KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, founded on 7 October 1919, is the world’s oldest airline still operating under its original name. Based in Amsterdam and a core member of the Air France‑KLM group, it serves over 160 destinations with a mixed fleet of narrow‑body, wide‑body, and regional aircraft.

Its mainline fleet—around 116 aircraft with an average age of about 13.8 years—includes Boeing 737 Next‑Generation variants transitioning to Airbus A320neo family jets. It also operates Airbus A330s alongside Boeing 777s and 787 Dreamliners on medium‑ and long‑haul routes. Meanwhile, KLM Cityhopper uses an all‑Embraer E‑Jet fleet for regional flights.

KLM is pursuing an ambitious fleet‑renewal strategy despite cost‑cutting measures, retaining a €1 billion modernization investment. Highlights include the introduction of Airbus A321neo jets and phasing out older Boeing 737 and Airbus A330 aircraft, with orders for up to 50 Airbus A350s expected to enhance long‑haul efficiency from 2026.

Operational discipline has been sharpened through restructuring, including the layoff of 250 non‑operational staff aimed at improving financial performance by roughly €450 million. Meanwhile, investments in digital transformation—with Google Cloud AI deployed to predict maintenance and analyze passenger behavior—seek to enhance efficiency across operations.

Incidents have been managed with care: Flight KL 1204 veered off a runway in Norway in December without injuries, and leadership reaffirmed confidence in the 787 fleet following an industry‑wide investigation into another carrier’s accident.

Looking ahead, Air France‑KLM plans to deepen its regional footprint through a majority acquisition of Scandinavian Airlines, leveraging KLM’s Amsterdam hub to strengthen connections across Europe.

Keywords: flagship carrier, fleet renewal, Airbus A320neo, Boeing 787, Embraer E‑Jets, Cityhopper, sustainability, cost optimisation, digital transformation, global connectivity, airline heritage