Tag Archives: KLM

KLM reaches a tentative agreement with its pilots union including the operation of the new Boeing 787

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam) today reached a further agreement in principle with the Dutch Air Line Pilots Association (Vereniging Nederlandse Verkeersvliegers – VNV).

The agreement in principle reached with VNV will now be put before the association’s membership base for approval.

The airline provided these details:

Perform 2020

Lengthy and intense negotiations took place with a VNV delegation in recent months. VNV consistently expressed its willingness to invest in the company. KLM and VNV have now reached an agreement for the forthcoming three-year period from January 1, 2015 up to and including December 31, 2017, in which the pilots’ contribution towards the employment conditions is proportionately balanced with the consideration required of KLM by VNV and will also contribute significantly towards achieving the Air France KLM Perform 2020 objectives.

The outcome

The outcome achieved through negotiation now means that pilots will give concrete shape to the annual productivity gain of 4%. The agreement also includes a concrete increase in the retirement age. Moreover, this agreement will also generate an improvement in KLM’s cash position. In return for this investment, pilots now enjoy access to shares. This will be defined further. The agreement in principle has yet to be tested against legal, fiscal and governance aspects.

What are the results of negotiations with the Dutch Air Line Pilots Association (VNV)?

Holiday entitlement

From commencement of the 2016 collective labor agreement (CLA) year, all pilots will enjoy a holiday entitlement of 35 days. Holiday entitlement was first awarded on the basis of age, and varied from 34 to 38 days.

21 days leave during summer

The number of contiguous days leave during the summer period has been reduced by 1 day to 21 calendar days starting from April 1, 2016.

Transparent holiday scheme

A properly functioning offer and exchange platform will increase the transparency and predictability of the holiday scheme for pilots.

ICA: Change to travel leave days (leave scheme)

Starting from the winter schedule, travel leave in travel cycles of more than 3 travel leave days will no longer be rounded upward. For example, if a flight generates 4.2 travel leave days, this will no longer be rounded up to 5 days.

As a result (in this example), the travel leave after a flight will thus be 4.2 days instead of 5. The 0.2 travel leave day (4.2 – 4) will not be lost, as the decimal will be counted. As soon as the decimals total 1 full travel leave day, the day will be awarded to the pilot.

The current CLA agreement and method (rounding system) will remain applicable to travel cycles of 3 or fewer travel leave days.

ICA: Reduction of 4-pilot operations

Cape Town, Seoul and Kuala Lumpur have been designated as 3-pilot instead of 4-pilot destinations. Should any of these destinations no longer apply, KLM and VNV will in consultation designate another 4-pilot destination.

Note: KLM conducts ICA flights with two, three or four pilots. The number of pilots in the cockpit depends on the applicable flight time.

Boeing 737: Assignment

A Boeing 737 pilot is assigned in cycles of 28 days (16 working days, 12 leave days). This will be adjusted by structurally raising the number of working days from 16 to 17 (with 11 leave days).

KLC: Public holidays

KLC pilots will with retroactive effect from January 1, 2015 surrender 3 of the 6 public holidays provided for by the CLA.The maximum number of flight hours per 30 days and per year as stated in the CLA will be raised in order to accommodate the productivity increase resulting from this measure.

Boeing 787 classification

Pilots can vary/ mix flights* with the Boeing 787 and Boeing 777-200/300. KLM and VNV have a shared vision of the professional and technical aspects that require attention in this respect, including a logical design and the accompanying preconditions. Consultations on this will continue also after the introduction of the Boeing 787.

This has resulted in the proposal that the Boeing 787 be classified in the same manner as the Boeing 777 in terms of payment, the rules applicable to duty and rest times (WRR) as well as the position in the pilot career scheme (RVL).

Two beds and a seat for resting purposes are available in the Overhead Flight Crew Rest (OFCR) area. If a business class seat is still available on the flight day in the case of 4-pilot destinations, this seat will be made available to the 4th pilot for resting purposes.

