KLM expands summer capacity across network

KLM is expanding summer capacity on European routes by 10% over last year to almost match 2019 pre-pandemic levels.

The response to improved demand as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted will see 16 million seats offered across 96 European destinations, with the Dutch carrier expecting business travel to return.

Frequency is being raised on routes from the UK to the carrier’s Amsterdam hub as part of the summer schedule starting on March 27.

More capacity is also being added on routes to Germany, Poland and Portugal.

But services to Kyiv, St Petersburg and Moscow continue to be suspended due to the war in Ukraine.

KLM said it was keeping a close eye on developments in the region.

Belgrade, Dubrovnik and Palma, which were added to the KLM route network last year, are included again in the summer schedule.

Long-haul capacity is also being raised by 17% over last year, including a focus on the Caribbean with daily flights to Aruba, Bonaire and increased frequency to Curacao to twice daily during the summer peak.

The new destination of Port of Spain is included in the summer schedule with three flights a week from Amsterdam.

Capacity to the US matches pre-pandemic 2019 levels including the resumption of flights to Salt Lake City and the addition of Austin three flights a week to give a total of 12 destinations.

Demand is increasing for destinations such as the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Bali as more countries in Asia reopen.

The airline said: “Although Covid-19 travel restrictions vary from country to country, summer India too has indicated that it will be easing travel restrictions. KLM will respond by increasing frequencies to Delhi and Mumbai.

“Travel restrictions continue to apply in China, which means we cannot yet resume our usual network services to China.

“Due to EU sanctions against Russia, KLM is not operating in Russian airspace.

“Flight times to and from South Korea, Japan and China are consequently on average two hours longer than usual. Flights to Japan and China are currently making a stopover in Seoul.”

Capacity on most routes to South America has been restored to “more or less” pre-pandemic levels.

“We are currently operating daily services to Sao Paulo, Panama City and Lima, with a minimum of six flights a week to Quito/Guayaquil, Bogota/Cartagena, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires/Santiago de Chile,” KLM added.

Ten destinations in Africa are also to be served, with increased capacity on many routes. The African network includes Johannesburg, Cape Town, Accra, Lagos, Kigali, Entebbe, Nairobi, Kilimanjaro, and Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.