A very smart operator?

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  • Anonymous
    Guest

    JohnHarper
    Participant

    I was in AMS on Monday for a couple of meetings including one at Schipol where we were accommodated in a room which had an excellent view of a large chunk of the apron and I had a very good view of what was going on outside.

    Quite a lot of planes came and went in the course of the couple of hours some newer and some older.

    What did strike me without exception was the absolutely pristine appearance of aircraft operated by KLM. The dominant blue could so easily fade but every example I saw including the ones I travelled there and back on looked factory fresh.

    I saw others that were not so good including a BA 734 that looked like it could have done with a full re-paint five years ago.

    When you are at the base of an airline, no matter who it is you usually see some aircraft that look like they could do with some TLC but KLM was certainly an exception.

    The interior of the aircraft I travelled on was also spotless and an absolute credit to KLM.

    Were you staring out the window for the duration of the meeting Mr Harper? ;-);-)


    JohnHarper
    Participant

    Not quite all of it Alex!

    It was mostly a formality to go over something already agreed so as I had other members of the team with me who were doing the work I sat back a bit and enjoyed the scenery.


    CXDiamond
    Participant

    I agree about the smart appearance of KLM. I flew with them recently and was very impressed with the crew, the food offering and the well above average state of the aircraft both in and out.


    MarcusUK
    Participant

    Hi John.
    I do agree, flying through to AMS each week on KLM from LHR, i always see the same. The famous “KLM Blue” is one of their trademarks, and one of the most distinctive and long lasting identities of any Airlie.
    KLM is also the World’s oldest Airline.

    Schiphol as we all know is often voted one of the World’s best and best in Europe. The integration of the transportation is simply superb. I know the Ground Engineer / Operations Director, and he is a meticulous and extremely bright and levelled guy. Everything outside the terminals is his ultimate responsibility. Each aircraft is given clearance to leave the gate so it can taxi in sequence, to take off without stopping as it arrives at the runway, to save fuel and emissions!

    It is always a neat airport, each gate designated for what aircraft will be there each day at spaced out times. All the support aspects are parked neatly waiting for the next aircraft, the same at each gate.

    The Dutch are quite a fastidious and organised Nation, people’s homes are also pretty tidy open and great pride in them.

    I think this is a very Dutch quality, and KLM and its crew reflect a decent style of Management, that is not dictatorial but very democratic. The Airline have made great steps and innovations in the last years, many ideas from those on the lower levels of the structure.
    KLM is and has been in profit for quite a few years, nice young and very well maintained fleet, one of the best in Europe. They are very contemporary, and hold a superb image, which is their PR where they fly.

    They are a pleasure to fly, as is Schiphol to fly through, something that has always been and will going forwards.


    IanFromHKG
    Participant

    MarcusUK – 18/04/2014 22:48 GMT : KLM is also the World’s oldest Airline.

    Well, the oldest operating under its original name. SAS can claim earlier origins, as one of its constituent airlines, Det Danske Luftfartselskab, dated back to 29 October 1918, almost a year before KLM was founded 🙂

    Also, KLM stopped operating during WWII. The oldest continuously operating airline, I believe, is QANTAS.


    ViajeroUK
    Participant

    In agreement with all above, use KLM frequently from my local airport, and onwards via AMS, which is a much better hub for me than LHR.

    Very impressed with the latest WBC seats/beds on their 747 fleet, must be one of the best around.


    MarcusUK
    Participant

    Here is a list of the World’s oldest Airlines…

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airlines_by_foundation_date

    As you can see KLM is “The Oldest Airline Still operating.”
    It also did still run services, even though they be in the Caribbean, during WW II.
    I am sure they would not make this claim. were it not well founded.
    Some time ago, Alex confirmed this.

    Avianca was the second, and Qantas over a year later.

    If you take Qantas it refers to them operating from One base, as KLM had some International bases unaffected by the restrictions of The World War.

    So the KLM claim is correct.


    LuganoPirate
    Participant

    Fully agree about KLM but can’t help but feel many of the European airlines older planes seem much cleaner and fresher than those of BA. Interiors are usually spotless whereas BA’s always seem tired!


    JohnHarper
    Participant

    That’s so true, step on an LH 737 and you would not really be able to differentiate it from a factory fresh A320 whereas at BA the duct tape would be in evidence.


    MarcusUK
    Participant

    Two of us returned from CPT Business with VS from Cape Town last year, and had a KLM flight to AMS to connect to.
    Due to bad weather, everyone was delayed at LHR.
    However, BA told KLm they would have plane out in 2 hrs for sure.
    We were re-bookjed onto it.
    When we did get on, the CE cabin was in a filthy state and delapidated to say the least. Ripped seat pocket with food stains inside and out, a broken seal arm taped up and such dust and grime beneath the seat. I have never see a cabin on any European aircraft in such a broken down and unclean state. It was an A320.

    We also sat at a remote stand for 4 hrs, and eventually on leaving our luggage went missing for 4 days!

    Never with any KLM plane, have I ever seen such a state of disrepair, or unclean cabins. They almost entirely renewed every European network plane in the last 5 years (only some F70’s to exchange for new Embraer 190’s).

    They are in fact, the best fleet in Europe, sparking clean and well kept in every aspect, and always impress passengers as i hear around me always, as do the crew. they are an Impeccable Airline for European flights alone.


    MarkCymru
    Participant

    @Ian_from_HKG You would think that KLM suspended operations during WWII but it didn’t. The Netherlands was, of course, occupied after 1940 but the only scheduled air service from the UK for much of the war was operated by KLM, from Bristol to Lisbon. It was shot down twice (by mistake said the Luftwaffe) but kept on flying throughout.

    Talking of Bristol, it’s lucky that none of you seem to have flown KLM from UK regional airports. It’s much better now (thanks to new small jets) but their elderly Fokkers operated these routes until recently. Not only were they very tatty but they were extremely unreliable — our Cardiff flight one night had passengers from three other cancelled regional flights


    MarcusUK
    Participant

    Interesting Mark…though i have to shock you, that one one day a couple of weeks ago, KLM flew 5 Fokker 70’s on flights to LHR!
    They seem dome days to reduce capacity, taking off a 737, not even using the New Embrarer 190’s they have on this route.

    One 737 flight was cancelled and an F70 used, cramming everyone in. It truly was unpleasant, must have been one of the smellest aircraft apart from the F50 flying into LHR.
    Amazing KLM run as many as 6 aircraft within 2 hrs some weekdays eves AMS-LHR. Surely they could share their slot, and run one good 738/9?

    Otherwise, the slot would be worth quite something to sell.


    JohnHarper
    Participant

    I don’t understand the late afternoon/early evening scheduling of KLM from AMS-LHR. There are something like five flights in a two hour period using Fokkers which are a bit past their use by date though they still look good.

    It must be a slot sitting exercise by either them of SkyTeam.

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