The Boeing 787 cockpit OFCR is certified for the entire flight operation, including taxiing, takeoff and landing.

* A pilot flies/ is certified for both the Boeing 777 200/300 and the Boeing 787.

Pensions

The retirement age will be raised in 4 steps from 56 to 58. This means that starting from 2016, it will be raised by six months each year until the retirement age of 58 years is reached in 2019.

Additional agreements reached on the financing of the pension scheme have released a significant amount in pension contributions, thus improving the cash position of KLM.

Counter performance KLM

Shares in AF-KLM

KLM will provide pilots with a one-off share package as compensation for the resulting productivity gains and pension concessions.

Profit-sharing scheme

The current profit-sharing scheme will be replaced by an improved profit-sharing scheme.

90% part-time

A 90% part-time variant will be added to the existing options for all WRR appendices. This offers pilots the possibility of exchanging the raised productivity for a salary reduction. The new employment percentage cannot be applied in combination with parental leave.

Employment

KLM has in this proposal committed itself to the VNV to include the same employment provision as that agreed with the ground and cabin unions. This provision states that no forced redundancies will take place on economic grounds during the CLA period as long as the existing instruments used for this purpose (including temporary increase in part-time and/or non-activity) are adequate. The parties will enter into consultations if these instruments prove to be inadequate.

Term

The term is from January 1, 2015 up to and including December 31, 2017.

Image: KLM.

KLM aircraft slide show:

Air Malta and KLM sign a code-share agreement

Air Malta (Luqa) and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam) have signed a code-share agreement whereby KLM will place its code and flight numbers on flights operated by Air Malta between Malta and Amsterdam.

Starting with immediate effect this agreement will enable KLM to offer their customers daily services between the Dutch capital and Malta. Air Malta’s flights to/from Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport will connect with KLM’s extensive global network.

The flights will be operated by the Maltese airline with Airbus A319/A320 aircraft (above).

With this code-share agreement, the two airlines’ customers will benefit from new services, such as through check-in for passengers with connections.

Air Malta aircraft slide show:

KLM aircraft slide show:

KLM to pull back on growth, will cut capacity for the winter season

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam) has announced a pull back on its planned expansion for this coming winter season. The airline issued this statement:

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will reduce the number of flights it had planned and, in so doing, curtail the growth it had intended for the 2015/2016 winter season. The adjustments will result in a half-million fewer seats than were previously planned. The winter season will run from October 25, 2015 to March 26, 2016.

KLM will reduce flight frequencies to ten European destinations. Furthermore, frequencies to Africa, Japan, and Brazil will also be curtailed. KLM will do all it can to minimise any inconvenience to passengers.

The adjustments result from the fact that KLM’s revenues are under pressure. The pressure will force Air France-KLM to accelerate its plans to implement its Perform 2020 program. KLM has introduced a broad range of initiatives to improve its competitive position, and speed is of the essence.

KLM has already reached an accord with the cabin crew and ground crew unions concerning a collective labour agreement. Further implementation depends on an accord with the pilots’ union (VNV), which has not yet agreed to much-needed productivity increases.

KLM aircraft slide show:

KLM to introduce the Boeing 787-9 on October 25

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam) has updated its planned Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner routes according to Airline Route. The airline is now planning to introduce the new type on the Amsterdam – Abu Dhabi – Bahrain route on October 25. This will be followed by Amsterdam – Cairo on November 30, Amsterdam – Quito -Guayaquil on December 2, Amsterdam – Xiamen on December 3, Amsterdam – Fukuoka on February 28, 2016, Amsterdam – Rio de Janeiro on March 1, 2016 and finally Amsterdam – Chengdu on March 27, 2016.

Images: KLM.

KLM aircraft slide show:

Air France-KLM’s first quarter loss widens

Air France-KLM Group (Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Transavia Netherlands, Transavia France, Hop! and Martinair) reported a first quarter net loss of €504 million ($56.9 million), compared to a net loss of €485 million ($546 million) in the same quarter a year ago.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. The group retired three Boeing 747 freighters in the Winter 2014-15 season, while another five Martinair McDonnell Douglas MD-11s will be retired by the end of the Winter 2015-16 season. The Group plans to operate only five full-freighters by the end of 2016. McDonnell Douglas MD-11 (F) PH-MCS (msn 48618) of Martinair taxies at the Amsterdam cargo hub.

