On Sunday afternoon, 25 October 2020 at Poznań-Ławica Airport, the official inauguration of the new KLM route took place. From 25 October this year, the Dutch carrier is offering a direct flight connection from Poznań to Amsterdam. Initially, flights will take place up to 5 times a week. Thanks to this, residents of Poznań and the entire Greater Poland Region will not only be able to visit Amsterdam in a convenient way, but will also gain access to the global flight network of the Dutch carrier via their base airport of Amsterdam-Schiphol.

Due to the pandemic, the Sunday event in Poznań took place without the participation of the media, but the report on the landing and welcoming the first plane can be viewed here.

For more than 101 years Royal Dutch Airlines have been a pioneer in passenger aviation and the oldest airline in the world, still operating under its original name. KLM pursues its goals based on core values – exceptional customer care, innovation, high performance, trustworthy service, a modern fleet and top quality products. The carrier is also distinguished by its deep commitment to environmental protection and its ambition is to set new standards for the industry in this area and to create a sustainable aviation future. Over the last five years, the AIR FRANCE KLM Group has managed to expand its route network to/from Poland, doubling the total number of flights. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, KLM’s autumn-winter flight schedule will be much more limited compared to the same period last year. The airline plans to offer a total of 52 flights a week from five Polish cities, including Poznań.*

KLM is offering 5 flights per week on the new route and flights will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. The schedule is as follows: the plane will take off from Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam at 14:40, landing in Poznań at 16:20. The return flight from Poznań will depart at 16:45 to reach Amsterdam at 18:35.**

In recent months, the airline has taken numerous precautions to strengthen the safety and health protection of passengers and staff on each flight. The boarding and the entire flight on board KLM planes takes place in face masks. Aircraft cabins are very thoroughly cleaned and equipped with HEPA filters, which provide high quality, clean air with a high degree of circulation. Information on procedures during KLM flights can be found at klm.nl and in a specially prepared video.

„I am very pleased that despite the current circumstances, we can launch a new connection from Poland. Today, Poznań has been included in the global KLM network. This proves the confidence and trust that KLM places in the Polish market. As we all know, this year the entire aviation and tourism sector is experiencing an unprecedented challenge. Due to travel restrictions imposed by many countries, our current schedule is limited. However, we are pleased that this autumn KLM passengers will have a total of 52 flights a week from five Polish cities, including a new route from Poznań. All KLM personnel, both on the ground and on board, are committed to providing our passengers with the highest level of safety and health protection possible. We have taken a number of precautions during flights and at the base airport, as well as adjusted the ticket sales and return policy to ensure safe and hassle-free travel for our customers. I hope that this new direct route between Poznań and Amsterdam will be a new beginning and a sign of optimism in these unusual times. Thanks to it, new perspectives are opening up – sightseeing, meetings with family and friends living abroad, as well as new business relations between Poland and the Netherlands. Our planes will also bring foreign tourists, which will contribute to the further tourist development of Poznań and the entire region, with such a great historical and cultural potential” – said Frantisek Siling, CEO of Sales – present at Sunday’s inauguration in Poznań.

Mariusz Wiatrowski, President of the Poznań-Ławica Airport Management Board, commented on the event: „The inauguration of the connection to Amsterdam has a much broader dimension, going far beyond the introduction of one destination into the schedule of Poznań Airport. For a long time the Poznań Airport Administration has been conducting talks with KLM, and quite recently we released information about the decision of the Royal Dutch Airline to launch the Poznań-Amsterdam relationship in the Autumn 2020 schedule. Today, this excellent news for the inhabitants of Poznań and the region is becoming a reality. We consider the long-awaited appearance of this carrier’s offer and scheduled flights by KLM to be open. This year is unique not only for Poznań Airport, but for the entire aviation industry. The long suspension of air traffic due to the pandemic, the high uncertainty of operating on many routes did not allow for optimistic moods. The current situation, in autumn 2020, is also not easy for airports. However, Poznań Airport is taking all necessary steps, despite these difficulties, to build an offer for the Greater Poland Region’s air travellers. The KLM airline connection with the Netherlands we have just launched builds our optimism for the future, building the offer position of our airport. Amsterdam is not just a destination city so important for business representatives of both cities and countries, or for city-break trips, but it also opens up a wide range of intercontinental travel opportunities with the same airline directly from Poznań. Right now, at a time of many challenges, air travel is even safer than ever, and KLM and Ławica Airport are ready to safely receive, in accordance with all the recommendations, all those willing to travel by air on the passenger route. We are very pleased that the first passengers at Poznań Ławica Airport have just boarded the KLM Royal Airline! We are here to meet the ever-increasing expectations of passengers in our region, and we hope that this connection will be part of our schedule for a long time to come. Everything is now in the hands of the inhabitants of Poznań.”

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines offers all its flights via its base airport of Amsterdam Schiphol. It is a powerful transport and transit hub in Europe. Despite its size and the scale of passenger traffic, it is recognised as one of the world’s most liked airports. The regular KLM network covers numerous destinations on 5 continents. Due to this year’s pandemic, the autumn-winter flight schedule will be much more limited compared to the same period last year.

In November, the airline plans to operate around 55% of its standard European schedule, and KLM’s intercontinental flights are operating at around 60% in terms of seats and cover around 80% of destinations. Currently, due to numerous local entry restrictions to individual countries, one-third of all long-haul KLM flights are freight only. In the last few months of 2020, KLM is gradually and responsibly rebuilding its European and intercontinental network at a time when the Covid-19 crisis is causing serious air traffic restrictions. In accordance with the adopted strategy, the airline first wants to make the largest possible choice of destinations available to passengers again, in the next stage, an increase in the frequency of flights or an increase in the offer by using larger aircraft on individual routes will be considered. You can find an updated list of available destinations here.

On the new route from Poznań to Amsterdam, passengers will travel by Embraer E175, in a configuration of 68 seats in Economy Class and 20 seats in Business Class. The flight will last 1 hour and 40 minutes. When travelling in Economy Class, large carry-on luggage (up to 12 kg) can be taken on board free of charge, checked-in luggage may be subject to additional charges depending on the ticket rate purchased. On-board service is adapted to current sanitary requirements. Economy Class travelers receive a box with a sandwich or biscuit and water, and during the flight juices, wine, beer, coffee and tea are also served. In Business Class, the airline offers a full meal, served in a box which is an original design by the famous Dutch designer Marcel Wanders. The meal is accompanied by a wide range of hot and cold drinks.

Tickets with departure from Poznań can be booked at klm.com and at travel agencies throughout the country.