Observing data from RadarBox.com, the movement numbers for KLM have increased by 15% compared to the same period last year. Let’s take a further look into this.
We will take a look at how the airline has performed over the last four weeks and how external situations may be improving for them.
Without further ado, let’s get into it…
KLM’s Numbers…
For April 18-25, KLM handled 681 movements based on a seven-day rolling average provided by the flight tracking company.
This represents an increase of 15.23% compared to the same period last year and is 78 movements short of achieving pre-pandemic figures.
Below is the last four weeks’ worth of data for the carrier:
| Date | 2019 Numbers | 2022 Numbers | 2023 Numbers | Percentage Difference (2023 vs. 2022) |
| March 21-27 | 661 movements | 528 movements | 602 movements | +14.02% |
| March 28-April 4 | 762 movements | 540 movements | 663 movements | +22.78% |
| April 4-11 | 771 movements | 583 movements | 666 movements | +14.24% |
| April 11-18 | 774 movements | 560 movements | 666 movements | +18.93% |
What we can see from the data is that KLM is consistently growing in double digits with its movement numbers.
As we get closer to the Summer season, we will no doubt begin to see the gap between the 2023 figure and the 2019 figure slowly drop.
More Movements on the Way…
It is clear that more movements will be on the way for KLM, particularly for Asia, as the carrier has doubled services to the continent for the Summer program.
In a statement on 22 March 2023, the Dutch flag carrier KLM announced its flying program for the 2023 summer season.
The proposed scheduling shows an increase, primarily in the carrier’s long-haul flying, including a doubling of destinations in Asia.
The airline will double its flights to Asia, compared to 2022, to 16 services. A return to a key region for the airline since COVID restrictions were eased.
With existing daily services to Beijing and Shanghai, the airline will return services three times a week to Hong Kong and twice per week to Taipei via Incheon, South Korea.
In Japan, also via Incheon, KLM operators twice per week to Osaka and three times per week to Tokyo Narita, both in Japan. The twice-a-week direct service to Tokyo will increase by 150% to five times a week in September.
Nearby, KLM will serve Indonesia – Denpasar and Jakarta via Singapore. For Manila, Philippines, this is served five times a week via Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur.
Daily services return to Indian destinations Delhi and Mumbai, and five weekly flights to Bangalore.
In the Middle East, the airline will operate daily to Dubai and Tel Aviv, with the Tel Aviv service operated on the carrier’s widebody Boeing 777 fleet.
Additionally, in the region, KLM also operates a daily service to Kuwait, operating a ‘double stop’ operation – four times a week with Bahrain and three times a week with Muscat, Oman.
Long Haul revival
As expected, the airline is increasing to other areas of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with daily services to the “ABC” Islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao in the Summer.
In the peak season, July and August, the airline is planning as many as 10 flights a week to the island of Curaçao.
KLM will also operate three weekly services to a fellow constituent country, Sint Maarten.
Within the Caribbean, Paramaribo in Suriname will be served by six weekly flights and Port of Spain, Trinidad, and Tobago, by three weekly services.
In North America, the program shows an increase in flights to Toronto, Canada, to 13 flights a week. 10 flights a week were operated in the same period of 2022.
The USA program has expanded to 18 destinations, including New York, Atlanta, Austin, Washington, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
Summer sunrise for KLM…
The announcement also shows expansion to destinations in South America, Africa, and some European destinations.
The new Premium Comfort cabin offered by KLM is becoming available on flights to New York, Los Angeles, Washington, Austin, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary.
The class provides an intermediary between Economy and Business class seating. Cabin conversions were started in the second half of 2022 on the carrier’s Boeing 777 and 787 fleets. It expects to complete the fit by January 2024.
KLM joins other operators in a scramble for the Northern Hemisphere summer programs. All indications show growth is returning to almost (if not actual) 2019 levels.
