KLM Newsroom

KLM Launches “Bring Me Home” Campaign for Last Stranded Passengers

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 01:00:00 +0200

To ensure that the very last stranded KLM passengers are also brought home as soon as possible, KLM The Netherlands launched a special campaign on Friday, 23 April. The campaign will run via www.klm.nl and will feature a special button marked “Breng me thuis” (Bring me home). By clicking on this button, passengers can establish direct contact with KLM in order to seek a solution.

KLM calls on all passengers to report via this channel, especially if the chances of a speedy return seem slim. Family and friends of stranded KLM passengers can also contact KLM via the “Breng me thuis” button. Stranded passengers can also call the following number: +31 20 4 747 747.

A similar campaign has been launched for the international market under the slogan “Bring me home” on Facebook and Twitter.

KLM Deploys More Than Maximum Capacity

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 01:00:00 +0200

This is possible through cooperation with SkyTeam partners. KLM will also adjust its network in such a way that aircraft types offering maximum capacity are deployed on routes that have the most stranded passengers.

Almost all over Europe, air traffic has been suspended for five days. All airlines are therefore faced with a backlog, while new passengers are reporting for flights that are currently being operated to schedule.

KLM has swiftly restored its network. As promised, this was achieved within 48 hours, says KLM President & CEO Peter Hartman. “We are doing whatever we can. Together with our partners Delta Airlines and Kenya Airways we are working flat-out to get our passengers and cargo to their destinations as quickly as possible. I am proud of the KLM family, because we have pulled together and achieved this in a very short space of time,” said Mr. Hartman.

Delta Airlines will take on three KLM flights for the coming period (New York JFK and Atlanta ATL), freeing up capacity for KLM. Our partner Kenya Airways will deploy a larger aircraft type on the Nairobi-Amsterdam route. Extra capacity will also be deployed on the routes to Curacao, Paramaribo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Shanghai, Osaka, Lima, Sao Paulo, San Francisco and Cairo.

KLM Resumes Intercontinental Flight Operations

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 01:00:00 +0200

Several restrictions still apply to the flight schedule for Europe. A number of airports are still closed and flights are restricted to daytime hours at others. KLM expects to achieve a great deal today in restoring normal air traffic and operating around 70% of its scheduled flights within Europe. From 14:00 hours (CEST), KLM will nonetheless operate a number of its previously cancelled flights to the United Kingdom. The same applies to flights to several Scandinavian destinations as well. Only 75 passengers of the original group of KLM passengers stranded at Schiphol since Thursday, 15 April now remain.

KLM will be making every effort to resume scheduled flight operations as soon as possible, transporting passengers and cargo to their destinations worldwide. Capacity will be increased wherever possible. For example, an extra flight will be operated today to Curaçao and Bonaire, which will be expected to return to Amsterdam tomorrow.

For the exact flight times and information on specific destinations, please refer to the KLM website at www.klm.com. Given the exceptional circumstances, a special page has been created with arrival and departure times. KLM advises passengers to consult the website for information about departing flights before travelling to Schiphol.

KLM Increases Availability Through Twitter and Facebook

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 01:00:00 +0200

Peter Hartman, KLM President & CEO: “We are pulling out all the stops to help our passengers. It’s great news that we can use social media towards this end. KLM is ahead of the pack.”

For the exact flight times and information on specific destinations, please refer to the KLM website at www.klm.com. Given the exceptional circumstances, a special page has been created with arrival and departure times. KLM advises its passengers to consult the website for information about departing flights before travelling to Schiphol

KLM Operating Almost all Intercontinental Flights

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 01:00:00 +0200

On Tuesday more than half of all European KLM flights will be operated and KLM is expecting this to increase in the days ahead. The aim is to operate according to the flight schedule as soon as possible. KLM is also making use of the networks of its SkyTeam partners.

KLM advises passengers to check the KLM website to see whether their flight is due to depart before travelling to Schiphol.

