KLM will start again flying into Zimbabwe in 29 October, 2012.

Until the year 2000 Zimbabwe had multiple international airlines flying in and out of the country. But as Zimbabwe's political anarchy, one by one they withdrew their services.

Now Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) is back and starting its first flights to Zimbabwe on October 29^th to Harare, along with Lusaka, Zambia, will be added as their newest destinations.

In a statement they said: "KLM sees great growth opportunities in Africa. This year we launched service to Luanda in Angola, Lusaka in Zambia and in 2011 we began serving Kigali in Rwanda.

The airline said it would also offer 11 weekly services to Harare via Nairobi in co-operation with Kenya Airways.

Flight KL523 will be operated with an Airbus A330-200 on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing from Schiphol at 10:20 and arriving in Harare on the same day at 21:25.

The return leg of the circle trip has the same number, KL523, leaving Harare at 22:30 the same day, with an intermediate landing in Lusaka. The flight arrives in Amsterdam the following morning at 10:20.

KLM launches new route to Luanda in Angola

KLM expanded its African network on 14 November by launching two weekly flights to Luanda (LAD) from its Amsterdam (AMS) hub. KLM will be operating to the Angolan capital airport, which its sister airline Air France already also serves twice a week from Paris, with 318-seat 777-200ER aircraft. Air France and KLM will be serving a total of 45 destinations in Africa this winter.

KLM and WestJet will start operating code share flights

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and WestJet operated their first code share flights on September 26, 2011. The code share agreement between the two airlines will allow KLM to market and distribute WestJet operated flights under KLM flight numbers. This will enhance the travel possibilities for our customers, giving them access to 30 domestic Canadian routes.

KLM considers code sharing with WestJet as an important step in increasing the portfolio of flights and destinations it can offer via its four Canadian gateways. 

Pieter Elbers, Chief Operating Officer for KLM, commented: “We are proud to enter into a code share agreement with WestJet, becoming WestJet’s first European code share partner. Canada is a key market for KLM. With this new code share arrangement, KLM passengers will now have access to 30 new routes in Canada, connecting with KLM’s flights to Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Calgary.”

Gregg Saretsky, WestJet’s Chief Executive Officer commented: “WestJet is very pleased to have KLM as our first European code share partner. With an extensive global network and a long history of excellence, we foresee a strong cooperation between KLM and WestJet. We look forward to welcoming our joint guests aboard WestJet.”

KLM powers flight with cooking oil derivative

Dutch carrier KLM has made history by powering scheduled flight KL1233 from Amsterdam to Paris on biokerosene produced from used cooking oil.
The flight, which took off at 1230 from Amsterdam Schiphol airport, was operated by a B737-800 aircraft, with 171 passengers on board.
The flight is a precursor to a schedule which will see over 200 biokerosene flights being operated by KLM between Amsterdam and Paris this September.
Managing director of KLM Camiel Eurlings said that the intiative showed the carrier “leads the world in showing that innovation and sustainability are inextricably linked”.
KLM says it is “open to using different raw materials for the end product, as long as they meet a range of sustainability criteria, including substantial reductions in CO2 emissions and minimum negative impact on biodiversity and food supply”.