KLM Newsroom

New funding for KLM Flight Academy students

Tue, 10 Oct 2017 09:00:00 +0200

Within the new structure, the KLM Flight Academy promises students that, if they do not find a job as a pilot at KLM within five years after completing the programme, a guarantee fund will clear their study debt at the bank. KLM and the KLM Flight Academy have set up the new construction to ensure a sufficient influx of new pilots. This year alone, KLM has accepted 143 graduates from the KLM Flight Academy.

In September 2016, it became impossible for any bank to finance the cost of pilot training. Intensive talks between KLM, the KLM Flight Academy, and ABN AMRO Bank have resulted in this new opportunity for KLM Flight Academy students.

Want to become a pilot?
KLM gives preference to graduates of the KLM Flight Academy as it is a Dutch, high-grade school with a long history in training excellent airline pilots. Anyone who is interested can now sign up. The KLM Flight Academy is aiming to start its next class in November. This year, it is running two classes. For more details, please visit the KLM Flight Academy’s website at https://pilootworden.nl/ (in Dutch).

KLM response to Boost accord

Mon, 17 Jul 2017 13:53:46 +0200

Today, the French pilots’ union SNPL gave its approval to Boost (project name), Air France’s new subsidiary. As part of the Air France-KLM plan “Trust Together,” Boost must ensure profitable growth for Air France. As Jean-Marc Janaillac said during the shareholders’ meeting earlier this year, Boost will not present any kind of obstacle for growth at KLM. The exact implications for supplementary production agreements concerning Boost on KLM will be further analysed.

Details of 2015 collective labour agreement with pilots

Thu, 03 Nov 2016 09:01:36 +0100

AIR FRANCE KLM shares
The allocated shares are the first of three tranches with a total value of EUR 26.7 million. These will be partly issued in the form of AIR FRANCE KLM shares, which the group currently has in portfolio (so-called treasury shares). These shares will be issued to a foundation that is to be established by the pilots’ union VNV. The remainder will be issued to this foundation in cash, which will be used to procure shares.

Collective labour agreement
In the collective labour agreement for 2015-2017, it was agreed that AIR FRANCE KLM would issue shares to the sum of EUR 80 million, divided into three equal tranches over a period of three years. Because KLM cannot autonomously issue these AIR FRANCE KLM shares, the KLM management engaged in intensive consultation with the AIR FRANCE KLM board. The negotiations were intensive and the discussions complex, as this allocation is subject to various laws and other regulations. Now that approval has been given, KLM can fulfil its commitment to the VNV as laid down in the CLA.

Court decides in KLM’s favour

Tue, 27 Sep 2016 15:52:48 +0200

KLM views the court’s decision as a vindication of its position concerning the new pension legislation of 1 January 2015. KLM does not believe that it must automatically bear the consequences of the legislation.

Cancelling the STROT protocol with the VNV and the financing agreement with the Pension Fund was an extreme measure for KLM. The unintended consequences brought about by changes to the legislation, combined with low interest rates, would force KLM to make disproportionately high supplementary payments, that would impact the company’s financial situation and endanger jobs in the future.

KLM is confident it will be able to arrive at a suitable solution with the VNV.

Indexation perspective for KLM pilots’ pension scheme changes, other commitments unchanged

Fri, 29 Jul 2016 18:43:48 +0200

Owing to the new Financial Assessment Framework (nFTK) of the Dutch central bank DNB, the existing agreements in the STROT protocol, dating from 2001 and 2007, in combination with low interest rates would give rise to a situation wherein a substantial supplementary payment would have to be made into the pension funds.

The STROT protocol and the implementation agreement stipulate that KLM should make a supplementary payment if the cover ratio of the pension fund is insufficient for full indexation. The limit for this cover ratio had been set at 105%.

New legislation, which took effect on 1 January 2015, raised this limit to around 122%. Below this cover ratio, full indexation is impossible, which means KLM must make a supplementary payment if the cover ratio is below 122%. In view of the current financial status of the pension fund, this supplementary payment, which is due in late 2016, could amount to hundreds of millions of euros.

Together with this suspension, KLM presented the VNV with an alternative proposal for the STROT protocol and the implementation agreement. The proposed adjustments will result in a change in indexation perspective. All other pension assurances will be retained intact.

Air France Pilots’ Strike

Mon, 15 Sep 2014 16:18:15 +0200

This is the result of a dispute between Air France and the French pilots’ union about terms relating to Transavia. French pilots who are transferring to Transavia demand the same terms of employment as pilots at Air France. The strike is – as communicated - expected to last from Monday, 15 September to Monday, 22 September.

The Air France pilots’ strike will not affect the KLM operation. A rebooking policy is in effect. Customers who are affected by the strike will be rebooked free of charge.