As part of TAC, KLM will operate a showcase flight from Amsterdam to Delhi on September 28. KLM Cityhopper will operate a showcase flight from Amsterdam to Dublin on September 30 using an Embraer E195-E2. During both flights, a range of initiatives will be tested that may contribute to a more efficient operation, reduced fuel consumption, and greater awareness and understanding of SAF.

KLM: Increasing awareness of SAF
Throughout October, KLM will focus on increasing awareness and understanding of SAF and its importance in reducing aviation emissions. Passengers will receive information about SAF through several channels and learn how they can support its use. KLM will show an onboard SAF information video and feature SAF-related content in its in-flight magazine, Holland Herald. The airline will also explore how crew members and KLM Sustainability Ambassadors can actively engage passengers in conversations about SAF.

KLM Cityhopper: Building on proven solutions
During its Dublin showcase flight, KLM Cityhopper will test several operational initiatives, including the use of the TaxiBot, which allows aircraft to be towed from the gate to the runway without using their main engines. In partnership with SITA, the airline will also evaluate OptiDescent, a tool designed to support more efficient descent profiles. Additional onboard waste-sorting solutions will be tested, including a new cup holder and potentially an updated waste trolley.

The focus is not solely on technology. During the flight, passengers will be invited to share their ideas for the future of KLM Cityhopper through the Message in a Bottle initiative, as the airline celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

Through these various initiatives, KLM and KLM Cityhopper aim to demonstrate that advancing sustainability requires progress on multiple fronts, from operational innovation to increased awareness and collaboration with passengers and partners.

Following the challenge flights, participating airlines will share their results and insights so that successful initiatives can be further assessed and, where possible, considered for broader implementation in day-to-day operations.

Also focusing on social impact
In addition to making its operations more sustainable, KLM is also focusing on its social impact as part of The Aviation Challenge. To this end, KLM works closely with Wings of Support, KLM’s preferred NGO. Wings of Support is an independent foundation run by KLM employees on a voluntary basis. It provides financial support to local organisations at KLM destinations around the world, made possible by donations and sponsorships. The foundation helps children improve their quality of life through projects focused on education, care and medical support.

This year, The Aviation Challenge highlights Kirby Place, a small school in a slum area of Delhi. Young children receive basic education here, while older children are supported in their further development. Wings of Support has supported the school with, among other things, improving its water supply and providing educational materials, including computers.
 

Pictures: Arnoud Raeven

Where in previous years one specific flight was central, this year KLM is opting for a broader approach. The focus is on multiple flights and on sustainable initiatives that have already proven their impact. We are concentrating on refining existing improvements so they can be scaled up and further integrated into daily operations. In addition, during The Aviation Challenge, KLM is not only focusing on a more sustainable operation, but also on the social impact. To that end, KLM is working together with Wings of Support, KLM’s preferred NGO.
 

Key Initiatives 
KLM and KLM Cityhopper are currently testing the following initiatives: 

• AI-based water calculation: KLM is piloting an AI model that accurately predicts the amount of water needed onboard, helping to reduce unnecessary weight and associated emissions.
• Efficient flying tools for pilots: Pilots are testing a tool designed to help them fly as efficiently as possible, thereby reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
• Meal pre-selection in World Business Class: Passengers are invited to pre-select their meals, allowing KLM to load only what’s needed and minimize food waste. Passengers are also encouraged to pack light.
• Digital boarding passes: KLM has long advised passengers not to print their boarding passes. Since May 2024, this has resulted in an 84% reduction in printed boarding passes.
• Priority boarding for SAF contributors: Passengers who add an extra contribution for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to their ticket receive priority boarding on the relevant flight.
• Filtered seawater cans: Instead of standard bottled water, KLM is testing how passengers respond to water cans filled with filtered seawater. 

Flights in the Spotlight 
From October 4 to 10, several routes will be under special focus: 

• Amsterdam – Rome, operated with the new Airbus A321neo
• Amsterdam – Nairobi, a long-haul route with significant sustainability potential
• Amsterdam – Kraków and return, operated by KLM Cityhopper’s Embraer E195-E2 

These flights will showcase and further test various existing initiatives, such as lightweight catering equipment and cargo pallets, smarter loading strategies, and electric pushback vehicles. KLM Cityhopper is also testing the reception of filtered seawater cans onboard these flights. 
 

About The Aviation Challenge 
The Aviation Challenge is inspired by the legendary World’s Greatest Air Race of 1934, which saw aircraft racing from London to Melbourne. While the challenge then was distance, today’s challenge is about making aviation more sustainable. SkyTeam invites participating airlines to make tangible impact with regular commercial flights and to share learnings across the industry. 

KLM acknowledges its environmental and climate impact and recognizes the limits of what the planet can sustain. Action is required to operate within these limits. By testing a wide range of innovations both in flight and onboard, KLM evaluates their potential with the goal of scaling successful solutions and embedding them into standard operations. 

About Wings of Support
This independent foundation, run by volunteer KLM employees, provides financial support to local organizations at KLM destinations worldwide, made possible through donations and sponsorships. The foundation helps children achieve a better quality of life through education, shelter, and medical care. In Nairobi, for example, Wings of Support supports the Big Five Center, an organization that offers educational and economic programs to teach children a trade, thereby improving life in the slums in a sustainable way. More information about Wings of Support can be found here.