortunate that on top of everything else today, we’re also dealing with reduced runway capacity at Schiphol as a result of unfavorable winds and runway maintenance. Despite intervening earlier to ensure workable operations this weekend, today has been another extremely difficult day for our passengers and crew. We are apologizing to our customers for the inconvenience and doing our utmost to ensure that we can return to workable operations as swiftly as possible.”

Rene de Groot – Chief Operating Officer

The decision to stop bringing passengers from European destinations to or via Amsterdam remained in force for the whole of Saturday. Looking at the current weather forecasts, KLM does not expect to continue stopping passengers flying from European destinations into Amsterdam on Sunday and expects to run the operation as planned.

KLM offers its sincere apologies to passengers who were unable to travel to Amsterdam from certain European destinations, as well as those who were unable to transfer via Amsterdam to other final destinations.

We understand that this decision has great impact on passengers, particularly during the Whit Monday weekend. KLM would like to stress that it is doing its utmost to offer passengers alternative flights as quickly as possible.

KLM aircraft photo gallery:

KLM temporarily halts ticket sales for Amsterdam flights due to airport chaos

From Reuters:

“KLM on Thursday said it would largely suspend sales of tickets for all flights leaving from Amsterdam Schiphol airport until Monday as the airport grapples with overcrowding due to a shortage of security staff.

Lines at Schiphol, Europe’s third-busiest airport, have often stretched onto the streets in recent weeks, forcing travelers to wait for hours to clear security checks and causing many to miss their flights.”

KLM aircraft photo gallery:

CMA CGM Group and Air France-KLM Group announced a long-term strategic partnership in the air cargo market

CMA CGM Group has made this announcement:

Industrial cooperation combines Air France-KLM’s air transport experience and know-how with CMA CGM’s global supply chain expertise and assets;
CMA CGM and Air France-KLM to jointly sell their air freight capacity, providing customers with more options for their transportation needs;
CMA CGM to become a reference shareholder in Air France-KLM.

The CMA CGM Group and Air France-KLM Group today announced that they have signed a long-term strategic partnership in the air cargo market[1]. This exclusive partnership will see both parties combine their complementary cargo networks, full freighter capacity and dedicated services in order to build an even more competitive offer thanks to the unrivalled know-how and global footprint of Air France-KLM and CMA CGM.

A 10-year exclusive strategic commercial partnership to strengthen their air cargo offering

CMA CGM and Air France-KLM share a strong ambition to invest and grow sustainably in the air freight business.

The agreement will have an initial duration of 10 years. Air France-KLM and CMA CGM will join and exclusively operate the full-freighter aircraft capacity of the respective airlines consisting initially of a fleet of 10 full-freighter aircraft, and an additional combined 12 aircraft on order:

4 full-freighter aircraft at CMA CGM Air Cargo (with outstanding orders for an additional 8 aircraft, 2 of which may be operated by Air France-KLM in the future),
6 full-freighter aircraft at Air France-KLM Group based at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (with outstanding orders for an additional 4 aircraft)[2].

This new commercial partnership also covers Air France-KLM’s belly aircraft capacity, including over 160 long-haul aircraft.

The partnership will leverage both partners’ respective global sales teams, presenting one voice to the customer.

The strategic commercial partnership is expected to generate significant revenue synergies including the joint design of the full freighter networks and enhanced products and services mix opportunities. It will help meet customers’ ever-increasing need for more integrated and resilient supply chains and will leverage Air France-KLM’s vast existing franchise, experience and capabilities in air freight, backed by a global cargo network. CMA CGM will mobilize its large commercial network and global logistics platform and will complete this offer with innovative logistics and multimodal solutions, particularly in sea and land transport.

CMA CGM Group to become a reference shareholder of Air France-KLM Group

As part of this long-term exclusive partnership, CMA CGM will reinforce its commitment in the air freight industry by becoming a new reference shareholder in Air France-KLM. CMA CGM has the firm intention to take up to 9% of Air France-KLM’s ex-post share capital, for a period consistent with the implementation of the strategic commercial partnership.

