Happy Birthday KLM

                    

IATA	ICAO	Callsign
KL	KLM	KLM

In 1919, a young aviator lieutenant named Albert Plesman sponsored the ELTA aviation exhibition in Amsterdam. The exhibition was a great success; after it closed several Dutch commercial interests intended to establish a Dutch airline, which Plesman was nominated to head. In September 1919, Queen Wilhelmina awarded the yet-to-be-founded KLM its "Royal" ("Koninklijke") predicate. On the 7th of October 1919, eight Dutch businessmen, including Frits Fentener van Vlissingen, founded KLM as one of the first commercial airline companies. Plesman became its first administrator and director.

KLM was founded on the 7th October 1919, it is the national airline of the Netherlands with its headquarters in Amstelveen and with its hub at nearby Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The name KLM is an abbreviation of its full legal name, Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij (Royal Dutch Airlines). It is the oldest airline in the world still operating under its original name. The first KLM flight took place on the 17th May 1920. KLM's first pilot, Jerry Shaw, flew from Croydon Airport, London to Amsterdam. The flight was flown using a leased Aircraft Transport and Travel De Havilland DH-16, registration G-EALU, and was carrying two British journalists and a number of newspapers. In 1920, KLM carried 440 passengers and 22 tons of freight. In April 1921, after a winter hiatus, KLM resumed its services using its own pilots and aircraft: Fokker F.II and Fokker F.III. In 1921, KLM started scheduled services. KLM's first intercontinental flight was initiated on the 1st of October 1924. On the 30th September 2003, Air France and KLM agreed to a merger plan in which Air France and KLM would become subsidiaries of a holding company called Air France–KLM. Both airlines would retain their own brands; both Charles de Gaulle Airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol would become key hubs.

KLM BOEING 777-306ER PH-BVA (MSN 35671)

KLM is the core of the KLM Group, which includes the wholly owned subsidiaries KLM Cityhopper, Transavia.com and Martinair. In September 2010, KLM integrated the passenger division of Martinair into KLM, transferring all personnel and routes. By November 2011, Martinair consisted of only the cargo and maintenance division. KLM's frequent flyer program is called "Flying Blue" and the airline slogan is "Journeys of Inspiration" On the 14th of November 2015 KLM welcomed its first of 13 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner's. The first one is called “Anjer” (Carnation). All of KLM’s Dreamliner's are named after flowers. KLM is rated 18th best airline in the world (down from last year's 19th) according to Skytrax. KLM operates scheduled passenger and cargo services to 145 destinations with 110 active aircraft.

KLM BOEING 737-8K2 PH-BXC (MSN 29133)

As of September 2022, the KLM fleet (excluding its subsidiaries KLM Cityhopper, Transavia and Martinair) consists of the following aircraft:

 
KLM Fleet     

Aircraft                     In service                    
Airbus A330-200              6
Airbus A330-300              5

Boeing 737-700                6
Boeing 737-800              31 

Boeing 737-900                5

Boeing 777-200ER         15
Boeing 777-300ER         16

Boeing 787-9                   9
Boeing 787-10                10                             

KLM Cargo Fleet
Boeing 747-400BCF 1 — Cargo Operated by Martinair.
Boeing 747-400ERF 3 — Cargo