Last Updated on July 25, 2026 by Daniel Globe
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the flag carrier of the Netherlands and the world’s oldest airline still operating under its original name. It was founded on October 7, 1919, and its first scheduled service began on May 17, 1920, between London and Amsterdam. KLM’s registered office is in Amstelveen, and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the central hub for its passenger network.
Today, KLM operates as part of the Air France-KLM Group and works with SkyTeam and other airline partners. Travelers can choose from European and intercontinental cabins, earn rewards through Flying Blue, connect through Schiphol, and use a network that changes by season.
Quick Answer
KLM is a full-service Dutch airline based around Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. It serves 164 destinations in its summer 2026 schedule, operates European and long-haul aircraft, offers Economy, Premium Comfort, and Business Class products, and uses Flying Blue as its loyalty program. Exact routes, aircraft, baggage, and amenities vary by booking.
Key Takeaways
- KLM was founded in 1919 and remains the oldest airline operating under its original name.
- The summer 2026 schedule includes 164 destinations: 96 in Europe and 68 intercontinental.
- KLM’s mainline fleet had 122 operational aircraft at the end of 2025, while KLM Cityhopper operates a separate regional fleet.
- Cabins and amenities depend on the route and aircraft; Premium Comfort is available on selected intercontinental aircraft.
- Flying Blue has five levels: Explorer, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Ultimate.
- KLM’s current climate target is a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions per revenue tonne kilometre by 2030 compared with 2019, not a 50% cut from 2005.
KLM at a Glance
| Full name | Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (KLM Royal Dutch Airlines) |
| Founded | October 7, 1919 |
| Registered office | Amstelveen, the Netherlands |
| Main hub | Amsterdam Airport Schiphol |
| Airline group | Air France-KLM |
| Alliance | SkyTeam |
| Summer 2026 network | 164 destinations worldwide |
| Loyalty program | Flying Blue |
KLM History and Major Milestones
KLM was founded by eight investors from Dutch business and banking circles. Queen Wilhelmina granted the company the “Royal” designation before it was formally established. The airline’s first scheduled flight, operated with a leased De Havilland DH-16, flew from London to Schiphol on May 17, 1920.
The airline’s 1924 milestone was not a scheduled Europe-to-South America service. It was KLM’s first intercontinental test flight from Amsterdam to Batavia, now Jakarta, using a Fokker F-VII. Scheduled Amsterdam-Batavia service began in 1930 and became one of the world’s longest scheduled air routes before World War II.
KLM introduced the all-metal Douglas DC-2 in 1934 and later operated the Douglas DC-3. During World War II, the occupation of the Netherlands stopped normal KLM operations from Amsterdam, although its West Indies operation and some contracted services continued. KLM rebuilt quickly after the war and launched scheduled Amsterdam-New York service in 1946.
Other major milestones include joining with Air France to form the Air France-KLM Group in 2004, introducing Premium Comfort Class in 2022, and beginning the replacement of Boeing 737 aircraft with Airbus A321neo aircraft in 2024. KLM’s Delft Blue miniature houses, introduced in 1952, remain a recognizable World Business Class tradition.
KLM’s longevity is unusual: it has operated under the same name since its founding in 1919, while its aircraft, route network, ownership structure, and cabin products have continued to evolve.
Fleet and Destinations
At December 31, 2025, the KLM mainline fleet comprised 122 operational aircraft: 69 long-haul aircraft and 53 medium-haul aircraft. That figure does not include every aircraft operated by KLM Cityhopper, Martinair, or Transavia, so fleet totals can differ depending on whether a source is counting the mainline airline or the wider KLM Group.
KLM’s current public aircraft list includes Airbus A330-200, A330-300, and A321neo aircraft; Boeing 737-700, 737-800, 737-900, 777-200ER, 777-300ER, 787-9, and 787-10 aircraft; and Embraer 175, 190, and 195-E2 aircraft operated by KLM Cityhopper. The Boeing 737 fleet is being replaced gradually by Airbus A321neo aircraft, and KLM has announced Airbus A350 aircraft for future long-haul renewal. However, the current KLM aircraft-types page does not yet list the A350 as an operating KLM type.