Air France aircraft slide show:

KLM aircraft slide show:

Martinair aircraft slide show:

KLM unveils its newest Boeing 777-300 ER in the new livery and new interior

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam) welcomed its newest Boeing 777-300 featuring an all-new interior in its World Business Class and Economy Class. The exterior has already been decorated in the new company livery.

The new video below shows footage of the arrival and various features on board. KLM President and CEO Pieter Elbers gives a short rundown of the fleet renewal program, including the arrival of KLM’s first Boeing 787-9 in October.

Top Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured Boeing 777-306 ER PH-BVN (msn 44459) was handed over officially on March 27 and it is named Tijuca National Park – Nationaal Park Tijuca.

KLM aircraft slide show:

Video Below: KLM. KLM welcomed its newest Boeing 777-300 featuring an all-new interior in its World Business Class and Economy Class. The exterior has already been decorated in the new company livery.

KLM will now launch new service to Edmonton on May 19

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam) was due to commence a new route to Edmonton on May 5, but the new route was postponed. Now the company will launch the new route with Airbus A330-200 equipment under flight numbers KL 675 and KL 676 on May 19. Flights to Edmonton will be operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and, from June 26, on Fridays.

The flight from Amsterdam departs at 14:45 hours and lands in Edmonton at 15:45 hours local time. The return flight departs at 18:10 hours from Edmonton and lands the next day at 10:45 hours in Amsterdam.

In other news, KLM has relaunched scheduled service to Bogota and Cali, Colombia. KLM now serves eleven destinations in Latin America and expanded its network to a total of 67 intercontinental destinations. KLM served Bogota from October 1992 through March 1995.

Finally KLM and Air France will adopt the EASA “two persons in the cockpit” rule in the wake of the tragic Germanwings accident. KLM issued this short statement:

The Agency recommends the operators to issue a safety and security risks assessment in order to require at least two persons in the flight crew compartment or guarantee an equivalent safety level. As previously announced, this recommendation followed a consultation of operators including Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Both KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Air France will implement the recommendations of EASA as soon as possible.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-203 PH-AOE (msn 770) with the special “95 Years” logo taxies at the Amsterdam hub.

KLM aircraft slide show:

Air France-KLM outlines the changes and strategies for their Summer Schedule

Air France (Paris) and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam) have outlines the changes for its upcoming Summer Schedule effective from March 29 through October 24, 2015. Overall the Air France-KLM Group capacity is increasing (+ 1.7%) compared with the summer 2014 season.

Long-haul operations are increasing by 1.8%. Medium-haul activity is continuing its reorganization and is decreasing by 1.9%. Transavia’s low cost operations (+ 7.8%) are undergoing strong development in France and are being consolidated in the Netherlands.

Here are the highlights:

Long-haul: Air France-KLM is increasing services to Canada and is launching two new routes: Vancouver operated by Air France from March 25, 2015 and Edmonton served by KLM from May 5, 2015. The Group is also improving its position in South America thanks to the launch of a new KLM route to Bogota and Cali (Colombia) from March 31, 2015.

Medium-haul: Air France-KLM is developing its European network on departure from the Amsterdam-Schiphol hub by adding three new destinations operated by KLM Cityhopper as from May 18, 2015: Belfast (Northern Ireland), Krakow (Poland) and Montpellier (France). At Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Air France is increasing capacity to Bordeaux (France), Naples (Italy), Billund (Denmark), Bucharest (Romania) and Budapest (Hungary).

On departure from Paris-Orly and the regional airports, the Group continues to reorganize its short-haul activity, currently regrouped within HOP! Air France’s operations.

Low-cost operations: Transavia is continuing its rapid development in France (+30%) and is consolidating its activity in the Netherlands. The company is launching 14 new routes, while strengthening its offer of flights to the most popular summer destinations.

