Airline Flights & Reservations

Book KLM Royal Dutch Airlines – The World's Oldest Airline Still Flying

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines holds a unique distinction in global aviation: it is the world's oldest airline still operating under its original name, a heritage that speaks to more than a century of relentless innovation and passenger-focused service. Founded in 1919 and headquartered in Amstelveen, Netherlands, KLM operates from its iconic home base at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) — one of Europe's most efficient and passenger-friendly international hubs. As a core member of the SkyTeam alliance and part of the Air France-KLM Group since 2004, KLM passengers enjoy seamless connectivity to over 1,000 airports worldwide.

KLM's network spans more than 90 countries across six continents, with particular strength in connecting Europe, Africa, the Americas, the Middle East, and Asia through the Schiphol hub. The airline is renowned for its distinctive KLM blue livery, its iconic Delft ceramic miniature houses — filled with Dutch gin and presented to World Business Class passengers — and a culture of innovation that stretches from the first passenger flight to Amsterdam to the present day. Call +1 (888) 457-7599 to book your KLM journey with expert assistance, 24 hours a day.

KLM History – A Century of Dutch Aviation

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was founded on October 7, 1919, making it the world's oldest commercial airline still operating under its original name — a record no other carrier on earth can match. The airline flew its first commercial service on May 17, 1920, connecting London and Amsterdam in a de Havilland DH.16 biplane carrying two passengers and a quantity of newspapers. From those humble origins, KLM expanded methodically across Europe and then the world, becoming one of the first intercontinental carriers with long-distance services to the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) beginning in 1924.

Through the twentieth century, KLM pioneered numerous aviation firsts — among them the first transatlantic passenger service to South America in 1934, early jet operations in the 1960s, and an unwavering commitment to safety standards that made KLM a benchmark for the industry. The Air France-KLM merger in 2004 created one of Europe's largest aviation groups, but KLM has preserved a distinctly Dutch character — pragmatic, direct, and quietly excellent — that sets it apart from its French partner. Today KLM operates over 90 aircraft on intercontinental routes and employs more than 35,000 people globally.

World Business Class – Premium Dutch Hospitality

KLM World Business Class is the airline's flagship intercontinental cabin and one of the most genuinely comfortable business products operated by any European carrier. The centerpiece of the World Business Class experience is the fully flat 180-degree seat in an angled herringbone layout that ensures every single passenger has direct aisle access — no middle seats, no climbing over neighbors, no disruption during overnight flights. The seat transforms into a flat bed of nearly 2 meters, with a proper mattress topper and duvet for genuine sleeping comfort on long-haul routes.

KLM's Dutch culinary heritage shines in the World Business Class dining experience, with menus curated by internationally recognized Dutch chefs using seasonal ingredients and traditional Dutch flavors updated for a contemporary palette. The Delft blue miniature ceramic house — a tradition dating to 1952, each one modeled on a real Dutch building and filled with Dutch genever gin — is presented to passengers upon boarding and has become one of aviation's most beloved traditions. At Amsterdam Schiphol, World Business Class passengers access the KLM Crown Lounge, a spacious facility with restaurant dining, showers, and a business center that regularly ranks among Europe's best airline lounges.

Premium Comfort – KLM's Economy Plus

KLM Premium Comfort is the airline's dedicated Economy Plus cabin, available on intercontinental routes and positioned as a genuine intermediate product between standard Economy and full Business Class. Premium Comfort passengers benefit from approximately 10 centimeters of additional legroom compared to Economy seats, a wider seat with improved ergonomics, a dedicated footrest, and an enhanced recline angle that makes extended flights significantly more comfortable for most passengers.

The Premium Comfort cabin is located in a dedicated section of the aircraft, creating a more exclusive atmosphere with fewer passengers and dedicated overhead bin space. Passengers receive priority boarding ahead of Economy, a complimentary multi-course meal service, a welcome drink on departure, and a dedicated amenity kit on longer routes. On KLM's 787 Dreamliner fleet, Premium Comfort seats benefit from the aircraft's larger windows, higher cabin pressure, and improved humidity levels that reduce fatigue on long-haul routes. For travelers who want a meaningfully better experience without the full Business Class price, Premium Comfort represents compelling value.

Flying Blue – The Joint KLM & Air France Loyalty Program

Flying Blue is the joint frequent flyer program of KLM and Air France, one of Europe's most widely distributed loyalty programs and among the most flexible globally for earning and redeeming across partner networks. Members earn both Miles and XP (Experience Points) on every KLM and Air France flight, with additional earning through the entire SkyTeam alliance network — including Delta Air Lines, Korean Air, Garuda Indonesia, China Eastern, and Alitalia — as well as hotel partners, car rental companies, and credit card programs in Europe and the United States.

The status ladder rises through Explorer, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Ultimate tiers. Gold and Platinum members access KLM and Air France lounges worldwide regardless of booking class, receive priority check-in and boarding, and benefit from complimentary upgrade consideration when seats are available. Flying Blue's Miles + Cash feature allows members to combine miles with a cash contribution to purchase tickets — reducing the miles required for premium cabin redemptions and making the program accessible for travelers with moderate balances. Flying Blue regularly publishes Promo Rewards with deeply discounted award prices, sometimes as few as 8,000 miles for European routes.

Schiphol Hub Advantage & KLM Fleet

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) is one of the most strategically positioned and passenger-friendly international hubs in the world. Unlike Frankfurt, London Heathrow, or Paris CDG — all multi-terminal complexes requiring shuttle connections — Schiphol operates as a single terminal, meaning connections between any two KLM flights are simply a matter of walking between gates. Minimum connection times of 40 minutes are achievable for international-to-international transfers, and the linear terminal design means no hidden escalators or confusing corridor networks to navigate.

KLM's long-haul fleet centers on the Boeing 777-200ER and 777-300ER for high-density transatlantic and Asian routes, with Boeing 787-9 and 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft deployed on medium-density intercontinental services where fuel efficiency and passenger comfort are priorities. The Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 handle medium-haul routes to Africa and some transatlantic services. European routes are covered by the Boeing 737-700, 737-800, and 737-900 family, while regional and thin-route European services are operated by KLM Cityhopper using Embraer 175 and 190 aircraft. KLM connects Schiphol to more than 90 global destinations daily, making it one of the continent's best-connected carriers.