KLM
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| Founded | 1919 | ||||||
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| Hubs | Amsterdam Schiphol Airport | ||||||
| Focus cities | Eindhoven Airport, Rotterdam Airport and Maastricht Aachen Airport | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | Flying Blue | ||||||
| Alliance | SkyTeam | ||||||
| Fleet size | 163 | ||||||
| Destinations | 177 | ||||||
| Parent company | Air France-KLM | ||||||
| Headquarters | Amstelveen, The Netherlands | ||||||
| Key people | P. F. Hartman (CEO), F. Gagey (CFO) | ||||||
| Website | http://www.klm.com | ||||||
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (in full: Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij, literally Royal Aviation Company; usual English: Royal Dutch Airlines) is a subsidiary of Air France-KLM. Prior to its merger with Air France, KLM was the national airline of the Netherlands. KLM is the oldest airline in the world using fixed wing aircraft. It was preceded by DELAG, which operated aircraft built by the Zeppelin corporation in 1909, as the oldest airline absolutely.
Air France-KLM is France and the Netherlands' main air carrier. Its KLM subsidiary operates from the airline hub of Schiphol Airport, near Amsterdam, where the subsidiary company has its headquarters.
Air France took over KLM in May 2004, resulting in the creation of Air France-KLM. Air France-KLM is incorporated under French law and its headquarters are located at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport near Paris. Air France-KLM is the largest airline company in the world in terms of operating revenues, and the third largest in the world (largest in Europe) in terms of revenue-passenger-kilometres (RPKs).[1]
Air France-KLM is part of the SkyTeam Alliance with Delta Air Lines, Aeroméxico, Korean Air, Czech Airlines, Alitalia, Northwest Airlines, Aeroflot and Continental Airlines. Both Air France and KLM continue to fly under their distinct brand names.
History
KLM was founded on October 7, 1919, making it the oldest carrier in the world still operating under its original name. The first KLM flight was on May 17, 1920, with a flight from Amsterdam to London carrying two English journalists and a number of newspapers. It was flown by an Airco de Havilland DH16, callsign EALU, piloted by Jerry Shaw. In 1921 KLM started regularly scheduled services. By 1926 they were offering flights to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Brussels, Paris, London, Bremen, Copenhagen, and Malmo; using primarily Fokker F2 & F3.
Intercontinental service to the colony Netherlands East Indies (nowadays: Indonesia) started in 1929 using Fokker F7-B, although the first non-scheduled KLM flight had been made in 1924 by Fokker F7 Callsign NACC piloted by van der Hoop. The first transatlantic KLM route was between Amsterdam and Curaçao in December 1934 using the Fokker F-XVIII "Snip." On May 21, 1946, KLM launched scheduled service between Amsterdam and New York, while the first polar route was opened on the Amsterdam-Japan route on November 1, 1958.
In March 1960, KLM introduced the first jet aircraft into the its fleet: the Douglas DC-8. Use of Schiphol began in April 1967, and the first Boeing 747 entered the KLM fleet in February 1971, beginning the era of widebody jets. In 1983, KLM reached a deal with Boeing to convert some of its Boeing 747-200s to SUD(stretched upper deck) configuration. This consisted of returning the aircraft to the Boeing factory in Everett,Washington. The work started in 1984 and finished in 1986,the aircraft finishing mostly as Boeing 747-300s, which the airline also operated. In June 1989, KLM introduced the first Boeing 747-400. Later that year, in July, KLM acquired 20% of Northwest Airlines, eventually forming a strong alliance between the two airlines. In March 1994 both KLM and Northwest Airlines introduced World Business Class on intercontinental routes, and in July 1995, KLM introduced its first Boeing 767-300ER.
In March and June 2002, KLM announced that it would be renewing its intercontinental fleets by replacing the Boeing 767s, Boeing 747-300s, and eventually the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 with Boeing 777-200ERs and Airbus A330-200s. The first Boeing 777 was received on October 25, 2003, entering commercial service on the Amsterdam-New York route, while the first Airbus A330-200 was introduced on August 25, 2005 and entered commercial service on the Amsterdam-Washington Dulles route.
Corporate organization
KLM is listed on the stock exchanges of Amsterdam, New York and Paris.
