KLM. Photo: Shutterstock KLM Expands Global Reach
The Dutch airline KLM will operate flights to 161 destinations worldwide this summer, an increase of 4% in seat capacity compared to the previous summer, with an expected 6.5 million passengers in July and August alone.
However, while destinations in Europe, North America, and Asia are strengthening, the route between Tel Aviv and Amsterdam will remain suspended for now. The company announced that the resumption of services in Israel will be evaluated later, based on regional developments.
New Routes and Record Demand
KLM is launching six new routes this summer, including three intercontinental ones: San Diego (USA), Georgetown (Capital of Guyana), and Hyderabad (India - starting September), and three within Europe: Ljubljana (Slovenia), Exeter (UK), and Biarritz (France).
According to company reports, demand for bookings on routes to San Diego, Ljubljana, and Biarritz is already particularly high.
The season officially starts this upcoming weekend (4-6 July), with KLM expecting to welcome approximately 330,000 passengers on its flights.
New route to San Diego. Photo: ShutterstockIncreased Frequency to Popular Destinations
The Dutch airline reports strong demand for European cities such as London, Rome, and Berlin, and for long-haul flights, destinations like Tokyo, New York, Cape Town, and Curaçao are leading the charts.
Accordingly, flight frequencies are increased on several routes:
Intercontinental:
Kilimanjaro/Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) - daily flights
Las Vegas - daily flights until the end of August
Osaka and Tokyo (Japan) - additional weekly flights from September
Edmonton (Canada) - boosted to 6 flights during peak season
Cape Town and Curaçao - additional flights from October
Within Europe:
Barcelona, Porto, Belfast, Kraków, and Poznań - additional daily flights
Split - increased seasonal frequency
Milan - operations concentrated solely at Linate Airport (instead of Malpensa).
It's worth noting that while its alliance partner, Air France, will resume the Paris-Tel Aviv route next Monday (7 July), KLM has announced that its flights to Israel will remain suspended until further notice.
The Dutch company returned to Israel after about a year-long hiatus on 31/05, but had to cease flights due to the conflict with Iran.