Given the uncertain economic environment, the Air France-KLM Group’s increase in capacity in available seat-kilometres (ASK) for the summer 2012 season will be limited to +0.6% including +0.8% on long-haul and -0.2% on medium-haul, excluding the provincial bases. With the launch of the bases in Marseille, Toulouse and Nice, where Air France is significantly reducing its operating costs, the group’s medium-haul operations will post an increase of +3.0%, bringing the total increase in capacity to +1.4%.

This week KLM started with the continuation of the total 200 biofuel  flights from Schiphol Airport to Charles de Gaulle, Paris.

The purpose of this series of flights is to demonstrate that it is possible to mix sustainable biofuel on a serie of scheduled flights.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Kenya Airways are the first carriers in the air transport industry to offer a direct service between China and Africa. The service connects China’s key industrial zone in Guangdong with the Kenyan capital Nairobi, the Gateway to Africa, offering access to all key African markets. Tonight a special freighter will take off from Nairobi, arriving in Amsterdam tomorrow morning. The aircraft is decorated in safari style and bears the slogan “Hunting for Business” in Chinese.

KLM Royal Dutch airlines will operate four flights a week between Amsterdam and Paramaribo from 25 June to 10 September 2012.

By increasing capacity, KLM will better meet higher seasonal demand on this route in the summer. Flights will be operated with Boeing 747-400 aircraft.

If the Elfstedentocht (Eleven Cities Tour) takes place, KLM will – on presentation of a valid entry ticket to the natural ice-skating marathon – offer its customers with KLM tickets bound from or for the Netherlands the option of rebooking their tickets or cancel the day prior and the day after this event at no extra charge.

Passenger:

- 3.7% rise in traffic

- 2.5 gain in load factor

Cargo:

- traffic down 10.3%

- 3 points decline in load factor

KLM today invites a group of European journalists and key Travel Agencies to Ecuador to celebrate the fact that KLM now flies directly to Ecuador.

The new schedule reduces flying time for customers from and to Ecuador with close to four hours each as KLM will operate the flight in 777 aircraft from Amsterdam to Ecuador and back to Amsterdam without the previous intermediate stop in Bonaire.

Today, KLM launches Meet & Seat. This makes KLM the first airline to integrate social networking in its regular flight process. Passengers with a reservation can link their Facebook or LinkedIn profiles to the flight they will be on, in order to see who else is on board.

Erik Varwijk, Managing Director KLM: “With Meet & Seat, KLM takes social networking a step forward. This new service connects passengers and aims to give them a more inspirational journey.”

As of today, Spanish followers and fans of Facebook and Twitter will be able to communicate in their own language.

Starting 1 February, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will resume in-flight sales of alcohol and tobacco on its intercontinental flights.