KLM returns to Sri Lankan skies after two decades

Twice weekly flights from 1 November

Come 1 November, KLM will resume its direct services to Sri Lanka after a lapse of nearly two decades giving a big boost for in-bound and out-bound tourism.

The airline last week announced its resumption of Amsterdam-Colombo services initially for the upcoming winter season with two flights per week. Flights from Colombo will depart Tuesdays and Saturdays and returning from Schipol on Mondays and Fridays.  Colombo will now be among 140 countries and 320 destinations served by KLM.

The carrier will deploy a brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliner which has 30 seats in World Business Class, 48 seats in Economy Comfort and 216 seats in Economy Class.

The addition of Colombo is among 14 new services for this year and the 2016/17 Winter season for KLM, which will turn 97 years in October.

From left John Keells Transportation Sector President Romesh David, Air France-KLM MEGI Region Senior vice President Welmer Blom and Air France-KLM Indian Sub-Continent General Manager Max Smits - Pic by Daminda Harsha Perera

To date, KLM has been servicing Sri Lanka via Abu Dhabi and until its pullout in 1997, had operated about thrice weekly. 

KLM officials said re-entry signifies the airline optimism on Sri Lanka and the growing demand from Dutch tourists. With SriLankan Airlines pulling out from Paris and Frankfurt, the entry of KLM also offers an attractive proposition for outbound travellers to Europe from Sri Lanka. 

Schipol is one of the popular hubs to Europe and North America. Together with Air France KLM, the airline offers multiple flights to Paris and Frankfurt and several other European destinations. 

“Our re-entry reinforces our confidence in the future of Sri Lanka,” Air France-KLM MEGI Region Senior vice President Welmer Blom said. “Sri Lanka is a popular tourist destination and we feel KLM return is a great fit for both KLM and Sri Lanka,” he added.

Air France-KLM Indian Sub-Continent General Manager Max Smits said that the airline will explore cooperation opportunities with SriLankan Airlines to better serve the needs of the travel market. “Bookings are good and the response so far for the recommencement has been very positive,” he added.

General Sales Agent John Keells Transportation Sector President Romesh David said they were extremely happy to welcome KLM and the addition of 12,000 seats Colombo would be a big boost. “KLM is the only European carrier to be operating to Colombo and I believe it is an important addition to the attractiveness of Sri Lanka as a destination,” he added.