Tradewind Caribbean Airlines

Flying TCA in Europe - Codeshare with KLM
A virtual alliance between TCA and KLM

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Highlights from KLM’s History
A lookback over KLM’s rich and varied history.
September 12, 1919
 
Queen Wilhelmina grants the epithet “Royal” to KLM.
October 7, 1919
 
Foundation of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for the Netherlands and Colonies.
October 21, 1919
 
First KLM office (Heerengracht, The Hague).
May 17, 1920
 
First KLM flight.
Route: London-Amsterdam. Aircraft: De Havilland DH-16. Pilot: Jerry Shaw.
April 4, 1921
 
Resumption of services (following a winter break) with KLM’s own aircraft (Fokker F -II) and pilots.
May 9, 1921
 
Opening of KLM’s first passenger office (Leidseplein, Amsterdam).
October 1, 1924
 
Departure of first intercontinental KLM flight.
Route: Amsterdam-Batavia. Aircraft: Fokker F -VII.
September 1929
 
Launch of regular Amsterdam-Batavia service, which, before the outbreak of World War II, was to be the longest regular air link in the world.
December 1933
 
Christmas and New Year mail on the record flight by the  Pelikaan.
Route: Amsterdam – Batavia. Aircraft: Fokker F -XVIII.
October 1934
 
KLM DC-2 Uiver wins second prize in the handicap section of the London-Melbourne air race. In 1984, 50 years later, this flight is repeated by a restored DC-2 in KLM livery, renamed Uiver.
December 1934
 
First transatlantic KLM flight.
Route: Amsterdam-Curaçao. Aircraft: Fokker F -XVIII Snip.
September 1945
 
KLM resumes services after World War II, initially only on domestic routes.
May 21, 1946
 
Launch of scheduled KLM service between Amsterdam and New York.
November 1, 1958
 
First KLM flight via the polar route to Japan.
March 1960
 
Dawn of the jet age with the introduction of the Douglas DC-8.
October 21, 1965
 
KLM North Sea Helicopters founded.
September 12, 1966
 
NLM (now KLM cityhopper) founded.
April 1967
 
Utilization begins of new home base at Schiphol-Center.
February 1971
 
Introduction of the Boeing 747 heralds the start of the “wide-body” age for KLM.
March 1, 1971
 
Utilization of current KLM Head Office begins.
November 1975
 
Introduction of Boeing 747 Combi marks an important milestone for airfreight.
February 1984
 
Launch of KICK quality campaign with “hangar sessions” at Schiphol-East.
March 1988
 
Takeover of NetherLines.
June 1989
 
Introduction of Boeing 747-400, an important milestone in preparations for the 1990s.
July 1989
 
KLM take an important step towards being a global airline by acquiring a 20% share in Northwest Airlines.
July 1990
 
Introduction of Product 1990s quality improvement program.
April 1, 1991
 
KLM founds new strong regional airline, KLM Cityhopper, by amalgamating NLM Cityhopper and NetherLines.
October 1991
 
KLM extends its share in Transavia from 40% to 80%.
December 1991
 
Introduction of “Flying Dutchman” frequent-flyer program – the first in Continental Europe.
March 1992
 
First phase of a substantially amended schedule is implemented on European network.
October 1992
 
Final phase of substantially amended schedule is implemented.
January 1993
 
The US Transport Ministry grants KLM and its partner Northwest Airlines official anti-trust immunity. This allows both airlines to intensify cooperation.
September 1993
 
All KLM and Northwest Airlines flights between Europe and the USA are operated as part of a joint venture.
November 1993
 
For the first time in its history, KLM carries more than a million passengers per year.
March 1994
 
KLM and Northwest Airlines introduce World Business Class, a new product on intercontinental flights.
April 1994
 
KLM announces the largest share issue in its history. 21,275 million shares are issued at a rate of NLG 44 per share. Share issue yields NLG 1,193 million.
October 7, 1994
 
KLM celebrated 75 year of existence with the slogan ‘Bridging the World’.
July 1995
 
KLM introduced Boeing 767-300ER to service.
January 1996
 
KLM acquires 26% share in Kenya Airways.
December 1996
 
State share in KLM rolled-back from 38.2% to 25%.
March 1997
 
Boeing 737-800 ordered for European network.
July 1997
 
Air UK wholly owned KLM subsidiary.
August 1997
 
KLM acquires 30% share in Norwegian airline Braathens.
September 1997
 
KLM and Northwest Airlines sign long-term commercial and operational cooperation agreement; KLM sells its shares back to Northwest Airlines.
December 1997
 
KLM and Alitalia announce cooperation plans.
January 1998
 
KLM and Malaysian Airlines System announce investigation into commercial cooperation.
January 1998
 
Announcement of European regional brand; Air UK and Air Exel become KLM uk and KLM exel, KLM Cityhopper retains its name, but with a lower-case c.
February 1998
 
KLM-Northwest Airlines alliance honored with ‘Airline of the Year Award’ by influential US trade magazine Air Transport World.
June 1998
 
KLM frequent-flyer program “Flying Dutchman” has a million members.
August 1998
 
KLM repurchases all regular shares from the Dutch state.
De state retains cumulative preference shares A and priority shares with a franchise in excess of 14%.
November 1998
 
KLM and Alitalia sign a Master Cooperation Agreement pertinent to their long-term alliance.
May 1999
 
Alitalia joins KLM/Northwest Airlines alliance.
August 1999
 
European Commission approves KLM/Alitalia alliance.
October 1999
 
KLM celebrates its 80th year with the motto: “Fit for the future”.
November 1999
 
Worldwide Passenger Joint Venture and Cargo Joint Venture of KLM and Alitalia become operational under a joint management structure.
December 1999
 
KLM is the first airline in the world to receive ISO 14001 certification for its environmental care system.
January 2000
 
buzz, the new low-cost product from KLM uk, is launched with flights to seven European cities.
April 2000
 
KLM ends its alliance with Alitalia. Joint Ventures are dissolved.
2001
 
The airline industry experiences its deepest crisis since the end of World War II due to economic recession, as well as the dramatic decrease in demand for air travel following the September 11 terror attacks on the USA. Airlines, including KLM, announce drastic measures to counter the crisis.
March/June 2002
 
KLM announced the first phase of an important renewal of its intercontinental fleet. Its Boeing 747-300 aircraft will be replaced during 2003 and 2005 with three Boeing 747-400ER Freighter and eight Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. In addition, two MD-11 aircraft will be replaced with two Boeing 777-200ER aircraft.
Six A330-200 aircraft are ordered from Airbus, for delivery starting in 2005. Delivery options are also reserved for 18 aircraft of this type. Once the fleet renewal is complete, KLM’s intercontinental fleet will consist of three types: Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777-200ER and Airbus A330-200.
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