Amstelveen – 2006-01-02

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' punctuality was better than that of its three comparable European airlines during the fourth quarter of 2005. The amount of temporarily misplaced baggage dropped significantly during this same period.

Factors exerting a negative influence on punctuality included runway restrictions resulting from fog and heavy winds as well as the excavation of an unexploded aerial bomb from the Second World War. All of these forced KLM to cancel a number of flights.

Of all long-haul flights, 78.9% arrived on time bringing KLM in ahead of its direct European competitors. Of all its flights, 72.1% departed on time, putting it in second place. Despite the fact that KLM completed 99.5% of all its flights, the airline came in behind the competition.

An arrival punctuality of 82.4% and a departure punctuality of 77.8% of all medium and short-haul flights put KLM in first and third place, respectively. The 97.9% completion rate of these flights placed KLM third.

The amount of temporary baggage that went missing decreased considerably. With 1.65 temporary misplacements per 100 passengers, KLM came in second compared to the direct competition. The fact that these direct competitors avail themselves of larger home markets without large baggage flows was not included in these calculations.

For more information:
KLM Media Relations, Hugo Baas, + 31 (0)20 - 649 45 45.
KLM photo material: http://www.presslink.nl/klm/