Amstelveen – 2009-21-09

Adjusting capacity, while maintaining the number of destinations and connectivity

The winter season 2009-2010 starts 25 October. During this season, AIR FRANCE KLM aims to adjust capacity, while maintaining connectivity at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol.

The Group’s overall capacity for the winter 2009 season is -2% in terms of available seat kilometres (ASK) compared with winter 2008 and -3.6% compared with winter 2007. On the long-haul and medium-haul networks capacity has been reduced by -1.8% and -2.9% respectively compared with winter 2008 and -2,8% and -6.4% compared with winter 2007.

Details of the KLM schedule
In response to the ongoing global economic challenges, KLM has adjusted capacity on most routes. However, the airline has maintained its range of destinations. Compared to last winter, overall capacity in terms of available seat kilometres will be reduced by 4%. This breaks down into -6% for short and medium-haul routes and -3% for long-haul routes. The KLM winter schedule is characterised by greater flexibility and tailored scheduling for specific destinations.

Europe: optimised connectivity
By adjusting the seven-wave system, it is possible to better balance connectivity and capacity reduction. In spite of a decrease in capacity, the hub system adjustment is not detrimental to passengers, because connectivity is maintained at a high level. For example, connectivity to stations such as Berlin, Geneva, Madrid and Oslo has been improved. The Liverpool service, which commenced in the current summer season, will be continued thrice daily, while services to Tallinn and Riga will remain suspended.

Continued focus on Asia
KLM will continue to focus on the strategic growth market China by way of twelve weekly services to Shanghai, two weekly services to Chengdu, and a daily service to Hong Kong. Twelve weekly services are being offered to Beijing, operated seven times a week by KLM and five times a week by China Southern. On the Bangkok– Taipei route, capacity will be increased through the deployment of a Boeing 747 full-passenger aircraft instead of a Boeing 747 passenger–cargo combi on three of the current frequencies.

Capacity is being increased on the Singapore route by extending the deployment of the Boeing 777-300 from the summer season into the winter on two of the seven weekly services. Capacity will also be added on the Kuala Lumpur–Jakarta route by deploying a combination of Boeing 777-300 (five times a week) and Boeing 777-200 (twice a week) equipment.

On Japanese routes, a combination of Boeing 747 full-passenger and Boeing 747 passenger-cargo-combi aircraft on the Tokyo route, will lead to a small increase in seat capacity to this business destination.

Middle East: consolidation with a frequency increase to Teheran
A sixth weekly service to Teheran is scheduled for introduction at the end of the winter season. On the Dubai route, KLM will consolidate its position with twelve weekly services deploying a combination of Boeing 777-200 and Airbus 330-200 equipment.

South America and the Dutch Antilles: seasonal capacity adjustment
KLM will maintain five weekly services to Panama. The daily service to Lima, operated with a Boeing 777-200, will be maintained as it was during the past summer and winter. The São Paulo frequency will be adjusted from seven to six weekly services.

Capacity to the Dutch Antilles will be adjusted during the least busy periods. The St. Martin–Bonaire service, introduced this summer, will also be in place for most of the winter season.

On the Paramaribo route, frequency will be tailored to meet seasonal demand, with four weekly services operated with MD11 equipment at the start and the end of the season and six weekly services around the Christmas holidays.

Africa: adjustments up and down as required
With Africa also under pressure due to the economic crisis, capacity will be adjusted wherever required. After obtaining the necessary traffic rights, the service to Tripoli – an important destination for the oil industry – will increase to a daily Boeing 737 operation.

The Kilimanjaro–Dar Es Salaam service will be adjusted to a five-weekly frequency, with an increase to a daily service during the peak Christmas period, using Boeing 777-200 equipment. Entebbe will be adjusted from five to four weekly frequencies with an Airbus 330. Cairo will be served six times a week with a Boeing 777-200 and the daily service to Lagos will be downsized from a Boeing 777-200 to an Airbus 330 at the start and the end of the season.

Like last year, the Cape Town service will increase from five weekly services in the summer to a daily service in the winter, reflecting the seasonality of this destination. Now that Kenya has regained its stability, KLM and its partner Kenya Airways will continue to offer two daily flights, which is a major increase in seat numbers compared to last winter.

On routes to other African destinations, capacity remains in line with the summer schedule.



North Atlantic: next steps in new joint venture
The North Atlantic joint venture between Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines has been completed successfully. As demand is still a concern, KLM has adjusted capacity on North Atlantic routes. Delta Air Lines and KLM together offer non-stop services to 20 North Atlantic destinations from Amsterdam. The new joint venture means KLM will reschedule its service to Atlanta to a later slot. Together with the Delta Air Lines service between Amsterdam and Atlanta, KLM will offer twelve weekly frequencies, assuring good connections for onward destinations in both Atlanta and Amsterdam. Also, by implementing additional codeshares beyond the Delta hubs Atlanta and New York (JFK), KLM is able to offer its customers new destinations and improved connections within the USA. After a successful launch this summer, Calgary (Alberta, Canada) is included as a new destination in the winter season portfolio and will be served four times a week with an Airbus 330-200.

Fleet renewal
KLM’s 3rd and 4th new Boeing 777-300 aircraft, which joined KLM’s wide-body fleet this summer, will serve intercontinental destinations. The European fleet renewal programme will continue with the arrival of seven new aircraft. During the winter season, five Embraer 190s and two Boeing 737-700s will join the KLM fleet. This will enable the phase out of the Fokker 50 and the replacement of older Boeing 737 aircraft respectively.

For more information: KLM Media Relations, tel. +31 (0)20 – 649 45 45