KLM, Royal Dutch Airlines turns 85 on October 7. When the festivities begin on October 7, the KLM will be celebrating more than just its 85th anniversary.
It is exactly 85 years ago that KLM was founded. While KLM was not the world’s first airline, it has operated longest under the same name than any airline in the world.
From open cockpit to comfortable cabin, from 345 passengers a year to more than 345 passengers a flight.
KLM yesterday unveiled its story:
It is October 7, 1919. A group of investors and entrepreneurs gather to sign the founding charter of the Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij or KLM Royal Dutch Airlines at a notary’s office in The Hague. The 30-year-old Albert Plesman is appointed head of the company. It is no minor feat to stand at the helm of a new concern in such an extremely young industry. But Plesman believed in civil aviation. His motto: The air unites all peoples. This turned out to be a visionary’s statement, because there was no indication in the early days that flying would become the most normal thing in the world. Air travel was extremely expensive, rather uncomfortable, and not much faster than going by train or boat.
It was more than six months after the company had been founded before the first flight took place. On May 17, 1920, the first KLM flight left London for Amsterdam. On board were two journalists, a bundle of newspapers and a letter for the mayor of Amsterdam. Plesman was also determined to link the Netherlands with the Dutch East Indies. A single-engined KLM Fokker F7 made the first flight to Batavia, today’s Jakarta, in 1924. Engine trouble led to the journey taking 55 days with 18 stopovers. It took a number of years before a scheduled service was established between Amsterdam and the Dutch East Indies. Flight frequency increased and flying time decreased. In 1933, KLM set a record with the Pelican, a Fokker F18. The aircraft delivered the Christmas post to the East Indies in four days, four hours and 35 minutes. The whole of the Netherlands followed the flight’s progress intently via the radio and newspapers on its return flight. It landed in thick fog without any incident at Schiphol on December 30 of that year.
KLM’s small domestic market and growing competition compelled the airline to cooperate with other carriers such as Kenya Airways, Malaysia Airlines and Nippon Cargo Airlines. A major stride was taken in 1989 when KLM and Northwest Airlines forged an alliance in the wake of the Open Skies Treaty between the US and the Netherlands. This trend-setting step for the airline industry was closely observed by airlines around the world. The 1990s were above all financially challenging. Cost-cutting measures were implemented to regain profitability and KLM succeeded. KLM proved to be resilient enough to strengthen its financial position time and again.
The 21st century got off to a bumpy start. War in Iraq, the September 11 attacks and the global threat of Sars fuelled economic uncertainties. At that point, KLM had already been investigating the possibility of more intense cooperation.
Achieving economies of scale became crucial to the continued existence of KLM and the right partner was found in Air France and on September 30, 2003, the merger became a fact. Emotions ran high in the Netherlands, but the directors held their ground. The Air France-KLM Group embodies the first far-reaching global alliance between two network airlines of this scale.
The new holding structure offers sufficient room for the potential of both brands to be optimally utilised. KLM is still KLM and Air France is still Air France.
(source: www.timesofoman.com)
Happy Birthday KLM!!!
I wish you good luck in the future!!!By the way, any an idea when KLM will open her doors. I've heard that they will celebrate their party with an open house including a tour through the hangars and the rest of the world of KLM.
