KLM to Suspend Sapporo/Nagoya Service

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines announced today that it intends suspending its Amsterdam - Sapporo - Nagoya roundtrip service effective February 1, 2002. KLM can no longer continue to operate the service at a profit following a steep fall in demand for air travel on the route. The downturn has been caused by a combination of two factors, the crisis in the airline industry since the September 11 attacks on the United States, and the current depressed status of the Japanese economy.

KLM will continue to operate its thrice-weekly service to Sapporo and Nagoya from Amsterdam until February 1, 2002. After that date, the two Japanese cities will continue to be offered on the KLM route network through KLM’s codeshare agreement with Japan Air System (JAS). KLM will continue to serve Tokyo and Osaka, operating its own equipment.

The KLM - Northwest Alliance occupies a historically strong position in the Japanese air travel market.