After peaking in Europe in September with 57% of its pre-covid capacity, KLM has decided to make a few changes to its programme over the coming weeks. According to the schedule for October and November, the airline to reduce the number of frequencies to 79 destinations in Europe. And this on a network of 86 destinations on the continent.
The return of travel restrictions and quarantines explains the slowdown by the Dutch carrier, which wanted to exceed the 60% capacity gauge compared with the same period last year.
However, according to OAGwhich analysed the number of weekly frequencies offered by KLM, the number of departures fell from 1,934 flights on 23 August to 1,109 flights in September. According to the analyst, KLM only plans to add frequencies to Europe from 22 and 23 November. By then, the carrier will be offering 1,441 departures per week in Europe.
Virtually all destinations on the continent are affected, with a reduction in frequencies to 79 destinations out of a total of 86. The carrier is completely cancelling its flights to Milan-Linate and Vaxjö in Sweden.
Paris CDG hit hard by reduction in frequencies
On the other hand, the airline confirms the opening on 25 October of a daily service to Poznan (Poland). It will also resume its flights to Alicante and Sandefjord (Norway) at the end of November. The carrier is also increasing its frequencies to Kiev, from 7 to 12 weekly flights.
France has not escaped this general downsizing. At Basel/Mulhouse, Bordeaux and Toulouse, KLM is reducing the number of weekly frequencies from 20 to 14. Lyon and Nice are dropping from 27 and 21 to 14 flights a week respectively, while Montpellier is losing one weekly frequency with five flights.
But Paris is the hardest hit, with the number of frequencies halved. Instead of 42 flights a week, KLM now only offers 21 weekly frequencies to Amsterdam. However, at the end of November, KLM plans to return to 27 weekly flights to the capital. The airline will return to 20 weekly rotations to Lyon and 17 to Bordeaux, Nice and Toulouse.
On intercontinental routes, KLM plans to open or reopen flights to Edmonton and Riyadh.
