KLM will not operate its flights to Las Vegas, Miami and Orlando, following the Dutch government’s decision to designate the US as a “very high risk area”.

The move means unvaccinated US travellers are now effectively banned from entering the Netherlands, while fully vaccinated travellers must quarantine for ten days on arrival.

KLM has been set to fly from Amsterdam to the US cities during the winter period between October 31, 2021, and March 26, 2022, but has now removed the routes from its schedules “until further notice”, and will begin informing customers this week.

The carrier referred to the Dutch government’s decision as “ a big step backwards”.

“Health and fighting COVID-19 are paramount but the measures taken must be effective and proportionate,” said the airline. “It looks like other EU member states, such as Italy, France and Belgium are not putting a triple lock on the door for travelers from the US”.

Last week the European Union published its latest review on travel restriction to the bloc, in which it stated:

“Following a review under the recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, the Council updated the list of countries, special administrative regions and other entities and territorial authorities for which travel restrictions should be lifted. 

“In particular, Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia and the United States of America were removed from the list.”

klm.com