Tag: KLM

KLM returns to London City airport with the launch of Amsterdam from 6 February 2017

Dutch airline KLM is to return to London City airport from 6 February 2017 with direct flights to Amsterdam Schipol airport.

Flights with initially operate once a day on weekdays from 6 February 2017. The schedule will progressively increase to four times a day on weekdays with daily flights on Saturdays and twice daily on Sundays from 28 March 2017.

A four times daily schedule will clearly allow for ample connections to and from KLM’s extensive international network at Amsterdam Schipol.

Flights will be operated by KLM CityHopper using 100 seat Embraer E-190 aircraft (which should afford good leg room).

Flights are on sale now at klm.com

The London City – Amsterdam route is currently served by both CityJet and BA CityFlyer so passengers will have an extensive schedule of flights to choose from in 2017.

KLM currently serves London City from Amsterdam via a codeshare arrangement with CityJet and it is assumed this will discontinue after KLM launches its own flights.

KLM Cockpit Tales: How autopilot works, crossing the atlantic, landing at St Martin

KLM have released a short series of “Cockpit Tales” videos showing the work its pilots undertake on a day to day basis to ensure flights operate safely and according to plan.

Filmed using “fixed rig” cameras in the cockpit of KLM aircraft, the first video “Autopilot in Action” shows Captain van Dorst planning a flight from Amsterdam to London Heathrow, how the flight is programmed using flight management software and the use of autopilot, and communications with Air Traffic Control from takeoff through to landing.

In the second video, “Highways In The Sky”, Captain de Vries on a flight from Amsterdam to New York JFK airport shows how the airline plans a flight across the atlantic ocean, where for a large part of the journey the crew and aircraft will have no radar communication with Air Traffic Control.

Finally in “Big plane, short runway”, at just 2,300 metres, Princess Juliana International Airport on the island of Saint Martin has one of the most challenging runways in the world. Captain ten Velde shows how KLM ensures it lands a Boeing 747 jumbo safely on the island.

We like these videos. There’s a huge amount that gets taken for granted in aviation and anything that increases understanding of aviation should be welcomed.

Autopilot In Action

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Christmas Greetings from the world’s airlines

As is customary for this time of year, many of the world’s airlines have produced films and images to share the spirit of the Christmas / Festive / Holiday (delete as appropriate!) season and mark the end of a year of travelling in 2014.

Here are a few films and images that caught our attention. A clear leitmotif is what airlines are fundamentally about: bringing people together.

Air Canada – The Gift Of Home For The Holidays

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Air France launches short-notice £999 business class sale fares to Dubai, Mumbai, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto

There has been a trend in recent years for airlines to announce short-notice sales of deeply discounted business and first class tickets, primarily aimed at leisure travellers in periods where bookings from corporate travellers are relatively low.

Air France has followed this trend and has just announced a special £999 fare for business class flights from London Heathrow to Dubai, Mumbai, Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto.

Whilst £999 is a lot of anyone’s money, it does make the business class cabin much more accessible for those willing to pay and the pricing is particularly keen when compared to economy fares for direct flights during busy travel periods.

Bookings must be made by Monday 18 August 2014. However, bookings are valid for travel from 22 August 2014 to 31 March 2015. Bookings can be made for flights on both Air France and its sister airline, KLM.

As these are not direct flights from London, it does involve a change at either Amsterdam Schipol or Paris Charles de Gaulle airports (a connection at the former is much easier!).

It’s also worth noting that neither Air France nor KLM currently guarantee fully flat beds in business class across all flights. Both airlines are rolling out new fully flat business class products as per the Air France and KLM microsites.

There’s more about the sale on the Air France website.