New products and services: Air France-KLM is continuing its move upmarket. At the end of the summer season, 20 Air France Boeing 777 (above) will be equipped with the latest BEST cabins. After renovating its World Business Class cabin on all its Boeing 747-400, KLM is gradually equipping its fleet of Boeing 777 with its new World Business Class and Economy Class. From April 2015, Air France is also introducing a new leather seat on 24 Airbus A319 on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle. It will then equip 25 Airbus A320 in the first half of 2016.

Partnerships: As well as strengthening its joint ventures (Delta, Alitalia, China Southern, China Eastern, Kenya Airways, Air Mauritius) and its strategic agreements (GOL), Air France-KLM is continuing the development of its partnerships all over the world. To offer more and more flight frequencies and destinations, the Group is extending its cooperation with the Canadian airline WestJet. The Group also has strong ambitions In Asia, illustrated by the signing of a cooperation agreement between KLM and Xiamen Airlines and the code-share agreement with Garuda on flights between Amsterdam and Jakarta.

LONG-HAUL: +1.8%

Air France-KLM’s long-haul activity is increasing by +1.8%.

North America

For the 2015 summer season, Air France-KLM is increasing services to Canada. As of March 25, 2015, Air France is launching a new route to Vancouver, with up to 5 weekly flights from Paris-Charles de Gaulle. KLM is also introducing a new service between Amsterdam-Schiphol and Edmonton on May 5, 2015, with 3 weekly flights, then 4 weekly flights as of June 22, 2015.

Air France-KLM is developing its partnership with the Canadian airline WestJet, by offering new connecting opportunities in North America in addition to the new Paris-Vancouver and Amsterdam-Edmonton routes. Moreover, the Group is maintaining its close cooperation with Delta Air Lines as part of the trans-Atlantic joint venture.

Between May and September 2015, the seasonal service to Minneapolis-Saint Paul (USA) will be resumed from Paris-Charles de Gaulle. To meet market demand, Air France will be operating a second daily flight to San Francisco (USA) during the peak summer season (from mid-June to the end of August 2015). KLM is also further extending its second flight to Los Angeles to the full summer period, offering 12 weekly frequencies.

Central and South America and the Caribbean

As from March 31, 2015, KLM is launching a new service to Bogota and Cali (Colombia) from Amsterdam-Schiphol with 3 weekly frequencies. As a continuation of the winter season, Air France is increasing capacity to Panama City, with 5 weekly flights. Services to Brasilia (Brazil), launched in summer 2014, are maintained with 3 weekly frequencies.

In addition, Air France-KLM is maintaining its close cooperation with the Brazilian airline GOL, in order to offer numerous connecting opportunities to its customers on the Brazilian domestic network.In the Caribbean, as a continuation of the winter schedule, Air France-KLM is adjusting capacity during the peak summer season. The Company will offer up to 13 weekly flights to Pointe à Pitre and up to 11 weekly flights to Fort de France. Moreover, during the peak summer period, KLM will be operating a second nonstop flight twice a week to Curacao, in addition to the daily flight from Amsterdam-Schiphol.

Asia

Air France is continuing its daily service to Hong Kong (China) by Airbus A380 (5 weekly flights) and by Boeing 777-300 (2 weekly flights). The Company is also increasing capacity to Seoul (South Korea), serving this destination by Boeing 777-300 with 383 seats as well as to Singapore, with three additional flights operated during the peak summer period. Air France is continuing to serve Tokyo-Haneda Airport (Japan) up to 13 times a week in addition to the daily flight to Tokyo-Narita which provides connections to Noumea (New Caledonia).

The Group is also continuing to strengthen its cooperation with its Asian partners to offer an even wider choice of flights and destinations. In particular, KLM and Garuda Indonesia have set up a code-share agreement on both airlines’ flights between Amsterdam and Jakarta (Indonesia). KLM has also signed a cooperation agreement with the Chinese airline Xiamen Airlines, illustrating their commitment to strengthening accessibility between the Netherlands and China.