Subsidiaries:
- KLM Cityhopper (formerly: NLM)
- KLM Cargo
- KLM Asia - See KLM Asia
- KLM Flight Academy
- Transavia Airlines
- 50% share in Martinair
- 26% share in Kenya Airways ,
Former subsidiaries:
- KLM Helicopters
- KLM uk was a KLM subsidiary until merged with KLM Cityhopper.
- Buzz, the low-cost airline of KLM uk
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Merger
On 30 September 2003, Air France and KLM announced that they would in future be known as Air France-KLM. This entity was first offered on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange on 5 May 2004. The takeover of KLM by Air France marked the end of the oldest independent airline in the world. The Royal adjective will likely remain for the foreseeable future. Its independent identity is guaranteed to 2008, but eventually it is anticipated that its operations will be merged into those of the French company. In the meantime, it does not appear that KLM's longstanding joint venture with Northwest Airlines will be affected. Both KLM and Northwest joined the SkyTeam Alliance in September 2004. [citation needed]
Presidents - CEOs
- Albert Plesman (1919 - 1953)
- Fons Aler (1953 - 1961)
- Ernst van der Beugel (1961-1963)
- Horatius Albarda (1963 - 1965)
- Gerrit van der Wal (1965 - 1973)
- Sergio Orlandini (1973-1987)
- Jan de Soet (1987 - 1991)
- Pieter Bouw (1991 - 1997)
- L. M. van Wijk (1997 - 2007)
- Peter Hartman (2007 - present)
KLM Delft Blue houses
Since 1952 KLM has presented its business and first class passengers, during the flight, with small Delftware, blue and white porcelain reproductions of old Amsterdam canal houses, which are filled with Bols jenever liquor [2]. There are 87 different houses, each numbered. All are reproductions of actual houses and are now collectibles.
Destinations
Fleet
The KLM fleet consists of the following aircraft:[1]
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers (Europe Select*/Economy) |
Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A330-200 | 8 (2 orders) |
251 (30/221) | Asia, Europe, and North America | |
| Boeing 737-300 | 14 | 127 (39/88) | Europe | |
| Boeing 737-400 | 13 | 147 (39/108) | Europe | |
| Boeing 737-800 | 17 (10 orders) |
171 (54/117) | Europe | |
| Boeing 737-900 | 5 | 189 (51/138) | Europe | |
| Boeing 747-400 | 22 | A:428 (42/386) B:280 (42/238) |
Africa, Mexico, Asia, North America, Caribbean and South America | A:6 Full Pax B:16 Combi |
| Boeing 747-400ERF | 3 (1 order) |
Cargo | Africa, Asia, North America, Caribbean and South America | |
| Boeing 777-200ER | 14 (1 order) |
327 (35/292) | Africa, Asia, North America and South America | |
| Boeing 777-300ER | (4 orders) | 428 (35/393) | Entry into service: 2008 | |
| McDonnell-Douglas MD-11 | 10 | 294 (37/257) | Asia, Caribbean, North America and South America | To be phased out 2013-2015 |
*Europe Select is offered on Domestic and Short-Medium Haul Flights. World Business Class is offered on International Medium-Long Haul Flights.
The average age of the KLM fleet is 9.9 years as of February 2007.
- The Boeing customer code for KLM is x06 (ex. 747-406, 737-906)
- KLM has announced that it has converted 3 of its remaining 4 Boeing 777-200ER orders to 777-300ER airframes in addition to a single fresh order. KLM plans to have 2 Boeing 777-300ERs introduced into its fleet in 2008. [citation needed]
- The orders for the Airbus A330-200, as well as the Boeing 777-200ER will be replacements for the Boeing 767-300ER and McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft, but KLM is also considering adding the Boeing 787 or the Airbus A350. KLM has expressed little interest in the Airbus A380. [citation needed]
- Boeing has revealed that KLM has converted six options for Boeing 737-800 aircraft into firm orders for delivery in 2008. They will replace older Boeing 737 models which will be retired from service.[2]
Cabin
KLM offers Business and Economy classes on its aircraft. On shorthaul aircraft, Flexible Economy Class is called Europe Select, while on longhaul aircraft Business Class is called World Business Class.
