Zambia’s mining industry is a powerful driver for the country’s economic growth. As a tourist destination it also has much to offer. The city of Livingstone in particular, near Victoria Falls, and the Zambezi river are popular tourist attractions.

“The region is of great importance to KLM’s broad network,” said Erik Varwijk, Managing Director KLM and Executive Vice President Air France KLM International & The Netherlands. “Together with Air France and our partner Kenya Airways we can open the way to Zambia for the rest of the world. This is the case for our passenger business and for cargo.”

KLM will fly to Lusaka three times a week using an Airbus A330-200. The aircraft offers space for 243 passengers; 30 in World Business Class, 178 in Economy Class, and 35 in the Economy Comfort Zone.

Starting 15 May, flight KL521 will depart every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 12:30 from Schiphol and will arrive in Lusaka the same day at 22:05. The return flight, KL522, will depart from Lusaka the same day at 23:50. The flight will arrive in Amsterdam the next morning at 9:45.

KLM and Air France are devoting extra attention to the African continent this summer. Since 27 March KLM has been flying to Luanda, Angola twice a week. And, Air France is expanding its capacity to Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Lomé (Togo), and N’Djamena (Chad).

Both carriers are also strengthening their ties with partner Kenya Airways. Kenya Airways represents Air France and KLM in Lusaka. And, a combined Air France-Kenya Airways-KLM team is active in Zambia.

Starting 15 May 2012, flight KL561 will depart from Schiphol on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 12:30 hrs, arriving in Lusaka the same day at 22:10 hrs. The return flight, KL562, will depart Lusaka at 23:55 hrs on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights and arrive in Amsterdam at 09:55 hrs the next morning.

Zambia is experiencing strong growth, thanks to its vigorous mining industry. Moreover, this new destination for KLM will create a direct link between Zambia’s flourishing flower industry and the Netherlands, which is the largest junction in the worldwide flower industry.
Zambia also offers a wide variety of tourist attractions. Tourism in Zambia is centred around the city of Livingstone, located on the banks of the Zambezi river and close to the famed Victoria Falls.

Together with Kenya Airways, KLM offers another thirteen flights a week to Lusaka via Nairobi. Thanks to the partnership with Kenya Airways, KLM and Air France can offer an extensive network throughout Africa. The alliance flies to many destinations including Harare, Mombassa, Lilongwe, and Bujumbura.