Africa and the Indian Ocean

As a continuation of the winter season, Air France will serve Abidjan (Ivory Coast) daily, including 3 weekly flights by Airbus A380. The Company is also increasing capacity to Dakar (Senegal), by operating the route from Paris-Charles de Gaulle by Boeing 777-300 with 383 seats.

In East Africa, KLM is continuing to specifically adjust its network to market expectations by increasing capacity to Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and Entebbe (Uganda). Both destinations are served non-stop three times a week from Amsterdam-Schiphol, providing new connecting opportunities to Europe and North America in particular. On the other days these destinations are offered respectively as a continuation of the services to Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) and Kigali (Rwanda). KLM is also strengthening its cooperation with its partner Kenya Airways by offering new connections to Zambia, Zimbabwe, Zanzibar and the Indian Ocean, as a continuation of the service to Nairobi airport which boasts new airport facilities.

In the Indian Ocean, Air France serves Reunion Island up to 11 times per week, including 5 night flights.

Middle East

Air France’s new BEST cabins have been flying to Dubai (UAE) since February 23, 2015. In September 2015, these cabins will also be available to Beirut (Lebanon). Furthermore, the Group maintains its code-share agreements with Middle East Airlines, Saudia and Etihad.

New long-haul products and services

Air France-KLM is continuing to roll out new products and services aiming to be among the best in the world.

By the end of the 2015 summer season, the new Air France BEST cabins will equip 20 aircraft and fly to 18 long-haul destinations:

North America: Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, Washington;
South America: Sao Paulo;
Africa: Bangui, Douala, Libreville, Malabo, Yaoundé;
Middle East: Beirut, Dubai;
Asia: Beijing, Guangzhou, Jakarta, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo-Haneda.

On its BEST fleet (Boeing 777-200 and 777-300), Air France is adapting to customer demand during the peak summer period (from mid-July to the end of August) by adjusting in just ten hours the seating configuration of its aircraft. This ‘quick change’ can replace certain Business class seats with additional Economy seats. These additional seats correspond to the operation of the 3 additional Boeing 777-200 during the entire season.

Above Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured Boeing 747-406 PH-BFT (msn 28459) now wears the updated 2014 livery.

Furthermore, having renovated its World Business Class cabin on all its Boeing 747-400 (above), KLM is gradually equipping its Boeing 777-200 and then its 777-300 with its new World Business Class and Economy Class. At the end of 2016, 80% of KLM’s fleet will be equipped with fully renovated cabins.

MEDIUM-HAUL: -1.9%

For the 2015 summer season, the Group’s medium-haul capacity is continuing to readjust and is down by -1.9%.

On departure from the hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol

For the 2015 summer season, KLM is expanding its European network on departure from its hub at Amsterdam-Schiphol by adding three new destinations: Belfast (Northern Ireland), Krakow (Poland) and Montpellier (France). These new services will be operated from 18 May 2015 with one daily flight. Furthermore, the number of daily KLM flights to Florence and Basel is increasing from 3 to 4.

On departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Air France is adding a daily flight to Bordeaux (France), Naples (Italy), Billund (Denmark), Bucharest (Romania) and Budapest (Hungary). As of April 2015, the company will be introducing an upgraded product (greater flexibility for business trips, new gourmet attentions) as well as a new leather seat which will be progressively installed on board 24 Airbus A319s. This seat will subsequently equip 25 Airbus A320s during the first half of 2016.

On departure from Paris-Orly and the French regions

As from summer 2015, HOP! Air France is regrouping the entire short-haul network under a single commercial offer. This unified network includes all short-haul routes from Paris-Orly and the French regions. These routes are operated by Air France Airbus or HOP! regional aircraft.

Above Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Hop! For Air France ATR 42-500 F-GPYL (msn 542) taxies at Nantes, France.

