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KLM returns to Colombo after 20-year break
View(s):By Sunimalee Dias
KLM, one of the world’s oldest airlines, is resuming direct flights to Colombo from Amsterdam, from November 1, after a 20-year absence (since 1997), largely due to the conflict in Sri Lanka. The resumption, making it the only foreign carrier to operate directly from Europe, will help ease the shortage of seats for European visitors, following SriLankan Airlines pulling out of Paris, Rome and Frankfurt.
By the end of this year, the financially-troubled national carrier will be operating only to London. However, KLM, for the moment, will operate during the heavy winter season, through to March (2017) only but, if found viable, would operate flights during summer too, KLM GM for the Indian Subcontinent Max Smits said at a news conference in Colombo on Friday.
During its previous spell, the airline operated via Abu Dhabi, but now is launching direct flights.
KLM is using a new Boeing 787 Dreamliner with a seating capacity of 294- 30 seats in World Business Class, 48 seats in Economy Comfort- with more legroom and extra recline- and 216 seats in Economy Class, with flights available twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays from Amsterdam.
Mr. Smits noted they were interested in having an interline agreement (codeshare) with SriLankan Airlines which is pulling out of Europe. Sri Lanka’s travel trade has welcomed the return of KLM, whose GSA here is Mack Air, owing to a resurgence in tourism since 2009.