Air France pilots will fly on KLM’s B777-200 on the route between John F. Kennedy Airport and Schiphol for four months.
This allows KLM to make optimal use of the potential of the entire Air France-KLM Group to operate its scheduled flights.
The first flight departed from Schiphol yesterday at 13:25 as KL641, with Air France pilots and KLM cabin crew.
This is the first time that Air France pilots and KLM crew will jointly operate a KLM flight.
Over the past few months, teams at Air France and KLM have worked hard to carefully work out all the details, coordinate many internal and external stakeholders, including unions and aviation authorities, and ensure a smooth operation.
“This collaboration will help KLM to operate its scheduled flights this summer. It supplements our capacity this summer, which is good for KLM as a whole,” said Maarten Stienen, chief operating officer of KLM.
“I am proud that we have made this possible within the Air France-KLM Group. I wish all my colleagues on the route a safe flight and a pleasant collaboration.”
The joint flights include one aircraft on the route between John F. Kennedy Airport in New York and Schiphol, which will be crewed by Air France pilots starting today.
In total, this will last until the end of the summer schedule on October 25.