KLM’s summer schedule from March 29 through October 25, 2026, includes 164 destinations: 96 in Europe and 68 intercontinental. New summer 2026 destinations include Jersey, Santiago de Compostela, and Oviedo. Routes and frequencies change by season, demand, government restrictions, and operational conditions, so travelers should confirm the live schedule before booking.
Note: The aircraft shown during booking can change for operational reasons. Check the seat map in My Trip before departure, especially when Premium Comfort, a specific Business Class seat, or onboard Wi-Fi is important to you.
Services and Amenities
KLM’s onboard service depends on the route, cabin, ticket type, and aircraft. Economy Class includes an ergonomically designed seat, while snacks, sandwiches, or meals are served according to flight length. On intercontinental aircraft, passengers generally receive personal entertainment, and many aircraft offer power and Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi availability, speed, and pricing can differ by aircraft and package.
Economy Class
Economy Class is available throughout the KLM network. European flights use a short-haul product, while intercontinental flights generally include a personal entertainment screen, meals or snacks, and longer-seat-pitch options such as Economy Comfort. Standard intercontinental Economy seats are typically listed with about 79 cm of pitch, although the exact seat varies by aircraft.
Premium Comfort Class
Premium Comfort is a separate cabin on selected intercontinental aircraft. It offers more legroom and recline than Economy, a wider meal choice, and enhanced airport and onboard benefits. It is not the same as Economy Comfort, which is an extra-legroom seating zone within Economy Class.
Business Class
European Business Class includes SkyPriority and enhanced service, but the seat may be an Economy-style seat with the middle seat blocked, depending on the aircraft. World Business Class on intercontinental aircraft includes a full-flat seat, premium meals, and lounge eligibility with qualifying ticket types. Seat layout and privacy differ across the Airbus A330, Boeing 777, and Boeing 787 fleets.
KLM Crown Lounges
KLM operates Schengen and non-Schengen Crown Lounges at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Facilities include Wi-Fi, work areas, showers, and food and drink stations. Access depends on travel class, fare conditions, Flying Blue status, SkyTeam status, capacity, and same-day itinerary.
Ticket Types, Baggage, and Check-In
KLM uses fare families such as Basic, Light, Standard, and Flex on many routes. What is included can vary by market and cabin, so the baggage allowance shown in the booking and in My Trip is the final reference for a specific ticket.
| Cabin | Typical cabin baggage | Typical checked baggage |
| Economy | Basic may include only one small bag. Light, Standard, and Flex generally include one small bag plus one hand-baggage item, with a combined limit of 12 kg. | Basic and Light often include none. Standard and Flex commonly include one bag up to 23 kg, subject to route. |
| Premium Comfort | One small bag plus two hand-baggage items, with a combined limit of 12 kg. | Standard and Flex generally include two bags up to 23 kg each; Light may include none. |
| Business | One small bag plus two hand-baggage items, with a combined limit of 18 kg. | Standard and Flex generally include two bags up to 32 kg each; Light commonly includes one bag up to 32 kg. |
Online check-in usually opens 30 hours before departure, or 24 hours before flights to or from the United States. KLM recommends arriving about two hours before a European departure and three hours before an intercontinental departure. Travelers should also verify passport, visa, transit, health, and entry requirements for every country in the itinerary.
Warning: Baggage rules, check-in deadlines, and travel-document requirements can change and may differ on partner-operated flights. Always use the allowance and operating-carrier details shown in your booking rather than relying only on a general guide.
Sustainability Efforts
| Initiative | Current target or status |
| Climate target | Reduce Scope 1 and Scope 3 CO2 emissions by 30% per revenue tonne kilometre by 2030 compared with 2019. |
| Fleet efficiency | New-generation aircraft are intended to reduce CO2 emissions and noise compared with the aircraft they replace; the exact improvement depends on type and operation. |
| Sustainable aviation fuel | Flights departing from Europe use at least the regulated 2% SAF share. KLM reports that SAF represented about 4.6% of its worldwide fuel mix in 2025. |
| Waste management | KLM aims to produce 50% less residual waste by 2030 than in 2011 and continues onboard sorting, recycling, and weight-reduction projects. |
| Water and resource use | KLM describes onboard resource-saving measures, but its current public sustainability pages do not present a single airline-wide water-reduction percentage suitable for this table. |
KLM now states clearly that air travel is not sustainable. Its main approaches include fleet renewal, greater use of sustainable aviation fuel, lower-emission ground operations, lighter onboard materials, waste reduction, and operational improvements.
