KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
The Netherlands’ flag carrier, operating an extensive full-service global network from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and known as the world’s oldest airline still flying under its original name.
About KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the flag carrier of the Netherlands and was founded in 1919. It is widely recognized as the world’s oldest airline still operating under its original name. KLM forms part of the Air France-KLM group, while retaining its Dutch identity, branding and principal operating base. Its scheduled passenger business is complemented by cargo operations and partnerships with regional and international airlines.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is KLM’s primary hub and the center of its connecting network. The airline serves 257 destinations across 92 countries through 679 routes, linking the Netherlands with cities throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Amsterdam is its busiest departure point, while Nairobi, Xiamen, Guangzhou and Sao Paulo also feature prominently among departure cities across the wider network represented in its schedules.
Aircraft associated with KLM’s operations include Airbus A330 variants and Boeing 737-family jets, alongside aircraft operated within its broader partner and regional network. The listed operational records also include Airbus A318, A319, A320 and A321-family types, as well as Avro regional jets. Service varies by route, with Economy and business-class products, while KLM’s own long-haul flights can also offer Premium Comfort between Economy Class and World Business Class.
KLM is a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance, giving passengers access to an extensive network of partner airlines, coordinated connections and reciprocal benefits for eligible frequent flyers. Its loyalty programme is Flying Blue, shared with Air France and several associated carriers. Members can earn and redeem Miles across participating airlines and other partners, while tier status can provide benefits such as priority services, lounge access and additional baggage, subject to fare and membership conditions.
KLM’s main strength is the breadth of connectivity available through a single, well-positioned European hub, particularly for journeys combining short-haul feeder flights with long-haul services. Schiphol can nevertheless become congested, and connection times, walking distances or disruption may affect the experience during busy periods. Travellers should also distinguish KLM-operated flights from codeshare services, because aircraft, cabins, baggage rules and onboard standards can differ when a partner airline operates the flight.
Good to know
Flying with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines — what to expect
Check the Operator
KLM sells codeshare flights operated by partner airlines. Check the operating carrier because cabin service, seat selection and baggage conditions may differ.
Schiphol Connections
Amsterdam Schiphol is a large single-terminal airport, and some transfers involve lengthy walks or passport control. Leave a sensible connection margin, especially when crossing the Schengen border.
Baggage by Fare
Checked-baggage inclusion depends on the route, cabin and fare family, and the lightest Economy fares may exclude it. Review the allowance shown on your booking before paying for bags at the airport.
Cabin Options
Cabin products vary by aircraft and route. Premium Comfort is available on eligible KLM long-haul services, while European flights generally use Economy and Europe Business Class configurations.
Flying Blue Benefits
Flying Blue members can earn Miles on eligible KLM and partner flights. Elite benefits depend on status, fare and operating carrier, so verify eligibility for lounges, priority services and extra baggage.
Disruption Planning
Weather, air-traffic restrictions and congestion at Schiphol can affect tightly timed connections. Keep the KLM app or booking contact details available for gate changes and rebooking notices.
Network overview
Where KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flies
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines operates 679 routes to 257 destinations across 92 countries, its longest sector reaching Amsterdam to Buenos Aires (11,462 km nonstop).
Destinations served
Cities KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flies to, most-served first.
Main hubs
Busiest departure bases, by route count.
Fleet
Aircraft types on record for these routes.
Longest nonstop route
Amsterdam → Buenos Aires
11,462 km · AMS → EZE
The longest sector in the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines network, measured as the great-circle distance between the two airports.
Route data · TravelPayouts route data · updated 2026-07
Route network
Popular routes operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Tracked KLM Royal Dutch Airlines routes touch Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, China, Ecuador, Sudan, Ethiopia, Indonesia and 1 more countries.
