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KLM:
04/05 IN REVIEW
The Netherlands –
2005. |
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| An annual
review, that contains information on the performance of KLM Group in the
period from April 1, 2004 through March 31, 2005. |
Click here
for the document (2'392 KB)
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CELEBRATE
85 YEARS OF KLM SPIRIT!
The Netherlands –
October 7, 2004. |
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October 7, 1919 a group of investors founded a new company dubbed Koninklijke
Luchtvaart Maatschappij. Today, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines celebrates 85 years
operating under the same name - longer than any other airline in the world. |
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1919 |
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KLM
Royal Dutch Airlines, having been granted the designation "Royal" by Queen
Wilhelmina, is founded under the leadership of Albert Plesman. Its first
head office is opened in The Hague. |
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1920 |
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The
first KLM flight takes off from London bound for Amsterdam in a rented De
Havilland DH-16. By the time services resume following a winter break, KLM
boasts its own Fokker F-II aircraft and is employing its own pilots. |
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1924 |
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The
first intercontinental flight to Indonesia. It takes the single-engine Fokker
VII a total of 55 days (including delays due to engine trouble) to reach
its destination. Previous to the suspension of services that occurred during
World War II, the service between Amsterdam and Batavia (now Jakarta) was
the world's longest regularly scheduled flight connection. |
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1934 |
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KLM
DC-2 Uiver wins second prize in the handicap section of the London to Melbourne
air race. During the same year, KLM makes its first transatlantic flight
by flying its Fokker F-XVIII (the Snip) from Amsterdam to Curaçao - no mean
feat in its day! |
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Following
the resumption of domestic flights after World War II, scheduled flights
are soon being made between Amsterdam and New York - a route that is now
being served by no fewer than 18 KLM flights a week. |
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1954 |
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As
illustrated by this 1954 poster, the 1950s see a dramatic increase in new
KLM destinations, especially to new exotic tourist destinations such as Africa
and South America. |
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1971 |
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The
first Boeing 747-200 joins the KLM fleet and heralds the start of the "wide-body"
age. The "Jumbo Jet" is destined to dominate intercontinental air travel
for the next three decades. Altogether, Boeing manufactured a total of 393
Boeing 747-200s, the last one rolling off the production line in 1991. |
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1982 |
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The
corporate identity of KLM is reinforced when female service personnel are
dressed up in new uniforms designed in KLM's characteristic blue by fashion
house Nina Ricci. |
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1989 |
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The
alliance with Northwest Airlines represents the first of its kind in the
aviation industry. The alliance is hailed as "Airline of the Year" in 1997
by the influential US trade magazine Air Transport World. |
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2002 |
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KLM
announces upcoming additions to its fleet: the Boeing 747-400 ERF freighter
and the Boeing 777-200 aircraft are now on order. The first Boeing 777-200
ER touches down at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in October 2003. |
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2004 |
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Merger
between KLM and Air France. The longest operating international airline in
the world, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines celebrates its 85th anniversary with
the appropriate theme, "Celebrating the Spirit". |
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(Source: KLM) |
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AIR
FRANCE AND KLM GET THE GO-AHEAD FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
PARIS, France and AMSTELVEEN, The Netherlands –
February 11, 2004. |
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Air France and
KLM expressed their satisfaction following the European Commission’s
clearance of their projected merger. This decision, which endorses the
choice of alliance made by the two airlines, clearly reflects the
complementary nature of their networks.
Air France Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jean-Cyril Spinetta and
KLM President and Chief Executive Officer, Leo van Wijk, both declared:
«The European Commission’s decision defines a clear legal framework
for us to set up Europe’s leading air transport group. By giving its
clearance, the Commission has shown its commitment to the consolidation
of our industry, whose current, highly fragmented organization is no
longer adapted to the challenges of today’s world.»
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remedies package, which has been agreed with the Commission, mainly
consists in improved access to take-off and landing slots for new
entrants, and is designed in such a way that these will not affect Air
France’s nor KLM’s hub system. Both companies will make the required
slots available at their main hubs, Amsterdam Schiphol and
Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle airports, only when a new entrant is unable to
obtain these slots via regular procedures. Neither party has been
required to give up any routes or frequencies. Furthermore, both
airlines have agreed to the traditional remedies sought by the
Commission, which are not slot-related, such as frequent flyer programme
access, interline agreements, etc.
The
new Air France - KLM Group will leverage the brands, hubs and networks
of both airlines. It will generate substantial synergies thanks to the
optimization of the two networks, a more rational deployment of
passenger and cargo operations, an extended offering in MRO activities,
as well as cost savings in procurement, sales distribution and IT
systems. Customers will also benefit from synergies through an extended
network, attractive fares and enhanced services at all the Group’s
destinations.
(Source: KLM) |
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| Commission
clears merger between Air France and KLM subject to conditions
The European Commission has authorised
the concentration between Air France and KLM after the companies
successfully resolved concerns about reduced competition, mainly between
Paris and Amsterdam and between Europe and the United States. The review
of the first significant merger in the European airline industry has led
the Commission to seek the surrender of 94 single take-off and landing
slots per day. This will enable rival airlines to start a service where
competition would have been eliminated or significantly reduced
therefore preserving choice of carriers and competitive prices for
European travellers. The Commission also obtained assurances from the
Dutch and the French governments that they would give traffic rights to
other carriers wishing to stop over in Amsterdam or Paris en route to
the United States or other non-EU destinations. They also assured they
would refrain from regulating prices on long haul routes where other
carriers offer indirect services competing with Air France and KLM.
"The outcome of this case shows
that the long-awaited consolidation of the European airline sector can
be done in full respect of competition rules. The merger between KLM and
Air France will provide air passengers with a greater choice of
destinations and services without having to pay a higher price on those
routes where their presence is the strongest", Competition
Commissioner Mario Monti said.
(Source: European
Commission) |
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AIR FRANCE AND KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES TO CREATE EUROPE’S LEADING AIRLINE GROUP
PARIS, France and AMSTELVEEN, The Netherlands – September 30, 2003. |
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Air France and KLM today announce that they expect to conclude an agreement that would lead to the creation of Europe’s leading airline group through a share exchange offer by Air France for KLM common shares. The new group will be called Air France-KLM and will capitalize on two well-known brands, strong hubs and complementary networks. This major strategic step is unprecedented in the European airline industry and is expected to create substantial value for shareholders. The Boards of both companies believe that this proposed combination is in the best interest of customers, shareholders and employees of both groups and represents a significant opportunity for further growth.
(Source: KLM) |
Click here
for the full press release (111 KB)
Click here for
the fact sheet of KLM (76 KB)
Click here for
the fact sheet of Air France (94 KB) |
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NEW
LIVERY FOR KLM FLEET
SCHIPHOL - 20 DECember 2002 |
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© CAPITAL PHOTOS for KLM |
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During
the coming years the entire fleet of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will be
modernized. KLM's familiar bright blue is unchanged, but now covers a
larger portion of the aircraft. The dark-blue strip below has been made
much thinner and the white strip below that has been dropped entirely.
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engins and underside of the aircraft are painted in cool grey. Also the
KLM logo has been enlarged. The first aircraft in the new colors that
had its roll out is a Boeing 747-400. |
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© CAPITAL PHOTOS for KLM |
Click here for more information
and download a high res. photo |
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