Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij

Royal Dutch Airlines

Some facts in KLM history  (For a complete online overview, please check the KLM Facebook page )

Sep 1919	Queen Wilhelmina awarded KLM - yet to be founded - its 'Royal' designation.
Oct 1919	Dutch Royal Airlines for the Netherlands and its Colonies (Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij voor Nederland en Koloniën - KLM) was founded.
May 1920	KLM's first pilot, Jerry Shaw, flew from London to Schiphol in a leased De Havilland DH-16.
Apr 1921	Following a winter hiatus, KLM resumed service with its own pilots and aircraft: Fokker F-II and F-III.

       

Oct 1924	KLM initiated its first intercontinental flight, from Amsterdam to Batavia (Colonial Jakarta) in a Fokker F-VII.
Sep 1929	KLM started regular, scheduled service between Amsterdam to Batavia. Until the outbreak of the Second World War, this was the world's longest-distance scheduled service.
Dec 1933	KLM flew Christmas and New Year's cards from Amsterdam to Batavia in a record time of just over four days in a Fokker F-XVIII 'Pelikaan'. The mail arrived in time for Christmas.

Oct 1934

The Douglas DC-2 Uiver won a 'handicap' race - a flight with passengers and cargo - from London to Melbourne.

 

Dec 1934	KLM made its first transatlantic flight, from Amsterdam to Curacao in a Fokker F-XVIII 'Snip'.
May 1946	KLM initiated scheduled service between Amsterdam and New York using the Douglas DC-4 'Rotterdam'.

     

Nov 1958	KLM opened its Amsterdam-Tokyo service, flying over the North Pole using the Douglas DC-7 'Caraïbische Zee'.
Mar 1960	The Jet Age began with the introduction of the Douglas DC-8.
Sep 1966	NLM ("Netherlands Airlines") was founded. This was later renamed NLM Cityhopper.
Feb 1971	The Wide-body Age began with the advent of the Boeing 747-206B.
Jun 1989	KLM introduced the Boeing 747-400, the most advanced 747 of its time.
Jul 1989	KLM acquired a 20% interest in the US carrier Northwest Airlines, an important step toward the creation of a worldwide network.
Apr 1991	KLM merged NLM Cityhopper and NetherLines to create KLM cityhopper.
Oct 1991	KLM increased its interest in charter carrier Transavia from 40% to 80%.
Sep 1993	KLM and Northwest Airlines started operating all their flights between the US and Europe as part of a joint venture.
Jul 1995	KLM introduced Boeing 767-300ER to service.
Spring 2002	KLM announced the first phase of a fleet renewal program for its intercontinental aircraft: three Boeing 747-400ER freighters and eight Boeing 777-200ERs to replace the Boeing 747-300s; two more Boeing 777-200ERs to replace two MD-11s. KLM placed an order with Airbus for six A330-200s. Upon completion of the program, KLM's fleet consisted solely of Boeing 747-400s, Boeing 777-200ERs, and Airbus A330-200s.
Oct 2003	KLM's first Boeing 777-200R landed at Schiphol. The aircraft provides service to Cape Town, Nairobi, and New York.
May 2004	The AIR FRANCE KLM Group was born.
Sep 2004	KLM, Northwest, and Continental join SkyTeam, an international alliance of airlines, of which Air France, Delta Air Lines, Alitalia, Korean Air, CSA Czech Airlines, and Aeromexico were already members.
Aug 2005	Aircraft manufacturer Airbus delivered the first of KLM's A330s.
May 2008	The US Department of Transportation granted antitrust immunity to KLM, Air France, Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines.
Dec 2008	KLM becomes 100% owner of Martinair.
Oct 2009	KLM's 90th anniversary.
Mar 2010	KLM's final Fokker 50 flight.