HOP! Air France is continuing to restructure its network during summer 2015 –

On departure from Paris-Orly, HOP! Air France is rationalizing its offer to Toulouse, Strasbourg and Mulhouse by decreasing the number of frequencies while increasing the capacity of its aircraft.

On departure from the French regions, as a continuation of the adjustments initiated in the winter, HOP! Air France is suspending its international flights. However, to meet customer demand, certain destinations will still be operated during the summer holiday period, notably routes to Beirut and North Africa on departure from Marseille; Spain, Italy and Greece on departure from Toulouse; Tel Aviv and Athens on departure from Nice.

Transavia: +7.8%

As a continuation of the winter season, Transavia is continuing its rapid development in France (+30%) and is consolidating its operations in the Netherlands (-0.8%).

With the ambition to be the leading low-cost airline in terms of destinations from Paris-Orly in 2015, Transavia France is launching 10 new routes this summer:

– On departure from Paris-Orly: Valencia, Dublin, Munich, Thessaloniki, Tirana, Warsaw, Casablanca, Fez and Amsterdam.

– On departure from Nantes: Madrid.

Furthermore, the company is increasing frequencies on many routes including Barcelona, Madrid, Oporto and Lisbon.

Above Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Now painted in the old 2005 livery, Transavia’s (Netherlands) Boeing 737-7K2 PH-XRE (msn 30668) arrives in Las Palmas.

In the same way, Transavia Netherlands is concentrating its activity on the hub at Amsterdam-Schiphol, where it will offer new frequencies to Tel Aviv, Larnaca, Malta and Paris-Orly. The Company is also increasing its offer of flights to Alicante, Barcelona, Malaga, Pisa, Naples and Thessaloniki.

Transavia Netherlands will also operate a new route from Rotterdam-The Hague to Berlin. On departure from Eindhoven, the service launched to Athens in February 2015 will continue this summer.

To accompany this rapid growth, Transavia has ordered 20 Boeing 737-800, with 17 firm orders and another three options. These aircraft will support the rapid growth of Transavia France and the development of Transavia Netherlands. The delivery of these aircraft will begin in January 2016 and will continue until 2018.

Top Copyright Photo: Christian Volpati/AirlinersGallery.com. Air France’s Boeing 777-328 ER F-GZNE (msn 37432) in the SkyTeam alliance livery taxies to the runway at the Paris (CDG) hub.

Air France aircraft slide show:

KLM aircraft slide show:

Transavia (Netherlands) aircraft slide show:

Transavia (France) aircraft slide show:

Hop! Air France aircraft slide show:

KLM to take delivery of the first Boeing 777-300 ER in the revised livery and new cabin configurations

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam) has issued this statement and photos:

The aircraft – bearing registration PH-BVN – will be the ninth Boeing 777-300 ER to join the KLM fleet, alongside 15 Boeing 777-200 ERs. The new Boeing will be the first 777-300 ER to be delivered featuring the new Economy and World Business class configuration and the new livery. The PH-BVO will follow at the end of April, also boasting the new configuration and livery.

Above Photos: KLM. Close-up photos of Boeing 777-306 ER PH-BVN (msn 44549) in the 2014 livery in the Boeing paint shop. The Triple Seven completed its first flight in bare metal on February 12.

KLM aircraft slide show:

Bottom Image: The first KLM 787-9 Dreamliner is expected to arrive in October 2015.

Air France-KLM Group 2014 profit falls nearly 15% due mainly to the pilot strike

Air France-KLM Group (Air France) (KLM) (Paris and Amsterdam) reported its pre-tax 2014 earnings fell to 1.59 billion euros ($1.81 billion) from 1.86 billion euros ($2.1 billion) for the previous year. As a result, the group is delaying deliveries of aircraft for both Air France and KLM. Air France will also maintain its Airbus A380 fleet at 10 aircraft and delay taking delivery of the last two.

Read the the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. KLM is celebrating 95 years of flying and is adding special 95 Years logos on select aircraft including the pictured Boeing 777-306 ER PH-BVK (msn 42172) at the AMS hub.

Air France aircraft slide show:

KLM aircraft slide show: