News

KLM to launch flights to Bengaluru, axe Colombo services in October

23 May 2019 by Craig Bright
KLM-B787-Economy

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is set to add a third destination in India to its network on October 28 with the launch of non-stop Amsterdam-Bangalore flights as it looks to shore up connectivity to the country amid the suspension of flights from codeshare partner, Jet Airways.

The new thrice-weekly service, operated by the airline’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, will join KLM’s existing flights to Delhi and Mumbai.

The new Benagluru flights will depart Amsterdam on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Flight KL879 departs Amsterdam at 1105 and lands in Bengaluru at 0050 the following day, while the return flight KL880 leaves Bengaluru at 0245 and lands back in Amsterdam at 0825 the same day.

KLM equips its 787-9 Dreamliners with three cabin classes. World Business Class has 30 fully flat seats, Economy Comfort Class has 45 and the standard economy has 219 seats.

KLM World Business Class Boeing 787-9

Next month, KLM is set to take delivery of its first of eight new 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft – a larger variant of its existing 787-9. The new aircraft will feature a refreshed business class seat in the form of Japanese firm Jamco’s Venture product.

The Dutch carrier had previously relied on codeshare partner Jet Airways for its additional connectivity to India, but the Indian carrier was forced to suspend operations last month amid a financial crisis.

“Consequently, KLM decided to raise capacity to India in order to offer our customers alternatives, while continuing to cater to market demand,” KLM said in a statement published on its website.

That being said, KLM is not without its own route suspensions. In order to open the new service to Bengaluru, the Dutch carrier is having to “provisionally suspend” its flights to the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, the same month.

The airline said this was partly due to slot restrictions at Amsterdam Schiphol airport, but added that “recent developments and economic prospects on the island of Sri Lanka have brought commercial pressure to bear upon the flights to Colombo”.

Last month, a series of terrorist attacks across Sri Lanka resulted in the deaths of more than 250 people. The Dutch government subsequently issued an “orange” travel warning for travel to Sri Lanka, advising to do so only if it necessary.

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