KLM is following in the footsteps of Lufthansa and Swiss with a transatlantic business class-only service.
The Dutch carrier is launching six flights a week between Amsterdam and Houston from October 30. The flights will be operated by a Boeing 737-700 aircraft with 44 lie-flat seats in a 2-2 configuration with plug-in points for laptop computers, and like Lufthansa and Swiss the flights are being operated by Geneva-based company PrivatAir.
The flights will replace the current three times weekly Boeing 767 flights operated by KLM between the two cities, but will supplement the daily Boeing 747-400 flights. The net effect is an overall reduction in general capacity but a 45% increase in business class capacity on the route.
Passengers will travel in a PrivatAir liveried jet but can expect the same in-flight service offered in KLM's World Business Class cabins. The flight is being operated as a codeshare with Northwest.
KLM is targeting the service at large corporations, and hopes to appeal in particular to executives from the oil sector. Oil giant Shell recently moved its headquarters from London to Holland, thereby increasing business traffic out of Amsterdam. The new service will also appeal to passengers in transit from Europe, Middle East and North America.
It follows the launch of the Dedicate service by KLM's partner Air France, which ferries oil-related business traffic from Paris to less conventional business destinations such as Equatorial Guinea and Congo-Brazzaville (although Air France offers two classes and uses smaller planes).
Flights will leave Amsterdam at 2.25pm and arrive at Houston at 6.45pm, and will return from Houston at 8.15pm, arriving in Amsterdam at 12.35pm the following day. The service will operate every day except Wednesday.
Report by Alex McWhirter and Ginny McGrath