First commercial flights operated normally

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 01:00:00 +0200

The first two flights carried no passengers but transported cargo and flight crews. Dutch authorities have permitted KLM to fly only on these routes.

Passengers are advised not to go to Schiphol Airport, but to check the website for the airline with which they are flying for the latest information.

KLM return passengers from Curacao and Suriname

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 01:00:00 +0200

The flight from Curaçao will depart at 16:00 hrs Dutch time operating a Boeing 747. The flight from Paramaribo, an MD-11, will depart at 20:00 hrs Dutch time. “We will transport as many passengers as we can possibly carry,” the spokesperson said.

KLM Operates Commercial Flights on Sunday

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 01:00:00 +0200

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines operated two commercial flights to the Far East on Sunday evening. There were no passengers on board these flights, which both carried cargo and the regular crew complement. The flights bound for Sharjah and Bangkok/Taipei were respectively operated by a Boeing 747 full freighter and a Boeing 747 combi. The Dutch aviation authorities granted KLM permission to operate these flights. Earlier on Sunday, KLM successfully operated nine test flights. None of these flights encountered any problems. According to KLM President & CEO Peter Hartman it is completely safe to operate flights during hours of daylight.

KLM Successfully Operates Ten Test Flights

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 01:00:00 +0200

KLM previously operated a test flight in Dutch airspace on Saturday evening, 17 April. The results of subsequent technical inspections revealed that the flight had encountered no problems whatsoever. Based on this information, the Dutch air transport authorities IVW, granted permission to operate further test flights on Sunday.

The first flight set off to Düsseldorf, Germany, at around 06.30 hrs on Sunday morning. The aircraft had no passengers on board, but was staffed by a 20-strong crew. The crew on board flew seven stranded aircraft from Düsseldorf to Schiphol during the course of the morning and early afternoon.

KLM President & CEO Peter Hartman stressed that these were test flights. This does not imply that regular air traffic can be resumed. This decision rests with the Dutch authorities IVW, in consultation with the European authorities.

KLM hopes to receive permission to resume part of its operations as soon as possible, so that passengers can be brought to their destination.

KLM Operates Ten Test Flights

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 01:00:00 +0200

The first flight departed from Düsseldorf, Germany, at around 06.30 hrs on Sunday morning. The aircraft had no passengers on board, but was staffed by a 20-strong crew.

The crew on board will fly the seven aircraft stranded in Düsseldorf back to Schiphol one by one. These flights will be operated during the course of Sunday.

“These are test flights,” stressed KLM President & CEO Peter Hartman. “This does not mean that normal air traffic has been resumed. This matter will be decided on by the Dutch air transport authorities IVW, in consultation with the European authorities.”

If all of the flights are operated without a hitch, KLM hopes to receive permission to resume part of its operations as quickly as possible to bring passengers to their destination. KLM will join hands with Lufthansa, which operated 10 test flights in Germany yesterday.

KLM expects to issue further updates later today.

Passengers are advised not to travel to Schiphol, but to closely monitor airline websites for the latest information about their flight.

KLM test flight passes off without problem

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 01:00:00 +0200

The aircraft was transferred to a hangar on landing where it underwent a thorough inspection. The results have been reported to the Transport and Water Management Inspectorate. The Inspectorate will take the decision on whether flight operations are possible.

KLM President & CEO, Peter Hartman, said: "At first glance there is no reason to suspect that anything is amiss. We observed no irregularities either during the flight or during the initial inspection on the ground. If the results of the technical inspection confirm this impression, we are ready to start by returning seven of our aircraft to Amsterdam from Düsseldorf. We hope to receive permission as soon as possible after that to start up our operation and to transport our passengers to their destinations." KLM Executive Vice-President Operations, Ype de Haan, was also on board the flight with Peter Hartman as an observer.

The aircraft flew to 41,000 feet (altitude of approximately 13 kilometres), which is the maximum altitude for this type of aircraft. KLM expects to receive the final results of the technical inspection tomorrow morning.

Passengers are advised not to travel to Schiphol, but to check their airline's website for the latest flight information.