SAF can reduce lifecycle CO2 emissions compared with fossil jet fuel, but it does not make a flight emissions-free. KLM’s current SAF page says its purchased fuel must meet European sustainability standards and achieve at least a 65% lifecycle CO2 reduction compared with fossil jet fuel. Passengers can voluntarily contribute to extra SAF, but the fuel is added through a mass-balance system and does not go directly into the contributor’s specific aircraft.
The 2021 Amsterdam-Madrid flight was notable because it used a blend containing synthetic kerosene. It was not KLM’s first commercial flight using any form of SAF. KLM had already operated earlier flights using bio-based alternatives, and its sustainability terminology and passenger contribution programs have changed since the original CO2ZERO program.
Note: A voluntary SAF contribution helps finance additional SAF purchases, but it does not erase the full climate impact of a passenger’s journey. KLM itself recommends rail, bus, or electric-car travel when those options can replace part of a trip.
Partnerships and Alliances
KLM is part of the Air France-KLM Group and is a member of SkyTeam. These relationships support coordinated schedules, reciprocal loyalty benefits, shared lounges, and through-ticket connections, although the exact benefit depends on the operating carrier, ticket, status, and route.
KLM’s partner strategy includes a transatlantic joint venture with Air France, Delta Air Lines, and Virgin Atlantic; cooperation with Air France and China Eastern Airlines between Europe and China; and codeshare relationships on several continents. KLM’s current network page gives examples including Kenya Airways, Copa Airlines, Korean Air, Garuda Indonesia, IndiGo, Qantas, and GOL.
Codeshare flights can carry a KLM flight number while being operated by another airline. Travelers should check the operating carrier because seat selection, baggage rules, onboard service, check-in location, and disruption handling can differ from a KLM-operated flight.
Royal Dutch Airlines: The Customer Experience
KLM’s website and mobile app allow passengers to book flights, manage itineraries, select seats, add baggage, upload travel documents, check in, and receive disruption updates. The KLM Customer Contact Center remains the official route for booking help, complaints, refunds, and special-service requests; available contact channels vary by country and issue.
Families can request services such as children’s meals, bassinets on eligible aircraft, and assistance for unaccompanied minors. Passengers who need mobility support should arrange assistance in advance and allow extra connection time at Schiphol. Health, security, and cleaning procedures continue to follow airline, airport, and government requirements rather than the temporary protective-equipment rules used during the COVID-19 period.
For disrupted journeys, travelers should use KLM’s self-service tools and review applicable passenger rights. On eligible itineraries, European Regulation EC 261/2004 may provide rights relating to care, rerouting, refunds, and compensation, but eligibility depends on the specific cause, route, operating carrier, and timing.
Pro Tip: Save your booking in the KLM app and confirm that your mobile number and email address are correct. That makes it easier to receive gate changes, schedule updates, rebooking options, and baggage information during the trip.
KLM’s Loyalty Program: Flying Blue
Flying Blue is the loyalty program used by KLM and Air France. Members can earn Miles on eligible flights and with program partners, then redeem them for reward flights, cabin upgrades, seat options, baggage, hotels, and other rewards. Experience Points, called XP, determine most elite status levels.
| Level | Qualification | Selected benefits |
| Explorer | Entry level | Earn and redeem Miles; earn XP from eligible flights. |
| Silver | From 100 XP | Priority check-in and baggage drop, standard-seat benefits, and one extra checked bag on eligible SkyTeam flights. |
| Gold | From 180 XP after Silver | SkyPriority, lounge access with one guest under applicable rules, seat benefits, and an extra checked bag. |
| Platinum | From 300 XP after Gold | More seat and baggage benefits, lounge access with one guest, SkyPriority, and a dedicated service line. |
| Ultimate | From 900 UXP | Dedicated assistance, expanded Air France-KLM lounge access, and four complimentary one-cabin upgrade vouchers per membership year. |
Gold members do not receive automatic complimentary upgrades as a standard published benefit. Complimentary upgrade vouchers are associated with the Ultimate level. Reward availability, taxes, carrier charges, partner rules, and upgrade eligibility should be checked before transferring points or planning a redemption.
