In March, the Dutch airline will offer flights to Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong.
Starting on March 26, extra flights to China will be added, according to the Dutch national airline KLM. Numerous airlines have declared an increase in capacity and routes offered to China as a result of the Chinese government’s relaxation of COVID-19 regulations.
Additional flights from Amsterdam to China
KLM intends to boost the number of flights to China once the IATA summer schedule starts on March 26, the airline said in a statement this week. KLM will offer three weekly nonstop flights from Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport (AMS) to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays will be the days that flights to Hong Kong depart.
A trip to Shanghai Pudong Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) will also be offered by the Dutch airline (PVG). Before switching to daily service in May, it will begin with six weekly trips.
Due to the demand from business travelers, the Chinese market is essential to KLM’s network. However, authorisation from Chinese officials is required for the planned expansion.
Data from Cirium indicates that KLM intends to resume operations on these routes, using its Boeing 777-200 and -300ER fleets for flights to Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, as well as the Boeing 787-9 for flights to Hong Kong. Over 5,400 tickets will be available for customers on the Dutch airline’s 17 weekly flights by May.
Observing KLM’s extensive fleet
Data from ch-aviation shows that KLM’s fleet consists of 170 aircraft. This number comprises 63 long-haul aircraft, 11 of which were built by Airbus (six A330-200s and five A330-300s), with the remainder coming from Boeing.
The fleet of KLM consists of 15 Boeing 777-200(ER), 16 777-300(ER), 8 787 Dreamliner 10, and 13 787 Dreamliner 9 aircraft. On its flights to China, the airline will mostly use the Boeing 777-200. (11 out of the 17 flights, per Cirium). 316 seats in a three-class layout are available on KLM’s Boeing 777-200ER. On these aircraft, KLM offers 34 flat-seat World Business seats in addition to 40 Economy Comfort and 242 Economy regular seats.
According to Cirium, KLM will primarily deploy the Boeing 777-300ER on flights to Shanghai. This aircraft can accommodate 408 passengers in a three-class layout. 34 World Business, 40 Economy Comfort, and 334 Economy seats are available.
Finally, only flights to Hong Kong will use KLM’s fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliner 9. The wide-body aircraft can accommodate 294 passengers (830 in World Business, 48 in Economy Comfort, and 216 in Economy).
Leaving for China
Numerous airlines have recently declared their comeback to China after lengthy absences as a result of the country’s rigorous COVID-19 travel regulations. Earlier this month, SWISS declared its plan to start operating passenger flights again on March 3 between Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) and Zurich International Airport (ZRH).
The three-year absence of Virgin Atlantic and British Airways from mainland China was also revealed. On April 23 and June 3, respectively, British will reintroduce a daily service between London Heathrow and Shanghai Pudong (four flights per week). Virgin Atlantic will begin daily flights to Shanghai Pudong on May 1.
