FlightGlobal
• Graham Dunn
Chief executive Ben Smith says Air France-KLM is already strongly positioned in the Europe–Latin America market after the group missed out on TAP Air Portugal. He hopes to secure approval for its SAS deal early next year, leaving that transaction as the next key step in the group’s expansion plans.
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Chief executive Ben Smith says Air France-KLM is already strongly positioned in the Europe–Latin America market after the group missed out on TAP Air Portugal. He hopes to secure approval for its SAS deal early next year, leaving that transaction as the next key step in the group’s expansion plans.
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KLM plans to affect up to 5,000 positions through job cuts, outsourcing and transfers as it pursues further savings; a separate report cites 1,000 planned job cuts. The Dutch carrier is also dropping plans for the A320neo and giving the Embraer E195-E2 a larger role in Europe, while retaining the larger A321neo.
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KLM’s first A350-900 began passenger operations on Oct. 30, flying from Amsterdam to Toronto with eight metric tons of cargo. Singapore Airlines plans to unveil updated A350 cabins and inflight experience in 2026 for 2027, while Aircalin’s first A350-900 is set to introduce new seating, business-class suites and upgraded entertainment.
KLM is increasing its A350 service to daily after five weekly rotations, while Philippine Airlines is operating its A350-1000 daily between Manila and San Francisco. PAL says the added premium seats come ahead of the year-end travel peak; KLM’s Montreal and Africa services are still awaited.
KLM says it will not fly to Dubai during the 2026/27 winter season, which runs through March 27. The latest schedule change adds to other airlines’ delayed returns, removing long-haul capacity that Dubai hotels had been counting on this winter.
The United States has fined Air France-KLM $425,000 over operations in banned airspace. The reported case involves a KLM Boeing 777-300ER, but the available information does not identify the airspace or provide further details about the flight or the basis for the penalty.
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KLM has removed Amsterdam–Dubai service from its schedule through the end of March 2027, while Riyadh and Dammam routes remain cancelled. Lufthansa Group carriers Lufthansa, SWISS and Eurowings have also pushed back Dubai resumptions as regional volatility and airport security concerns continue; Emirates is set to operate KLM slots at Dubai in winter 2026/27.
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