KGL - EBBKigali → Entebbe0h 53m340 kmBOS - LHRBoston → London6h 31m5,241 kmLHR - BOSLondon → Boston6h 31m5,241 kmLHR - JFKLondon → New York6h 52m5,541 kmXIY - HGHXian → Hangzhou1h 52m1,191 kmUIO - GYEQuito → Guayaquil0h 49m270 kmURC - XIYUrumqi → Xian2h 55m2,106 kmJFK - LHRNew York → London6h 52m5,541 kmADD - KRTAddis Ababa → Khartoum1h 39m1,000 kmKRT - ADDKhartoum → Addis Ababa1h 39m1,000 kmKUL - CGKKuala Lumpur → Jakarta1h 48m1,131 kmHGH - SZXHangzhou → Shenzhen1h 44m1,071 kmCAN - CKGGuangzhou → Chongqing1h 37m967 kmCKG - CANChongqing → Guangzhou1h 37m967 kmCGK - KULJakarta → Kuala Lumpur1h 48m1,131 kmReviews of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
TripAdvisor · 2023–2023- 55
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What travellers flew
Counted from the 50 reviews below — a tally of the flights reviewed, with each chip carrying the average score those reviewers gave. Nothing here reads their prose or summarises what they said.
✓ marks a group averaging 7/10 or better, − one averaging 4/10 or worse, across at least three reviews.
Actual flight OK - the rest, a total shambles
Have flown with KLM for many years. On this occasion I was shocked by the appalling check in experience and incompetent member of staff. I checked in online and boarding cards were not available - told had to check in at the airport to get boarding passes. I… See more assumed that this was just a system glitch. On line chat was completely useless and I telephoned to try and get the issue sorted (hand luggage only). After holding for over an hour, I spoke to someone who told me that check-in would be open 3 hours before the flight departure time. Also told me that the check-in opened at 13.05 (flight was due to depart at 13.30). Left with no option but to check in at the airport, we discovered that check-in opened 2.5 hours before departure. We then had the great misfortune to be dealt with by a member of staff who insisted that we had to check in backpacks. Advised her that we were carrying medical monitoring equipment, medication and laptop. She said that we should put all such things in one backpack and that we could take one on board. I said that the bags were not suitable for the hold, they have straps and do not lock. She said that many people did not lock bags and that they could go via large luggage section. (Bags meet hand luggage requirements for KLM and were half the allowed weight). Asked her how much to upgrade so that we could take both bags on board. She said £169!! Eventually she deigned to refer to her supervisor. Supervisor looked at the bags and said, without hesitation that they were fine to be taken on board as hand luggage. Agent did not even apologise. We proceeded through security. Flight was then delayed by what turned out to be two hours. Actual flight was fine, but we will never fly KLM again.
See lessPosted December 2023 by JJEnglandUK, Kenilworth
Terrible experience in difficult times
I booked the ticket from Toronto to India but currently cause there is no Visa services from Canada to India I requested to have a refund my ticket. I booked my ticket to the app and I canceled and requested a refund to the app as well. I totally understand… See more that the ticket was non-refundable. But just cause it was not voluntary reqiest and I have to cancel cause of visa service, I really thought KLM would understand the situation. Its a lot of money to go see family back home but not to KLM It's very upsetting cause my grandfather passed away. And I cannot even go visit my family. So KLM is not being there for its clients. I was comfortable to get us credit and not get money back so I can I travel with them still when the services resume from Canada to India but they did not do that either.. and the reason being cause I requested refund through app. If i can boom a ticket through app, why ai cannot request refund through app. It should be the same procedure. The customer care representative told me I should have called them first... they don't realize its a tough time for my family and i just lost my grandfather. So very heartless response .they don't appreciate the value of the customers or the emotions behind and the urgent situations that we have. It's really upsetting.
See lessPosted September 2023 by Manpreet S, Toronto
Shrinkflation of the Skies
There is a theme running through KLM which is mean and underhand. Here’s how they work; - prices offered are reasonably competitive. Coupled with a historically good reputation and some good inflight staff this gets you buying a ticket. Then the Shrinkflation… See more starts…. - the ticket price doesn’t include anything. Seat reservations (even for families), baggage - even on transatlantic. The additional fees are steep and represent a significant chunk of the final cost. - cheap on food a drinks. A miserliness has crept into the onboard service. I was offered one drink (beer or wine) on a transatlantic flight and they only serve one at a time. 1 drink in 7 hours? Don’t worry, it will be a small one too. As will the food. - seat pitch is at the edge of acceptability. A surprise for the tallest nation on earth but like most things klm is smaller than it should be. - expect micro-aggressions. Don’t know about you but I’ve always split my weight across bags. Nothing crazy but the odd bag over 22kg (say 25) but others at 17. KLM make you go through the indignity of re-packing. Don’t know why? They do a 32kg bag for some customers so it’s not a health and safety issue. Sadly really as they let down their very good staff with poor policy.
