KLM: aircraft and routesKLM: aircraft and routes

History and development

KLM was founded in 1919 and remains the oldest operating airline to retain its original name. Since 2004, she has been working in the Air France-KLM group.

The first regular KLM flight connected Amsterdam and London in 1920. Later, the carrier developed intercontinental lines, and Schiphol became the place of transfer between short European and long-haul flights.

The first KLM flight in May 1920 connected London and Amsterdam and was operated on a leased aircraft. A trial flight to Batavia, present-day Jakarta followed in 1924; the direction became regular from 1929.

KLM's early flights were challenging expeditions by the standards of today's aviation. After the first flight from London to Amsterdam in 1920, the company conducted a test flight to Java, and in 1929 made the route to Batavia regular. Later, the transatlantic direction was developed, which connected the Netherlands with the Caribbean region.

The history of KLM shows how fast the range of overhead lines grew in the first half of the 20th century. It took less than a decade between a short flight across the English Channel in 1920 and regular service to Java. Flights to the then Dutch East Indies required many intermediate landings and differed from today's nonstop flights.

Milestones

• 1919: KLM was founded in Amsterdam and was given the right to use the word "Royal" in the title.
• 1920: The first flight arrived from London to Amsterdam on a rented plane.
• 1924: A test intercontinental flight to Batavia on the island of Java.
• 1929: the route from the Netherlands to Batavia became regular - for its time it was a very long air line.
• 2004: KLM joined the Air France-KLM group, continuing to operate flights under its former name.

Route networks

Its network is built around Amsterdam's Schiphol. A subsidiary of KLM Cityhopper operates regional flights and carries passengers to long-haul routes of the main airline.

From Amsterdam, the main company operates intercontinental flights, and KLM Cityhopper collects the flow from European cities. For the passenger, this means the opportunity to buy a route through one large node instead of separate unrelated flights.

The historic KLM lines went far beyond Europe, including to the former Netherlands East Indies. Modern Schiphol performs a different task: collects short European flights into a single network with intercontinental flights.

Schiphol is located in Amsterdam and has long served as the central point of the KLM network. From European cities, regional flights come here, after which passengers are transferred to long-distance lines. Working together with Air France gives additional options through Paris, but the two hubs retain their own schedules and different performing companies.

Aircraft and features

For regional flights, KLM Cityhopper uses Embraer aircraft; on longer routes, the main company operates mainline types. Together with Air France, KLM participates in the Flying Blue loyalty program and SkyTeam alliance.

One of the long traditions of KLM is miniature Delft houses that give business class passengers. This detail highlights the Dutch identity of the brand, preserved after the merger with Air France.

In the early park of the company, Fokker aircraft occupied an important place. Today, the distribution is different: regional Embraer uses KLM Cityhopper, and on long-haul flights the main airline operates Boeing 777 and 787.

The regional flights of the subsidiary KLM Cityhopper and the long-distance lines of the main company solve different tasks in the same schedule. Embraer aircraft bring passengers from European cities to Schiphol; Boeing 777 and 787 continue their journey to other continents. This scheme explains why on one ticket under the KLM brand you can find markedly different aircraft and salons.

The KLM brand retains features of Dutch aviation history: from early Fokker aircraft to the tradition of Delft miniature houses. Modern technology is arranged differently: a subsidiary of Cityhopper uses Embraer for European flights, and the main company is Boeing on longer routes. Therefore, flights of one trip may differ in both capacity and level of service.