KLM Newsroom

New funding arrangement KLM Flight Academy students

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 17:00:00 +0100

Studying at the KLM Flight Academy (KLMFA) is becoming more attractive. Those who successfully complete the KLMFA training program are guaranteed a job as a pilot with KLM. The new funding arrangement also makes the training program accessible to people who want to become pilots with KLM but cannot afford to pay for it themselves. This new arrangement will make an important contribution to KLM's ambitious recruitment targets in the coming years.

(Prospective) pilots who start at KLMFA from January 1, 2026, can exchange the funding of the training program for their (future) gross salary during and after the training. When they join KLM, their gross salary will be reduced by a monthly training contribution for 120 months.

Eimerd Bult, Executive Vice President KLM Flight Operations: “This new funding arrangement makes it possible for anyone with the ambition and the right talent to become a pilot at KLM to follow the training at the KLM Flight Academy. This is an important step for people who dream of becoming pilots, but also for KLM, because we have a great need to recruit pilots now and in the future.”

KLM has made agreements with the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration about this new form of financing. Pilots' union VNV is also involved, with specific transitional arrangements being made for (prospective) pilots who complete their training at the KLMFA between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2025.

KLM Begins Unique Deployment of Air France Pilots

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 13:30:23 +0200

This is the first time that Air France pilots and KLM crew will jointly operate a KLM flight. Over the past few months, teams at Air France and KLM have worked hard to carefully work out all the details, coordinate many internal and external stakeholders, including unions and aviation authorities, and ensure a smooth operation.

“This collaboration will help KLM to operate its scheduled flights this summer. It supplements our capacity this summer, which is good for KLM as a whole,” said Maarten Stienen, COO of KLM. “I am proud that we have made this possible within the Air France-KLM Group. I wish all my colleagues on the route a safe flight and a pleasant collaboration.”

The joint flights include one aircraft on the route between John F. Kennedy Airport in New York and Schiphol, which will be crewed by Air France pilots starting today. In total, this will last until the end of the summer schedule on October 25.

Michiel van Dorst steps down as EVP Flight Operations at KLM

Wed, 14 Oct 2015 11:20:30 +0200

Michiel van Dorst will, on behalf of KLM, maintain his role in the IATA Operations Committee until the next elections. His successor will be announced in due course.