This investment could be made as part of the contemplated capital increase of Air France-KLM, as announced on February 17^th, 2022[3]. Air France-KLM’s main shareholders will support a resolution for the appointment of one board member representing CMA CGM at the next shareholders’ meeting (May 24^th, 2022). Such appointment, if approved by the shareholders’ meeting, would be subject to the completion of CMA CGM’s investment.

Air France-KLM and CMA CGM: two global players with European roots and strong sustainability commitments

CMA CGM and Air France-KLM are leaders in the transportation and logistics industry. They share an ambition to increase the sustainability and have both committed to Net Zero Carbon by 2050.

CMA CGM accelerates its strategic transformation into a global logistics leader

With this industrial cooperation, the CMA CGM Group is moving forward with its plan to develop and provide end-to-end shipping and logistics solutions in order to support its customers’ supply chains. The Group announced, during the last three years, the acquisitions of CEVA Logistics, Ingram Micro’s Commerce & Lifecycle Services (CLS), Colis Privé and GEFCO. With these operations, CMA CGM have accelerated its strategic development into a global logistics leader.
In March 2021, Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, created CMA CGM Air Cargo, a whole new operational and commercial arm specialized in air freight. CMA CGM Air Cargo provides the Group’s customers with an offering that harnesses the tight fit between shipping and logistics. This air cargo division has been expanding rapidly, thanks in particular to the entry into service of several full-freighter aircraft, and orders for new aircraft which will significantly boost the capacity in the months and years to come.
The CMA CGM Group, a global leader in sea, land, air and logistics solutions, is present in 160 countries through its network of more than 400 offices and 750 warehouses. With its subsidiary CEVA Logistics, a world leader in logistics, which transports 400,000 tons of air freight and 2.8 million tons of land freight each year, and its air freight division CMA CGM Air Cargo, the CMA CGM Group is continually innovating to offer its customers a complete and increasingly efficient range of new shipping, land, air and logistics solutions.

Air France-KLM is one of the leading airline groups in the field of airfreight

It carries an extensive Full Freighter and Wide Body Belly (WBB) aircraft network built around two global hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, both fitted with state-of-the-art cargo facilities and serving 295 destinations across 110 countries.
Air France-KLM has teams present in 116 stations covering a total network of 390 handling stations spread over all continents, making its commercial network one of the strongest in the airfreight industry. Air France-KLM has a long-standing experience and know-how in the field of specialized cargo (pharmaceuticals, perishables, express, etc.) and has developed one of the most advanced digital service solutions in the air freight industry.
Air France-KLM runs a unique and industry-leading digital distribution platform where customers can make bookings and manage their business 24/7. It also leads the way in the field of sustainability, having introduced the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Program in December 2021.

[1] This deal remains subject to approval by the relevant regulators and consultation of employee representatives.

[2] Operated by Air France, KLM and Martinair.

[3] The launch of this potential capital increase remains subject to market conditions and necessary legal and regulatory approvals.

CMA CGM Air Cargo aircraft photo gallery:

Air France-KLM and IndiGo codeshare takes off

Air France-KLM released this statement:

Further to the lifting of the Air Bubble Agreement in India and to the necessary governmental approval, Air France-KLM and IndiGo, India’s leading carrier, have implemented the extensive codeshare agreement announced in December 2021.

With this partnership, Air France and KLM will ultimately offer their customers access to 30 new Indian destinations and a large number of round-trip combinations for both business and leisure purposes.

Customers will be able to fly to the destination of their choice with one single booking. Flying Blue members will also be able to earn miles on all routes covered by this agreement.

On departure from their respective hubs in Paris and Amsterdam, Air France and KLM already serve four destinations in India: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru.

On departure from the multiple points in India, Air France and KLM will open up their global network of over 300 destinations to IndiGo customers, with more than 120 destinations in Europe and about 50 in the Americas.

KLM aircraft photo gallery:

IndiGo aircraft photo gallery: