KLM expands flights in 2005 Summer Schedule

Capitalizing on the combined Air France-KLM network with the multi-hub system around Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Paris Charles de Gaulle, KLM’s 2005 summer schedule will feature four new destinations out of Schiphol and Rotterdam Airport, as well as many additional frequencies on existing routes and increased passenger and cargo capacity.

KLM will also offer additional destinations and frequencies on Air France flights out of Charles de Gaulle, connecting to Schiphol via 15 daily KLM and Air France roundtrips between these two hubs.

Combinable fares enable customers to book an outgoing flight via one hub with a return flight via the other, giving customers a wider choice of destinations and schedules, as well as greater access to cheaper fares.

Air France-KLM will launch a new joint frequent flyer program this summer, replacing their existing Fréquence Plus and Flying Dutchman loyalty programs.

Compared to the 2004 summer schedule, KLM’s capacity will increase by 6% on intercontinental routes, and by 2% on European routes. The 2005 summer schedule starts on Sunday, March 27, and ends on Saturday, October 29.

Europe

The summer season kicks off with new daily services between Amsterdam and the Estonian capital Tallinn, to be operated by KLM cityhopper with Fokker 70 aircraft.

On weekdays KLM cityhopper will begin operating daily roundtrips between Rotterdam and London City with Fokker 50 equipment. From May 2, a second daily roundtrip will be added.

From the same date KLM cityhopper will increase the frequency on the Eindhoven-London Heathrow route from 2 to 3 return flights daily and diminish the frequency on the Rotterdam-Heathrow route from 4 to 3 daily services.

From the start of the summer schedule an additional daily roundtrip will be operated between Amsterdam and Rome, Stuttgart, Hanover and London City.

Extra capacity will be added on flights to Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh, by replacing Fokker 100 equipment by Boeing 737 aircraft.

Africa/Middle East

KLM will begin operating services to Addis Ababa and Khartoum this summer. A Boeing 767-300ER will operate two weekly roundtrips on this combined route.

The number of weekly flights to and from Tel Aviv will increase from five to seven.

North America

Compared to summer 2004, KLM and alliance partner Northwest Airlines will increase their combined transatlantic capacity by 6%. The number of flights between Amsterdam and New York John F. Kennedy will increase from 11 to 14 weekly (double daily) roundtrips this summer. Four of these weekly flights will be operated with Boeing 747-400 Combi aircraft, to accommodate air cargo demand.

From May 26 till September 30, KLM and Northwest will add an additional daily frequency on the Amsterdam-Detroit route. That means in this period five daily roundtrips will be operated on this hub-to-hub route.

The number of weekly flights from Amsterdam to San Francisco will increase from six to seven, and to Vancouver from five to seven, meaning both cities will have a daily roundtrip connection with Amsterdam.

Central and South America

The number of weekly roundtrips between Amsterdam and Sao Paulo will increase from six to seven effective July.

At the start of the summer schedule, weekly frequency to and from Bonaire-Quito-Guayaquil will increase from five to six.

Flight frequency to Aruba will increase from five to six in May and June, rising to seven in July and August.

Asia

In South East Asia, daily roundtrips will be operated to Manila, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta respectively. Manila and Kuala Lumpur are currently served five times weekly.

The number of weekly return services to Almaty will increase from four to five.

See other recent news regarding: KLM