Future Plans and Innovations
KLM’s confirmed near-term plans focus on fleet renewal, network development, operational reliability, and lower-impact fuel. Airbus A321neo aircraft are replacing older Boeing 737s, the smaller Airbus A320neo is expected to join the fleet, and KLM has announced Airbus A350 aircraft for long-haul renewal. These changes are intended to lower fuel use, emissions, and noise compared with older aircraft.
For summer 2026, KLM added Jersey, Santiago de Compostela, and Oviedo and increased frequency on several European and intercontinental routes. Network plans remain sensitive to demand, airport capacity, geopolitics, aircraft availability, and regulatory decisions.
KLM is also supporting construction of a dedicated SAF plant in the Netherlands. The facility is expected to begin producing fuel in 2028, and KLM has committed to buying at least 75,000 tonnes per year. This is a confirmed development, unlike the earlier article’s unsupported claim that KLM planned electric or hybrid passenger aircraft for short-haul service by 2030.
Digital development continues through tools for booking, travel documents, rebooking, cargo, and operational decision-making. However, claims about a specific artificial-intelligence scheduling system should be tied to a named, current KLM project before publication.
Planning Beyond the Flight
If a KLM itinerary is part of a longer international trip, a portable WiFi hotspot for international travel may help you stay connected after landing. Travelers continuing into the outdoors may also want to compare an ultralight tent for backpacking and a minimalist travel backpack, while checking each item against KLM’s current cabin and checked-baggage limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does KLM stand for in the airline industry?
KLM stands for Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij, commonly translated as Royal Dutch Airlines.
When was KLM founded?
KLM was founded on October 7, 1919. Its first scheduled flight operated from London to Amsterdam on May 17, 1920.
Where is KLM based?
KLM’s registered office is in Amstelveen, the Netherlands. Its main operating hub is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
What is KLM’s fleet size?
At December 31, 2025, KLM’s mainline fleet had 122 operational aircraft. A wider total that includes KLM Cityhopper, Martinair, and Transavia will be larger, so check what a source includes before comparing fleet numbers.
How many destinations does KLM serve?
KLM announced 164 destinations for its summer 2026 schedule, including 96 in Europe and 68 intercontinental. The number changes by season.
Is KLM part of a larger airline group?
Yes. KLM is part of the Air France-KLM Group, formed in 2004, while KLM and Air France continue to operate as separate airline brands.
Is KLM a SkyTeam airline?
Yes. KLM is a SkyTeam member. Eligible passengers may receive reciprocal lounge, baggage, priority, and mileage benefits, subject to the operating carrier and program rules.
Does KLM offer Wi-Fi on every flight?
No. Many KLM aircraft offer Wi-Fi, but availability, packages, and performance vary by aircraft and route. Check the aircraft information and My Trip for the most relevant details.
Do Flying Blue Gold members get free upgrades?
Complimentary upgrades are not a standard published Gold benefit. Flying Blue Ultimate includes four complimentary one-cabin upgrade vouchers per membership year, while other members may use Miles or accept paid upgrade offers when available.
Sources
- KLM history — founding date, first flight, historical milestones, World War II context, and Delft Blue houses.
- Air France-KLM fleet overview — KLM mainline fleet count and composition at December 31, 2025.
- KLM summer 2026 schedule — destination totals, new routes, and seasonal network changes.
- KLM onboard experience and travel classes — cabins, meals, entertainment, Wi-Fi, aircraft, and lounge information.
- KLM sustainable aviation fuel information — SAF standards, lifecycle claims, 2025 fuel mix, and passenger contributions.
- KLM Flying Blue program — status levels, qualification thresholds, earning rates, and published benefits.