See lessPosted September 2023 by WalkersFox
First time ..won't be last
I used this airline from Switzerland to Amsterdam for the first time. I was totally impressed by this airline. Friendly staff; no hassle for exact bag weight; onboard service was also excellent. All went well. No lost luggage or damage at a time when many… See more other passengers on other airlines were reporting lost luggage. I am impressed with this airline and will definitely reuse.
See lessPosted August 2023 by Coryy20, Port of Spain
Disappointing experience
I have traveled from Rio to Amsterdam on a KLM flight on the 28th of July. I have booked this particular flight and adjusted my holiday to be able to fly in a 787-9 aircraft with a 1-2-1 set up and direct access to aisle as this was a night flight and I was… See more traveling back alone. KLM change the aircraft and did not send any communication about this ( I wasn’t even to told at check-in) and I ended up travelling in an outdated aircraft with no access to the aisle. I have paid extra 300£ when booking the flight to be able to choose my seat as I wanted to make sure I have access to the aisle on this flight for personal reasons. If I would have known I could have asked for adjustments or even changed the flight for a different day, but I was not given this opportunity. I have sent a complaint to customer service only to be told this is not a genuine complaint and seats are not guaranteed apparently, even if you pay for it - newly introduced option to charge passengers more as previously on KLM business you could have picked seat without charge. I will not fly again KLM, there is no point making a financial effort and pay for business class to receive subomptimal service and be charged for things that are not delivered. This is particularly disappointing as I previously had good experiences with this airline but I looks like things have changed and not for the best.
See lessPosted August 2023 by Roxanna ☀️, London
KLM Customer Service is NON-Existent and they don’t care!
Flew for a 22 day vacation from the US to Ireland. Last leg AMS-DUB the pilot comes over the PA just before we land to inform us that they left most of the bags for the passengers in Amsterdam “due to a baggage system issue”. Promises they will be on the next… See more flight. I counted six bags come off the airplane. Did no one from KLM question a full plane of passengers only having six bags? We left on time so it wasn’t like anyone called to check on it. There was even a group of about twenty kids headed to summer camp and none us us received our luggage. Over six days it took for them to “find” our luggage! Two more days to get it to us. In the interim you get alleged customer service agents from all over the world that direct you back to a web site tracker that doesn’t work. None of them have a supervisor and none of them are willing to escalate. To top it out when using social media to try and get in touch with someone, we were almost scammed into giving our banking information. They have serious issue at AMS with luggage, it is well documented. I even e-mailed the CEO with no response because apparently they DON’T CARE! Because my flight was booked initially with Delta I have no booking reference number so I cannot even begin to process my over $720 reimbursement request. Trying to get that reference number is equally difficult as the customer service representatives are incompetent. STAY AWAY FROM KLM YOU ARE BETTER OFF WITH ANY OTHER AIRLINE!
See lessPosted July 2023 by Batt2, Weston
Traveller reviews originally published on TripAdvisor, shown for reference — service standards may have changed since. Originfacts does not edit or verify individual reviews, and the sample reflects who chose to leave one.
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FAQ
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines — frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the details travellers usually check first, from codes and locations to the practical basics that help with planning.
8 common questions
- KLM’s carry-on allowance depends on the cabin, fare and operating carrier. Passengers should check the current size, weight and item limits displayed in their booking or on KLM’s official baggage page before departure.
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines serves destinations across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Its network includes Amsterdam, Nairobi, Guangzhou, Sao Paulo, London, Atlanta, New York, Paris and Beijing.
- The busiest departure cities in KLM Royal Dutch Airlines’s network are Amsterdam, Nairobi, Xiamen, Guangzhou and Sao Paulo, with Amsterdam Airport Schiphol serving as the primary hub.
- The longest route is Amsterdam to Buenos Aires, covering about 11,462 km nonstop.
- Originfacts compares live fares from hundreds of airlines and travel agencies via its partner Travelpayouts. Originfacts never adds a fee.
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines serves 257 destinations across 92 countries, operating 679 routes.
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines’s primary hub is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Amsterdam is the airline’s busiest departure city and the main connecting point for its European and intercontinental network.
- KLM fares are often lower outside school holidays, major events and peak summer or Christmas travel periods. Comparing flexible dates and booking earlier for popular long-haul routes can improve the chances of finding a lower fare.