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KLM to drop Liverpool services

Published: 14/12/2011 - Filed under: News »

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KLM will cease its three times-daily feeder flights between Liverpool and Amsterdam from next March.

The Dutch carrier commenced flights between the two cities in 2009 (see online news November 3, 2008), the first time it had offered such services since the Second World War.

The flights will cease on March 25, 2012, with KLM’s UK General Manager Henri Hourcade saying that “the continued economic downturn has meant that as a company we have had to make some tough decisions across our global network and unfortunately Liverpool is a casualty of that process”.

Commenting on the news, Easyjet (which serves the Liverpool-Amsterdam route up to three times-daily) said:

“Easyjet has been proud to serve the people of Liverpool since 1996. We are proud that we were providing a regular service from Liverpool to Amsterdam before the airport decided to work with KLM. And we are proud to state that we continue to provide a regular service to Amsterdam both now and once KLM has gone.”

For more information visit klm.com, easyjet.com.

Report by Mark Caswell

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COMMENTS » 

BookBeatlesTours - 19/12/2011 06:44

As an ex pat from Liverpool now living in Vancouver, Canada and operating my own agency and tour operation this is DISASTEROUS NEWS for Liverpool.

Whilst carriers like EasyJet and Ryanair have brought huge growth to Liverpool, the word INTERLINE doesn't exist in a budget carriers model.

It is a fact that Liverpool will not get another world class carrier like KLM who open up Liverpool to the world.

The city fathers who run Liverpool must do everything in their power to persuade KLM to stay. If this means subsidising the service until the economy improves, then that's what they have to do, even in these compulsary budget cutting times .

I have used the service flying back home to Liverpool from Vancouver or Seattle and it offers a seamless, hassle free way to get to "The World in One City", Liverpool. As a travel agent the only way Liverpool Airport can be accessed from our computer reservation systems is with an international carrier like KLM, the EasyJet and Ryanair flights do not show up so it's like CLOSING THE DOORS TO LIVERPOOL, it's that bad!

Liverpool is not only the top party city in the UK beating Manchester and London, but also a huge tourist destination for Beatles fans and cultural tours (Liverpool has UNESCO HERITAGE status, sharing this status with sites like the Egyptian Pyramids and the IndianTaj Mahal).

So come on Liverpool, you have to aggresively pursue a turnaround in KLM's decision, if you don't your status as one of only a handful of U.K. cities who are enjoying an increase in tourist numbers will be lost.

Why don't the city offer some sort of tax reductions to companies who can proove that they use the Liverpool-Amsterdam service with KLM, that would at least be a start to bolster up the passenger figures that might persuade KLM to stay at Liverpool.

From Nigel-Book Beatles Tours-Vancouver

727jesmond - 05/01/2012 19:04

I totally agree, the loss of KLM's link for Liverpool is profound, not because it is the only link between Liverpool and Amsterdam.....it isnt. It is the ability to transfer onwards to other European and long haul destinations, this is not possible with the alternative Easyjet service.

It is a huge shame that service is being axed, particularly as the link appeared to be doing well and growing, certainly, I have read that carryings, are higher than several other UK regional airports. The worst of it is that really, to my mind no other carrier is likely to feel the void, KLM offering the most comprehensive regional links in the UK.

It would be easy for people to say, well just use KLM's Manchester service, this does not however help promote Liverpool City, as a destination that companies may consider to invest in.

qwertfsdfs - 27/02/2012 16:14

If KLM are reading - I think you should reconsider. Liverpool is the UK's fastest growing city economy, with the ACC conference center bringing in £500 million in business to the city. I'll be switching to Easyjet.

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