Special Collaboration: KLM Operates Flights Between Amsterdam and New York with Air France Pilots
This Wednesday, a special collaboration between KLM and Air France was launched. For the first time, pilots from the French airline will operate scheduled flights for the Dutch carrier on a transatlantic route. The cooperation began with the departure of flight KL641 from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport at 13:25, crewed by Air France pilots and KLM cabin staff.
A Strategic Solution for the Peak Season
The measure is expected to last four months, until the end of the summer schedule on October 25. During this period, a KLM Boeing 777-200 aircraft will operate daily flights between Amsterdam and JFK with Air France pilots at the controls. This initiative is part of a joint strategy to maximize resources within the Air France-KLM Group and ensure flight operations during the demanding summer season.
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Complex Coordination, Precise Execution
The project was not improvised. Over the past few months, teams from both airlines worked intensively to coordinate all technical, legal, and operational aspects. The collaboration involved multiple stakeholders, including unions and aviation authorities, ensuring the operation complied with the regulatory standards of both companies.
Maarten Stienen, KLM’s Chief Operating Officer, emphasized the importance of this agreement: “This collaboration will help KLM operate its scheduled flights this summer. It strengthens our seasonal capacity, which is positive for the entire company. I am proud that we have achieved this within the Air France-KLM Group. I wish all my colleagues on this route a safe flight and excellent cooperation.”
A Precedent for Future Synergies
This cooperation marks a new chapter in the operational integration of the Air France-KLM Group and could pave the way for more ambitious joint initiatives in the future. For now, the industry’s eyes are on this operation, which not only enhances the efficiency of both airlines but also demonstrates the feasibility of synergies in transnational flight operations within the same alliance.
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