World Business Class
World Business Class offers a 60 inch pitch on all longhaul aircraft. The Boeing 777-200ER and Airbus A330-200 aircraft offer a 170 degree angled lie-flat seat with a 10.4" TV monitor with AVOD (Audio Video on Demand), email/text messaging, a privacy canopy, a massage function, and laptop power ports. Boeing 747-400 and McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft offer cradle seats with a 150 degree recline and personal TVs offering 12 channels of video and 12 channels of audio,. All WBC seats offer personal reading lamps, leg/foot rests, and personal telephones (on the back of the game console on the Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 aircraft).
The Boeing 747-400 and McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft are being configured with the new World Business Class seats as well as new inflight entertainment in economy, although this upgrade will not include personal televisions in economy. Pre-departure perks include a fully flexible reservation, check-in desks, lounge access, priority boarding, and 150% Flying Blue miles. Onboard, passengers are treated to a three course meal with menus, pre-departure beverages, and snacks, which are available throughout the flight.
Europe Select
Europe Select is offered on all Boeing 737 aircraft, is KLM's premium product on shorter sectors, offering a 33 inch pitch, a meal service on board (hot or cold meals depend on the length of the flight), priority boarding, extra baggage allowance, double Flying Blue miles, and fully flexible booking.
KLM Economy
KLM Economy offers a 31" pitch on all longhaul aircraft except the Airbus A330-200, which offers a 32" pitch. Boeing 777-200ER and Airbus A330-200 aircraft offer personal TVs with AVOD and personal telephones on the back of the gaming console, headrests, and an email/text messaging function. All other longhaul and shorthaul aircraft offer mainscreen movies. KLM Cityhopper aircraft offer no entertainment.
KLM Asia
KLM Asia is a wholly KLM owned subsidiary, registered in Taiwan. The airline was established in 1995 in order to operate flights to Taipei, without compromising its landing rights in the People's Republic of China, which regards Taiwan as part of its territory.
KLM Asia's livery does not feature Dutch national symbols, such as the Dutch flag, nor a stylised Dutch Crown. Instead, it features a Chinese name, and the KLM Asia logo.
KLM Asia fleet
KLM Asia has 6 Boeing 747-400 Combis.
- PH-BFC - City of Calgary
- PH-BFD - City of Dubai
- PH-BFF - City of Freetown
- PH-BFH - City of Hong Kong
- PH-BFM - Mexico City
- PH-BFP - City of Paramaribo
Incidents and accidents
- On July 14, 1935, a 4-engined aircraft "Kwikstaart" crashed and burned just outside Schiphol, killing four crew and two passengers - 14 other occupants survived.[citation needed]
- On December 20, 1934, Douglas DC-2 PH-AJU "Uiver" crashed at Rutbah Wells, Iraq - all survived.[citation needed]
- On January 26, 1947, a KLM Douglas Dakota crashed after takeoff from Copenhagen, killing all 22 onboard, including Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden.[citation needed]
- On October 20, 1948, a KLM Lockheed Constellation Nijmegen crashed near Prestwick, Scotland, killing all 34 aboard. (see KLM Constellation air disaster 1948)
- On July 12, 1949, a KLM Lockheed Constellation crashed into a 674 ft high Ghatkopar hill near Bombay, India, killing all 45 aboard. Thirteen of the dead were American news correspondents.[citation needed]
- On March 23, 1952, a KLM Lockheed Constellation suffered a propeller failure and subsequent engine fire during landing in Bangkok. All 44 passengers and crew escaped shortly before the fire completely consumed the plane. A Thai ground crewman ran into the burning aircraft and returned with an infant who had been left behind.[3]
- On September 5, 1954, KLM Flight 633, a Lockheed Super Constellation, ditched in the River Shannon after takeoff from Shannon Airport in Ireland. 28 out of 56 people on board (46 passengers and 10 crew) were killed.
- On July 20, 1969, the Gaai crashed in an Alpine pass, killing all three crew and all ten passengers.[4]
- On March 27, 1977, KLM Flight 4805 & Pan Am Flight 1736 collided at Los Rodeos Airport on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, killing 583 people, in the worst accident in aviation history.
See also
References
- ^ KLM Corporate Fleet Information
- ^ Airliner World January 2007
- ^ KLM PH-TFF Bangkok Crash
- ^ (Dutch) Albert Heijn, ed KL-50 - logboek van vijftig jaar vliegen. Meijer, Amsterdam.
External links
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