KLM previously announced that it would expand its winter schedule with services to four new destinations: Cancun (Mexico), Port of Spain (Trinidad & Tobago), Bridgetown (Barbados) and Mombasa (Kenya).

Network strategy
Restoring a global network of destinations is the focal point of KLM’s strategy to emerge from the coronavirus crisis as a stronger and more competitive airline. From the start of the coronavirus pandemic, KLM has maintained as much of its network as possible. This ensured that passengers could continue to make (essential) trips and that cargo, including medical goods and vaccines, could be transported. This strategy was of great benefit to KLM during the pandemic and now makes it easier to scale up operations. KLM will continue to insist on greater consistency in policy on travel restrictions.

Flight schedules
KLM’s flight schedules to Miami and Las Vegas from 6 December 2021 will be as follows:

Miami

*arrival the next day

Las Vegas

*arrival the next day

KLM offers excellent hygiene, flexible booking, high customer ratings
KLM flies passengers to their destination with all due care and caution. KLM has adopted the very highest hygiene standards, before, during and after the flight, earning Diamond Status from the APEX research institute. This makes KLM an industry trend-setter in terms of hygiene and health safety. Moreover, KLM offers customers maximum flexibility when it comes to booking, rebooking or cancelling their trip. KLM also earned the maximum five-star score from APEX, based on passenger scores for our service and product.

The Kenyan beach destination of Mombasa will be served twice a week, operating Boeing 787-9 equipment. This aircraft type will also be used to operate flights to Orlando in Florida (four times a week) and to the Mexican beach resort of Cancun (three times a week). The Airbus A330 will fly customers to Bridgetown (Barbados, three times a week) and Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago, three times a week). The Thai island of Phuket will be served with four flights a week, operating Boeing 777-300 equipment.

Network strategy

During the Covid-19 pandemic, KLM has done everything possible to maintain its network of destinations in order to continue carrying cargo and enabling passengers to travel when necessary – of course, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by both the Dutch government and local authorities. KLM will continue to work closely with the Dutch government to uphold effective and proportionate measures tailored to the situation in the Netherlands and abroad.

This strategy has served KLM well throughout the Covid-19 crisis. With the general situation and outlook now improving, network expansion is back on the agenda, especially within and to regions where recovery will be quickest. The six new destinations fit the bill.

The aim is to offer KLM’s customers the biggest network possible. Network planning must be flexible, enabling KLM to respond quickly to market opportunities. With this expansion, the network of destinations will almost reach its pre-Covid-19 level, only utilising less capacity, and fewer frequencies and aircraft. Once demand increases, we will operate more flights and/or deploy larger aircraft.

Flight schedules

Mombasa will be combined with Nairobi on the return journey to Amsterdam. This also applies to Orlando and Miami. Phuket will be served both to and from Amsterdam via Kuala Lumpur. Bridgetown and Port of Spain will be combined and Cancun will be a non-stop connection.

The flight schedules will be as follows for the six new destinations:

(*) Arrives the next day

All times are local. Flight schedules are subject to change. Check the KLM website or KLM app for the latest details.

Safe and responsible flights

KLM has of course taken all the necessary measures to ensure that its flights are safe for both passengers and staff. For example, facemasks are mandatory when boarding and during the flight, and KLM aircraft undergo extra cleaning. The air on board is swiftly and frequently refreshed using HEPA filters. Because of this package of measures, research agency APEX awarded KLM top status for “health safety”, making it one of the world’s leading airlines in terms of hygiene.

KLM was gradually and responsibly expanding its European and intercontinental network, after the corona crisis had prompted severe restrictions on destinations and frequencies. KLM’s primary aim is to offer customers the widest range of destinations, after which we will consider increasing the number of frequencies or expanding capacity by deploying larger aircraft.

In August, KLM served almost 100% of its European network in terms of destinations, with capacity at approximately 60% compared to pre-corona levels. Effective 25 October 2020, KLM will begin operating daily flights to the Polish city of Poznan.

Intercontinentally, KLM served 80% of its destinations at 60% capacity. At present, a third of these intercontinental flights are carrying cargo only. This means seat capacity is way down. KLM will carry passengers on these flights again as soon as local travel regulations allow.

From the beginning of September, KLM will resume a twice-weekly service to the Chinese city of Hangzhou, flying via Seoul Incheon in South Korea. KLM will also operate a twice-weekly service to Cairo. Riyadh will also be added to the KLM network as a new destination (original start was September 26th, but is now scheduled for December 7th). On 29 October, KLM will also start a circle flight to add Edmonton back to the Canadian network. The flight will depart to Calgary, then call at Edmonton and fly back to Amsterdam.

Slot Waiver 

It is good news that the European Commission has announced the extension of the so-called 'slot waiver' to the entire winter timetable. It will enable KLM to respond more adequately to the rapidly changing market conditions as a result of COVID-19, even during the winter season. In addition to the financial impact, operating less well-filled flights would also be undesirable from a sustainability perspective.

Safety remains our chief priority

KLM has, of course, taken measures to ensure that its flights are safe for passengers and crew. Face masks are compulsory throughout boarding and during the flight. Extra hygiene measures have been taken on board and our aircraft are now cleaned even more thoroughly. The air on board is constantly refreshed with the aid of HEPA filters. For further information about our hygiene measures, please visit updates.klm.com or watch this video: 

https://youtu.be/frPO6b58kcU

Naturally, KLM will make adjustments in response to changing circumstances, whenever new measures are taken in the countries we serve.

First direct service between Fukuoka and Europa
On Wednesday, 3 April, a Boeing 777-200ER set off to Fukuoka in Japan. The KLM aircraft was welcomed by the governor of Kyushu and the mayor of Fukuoka. With this service, KLM becomes the first European airline to offer direct flights between Fukuoka and Europe. Fukuoka is KLM’s third Japanese destination, in addition to Tokyo and Osaka. This new route will raise the total number of weekly flights between Amsterdam and Japan to 21 during the 2013 summer season. The new service will be operated thrice weekly.

Ålesund service strengthens KLM’s position in Norway
On Thursday, April 4, a Fokker 70 set off to Ålesund in Norway. This brings the total number of KLM destinations in Norway to seven. The addition of Ålesund to the network further strengthens KLM’s position in Norway.
Schedule

Please visit www.klm.com for the departure and arrival times of the new flights.