KLM, founded in 1919, is the first commercial airline that is still flying under its original name to reach this milestone in the world. A true pioneer in aviation, KLM is celebrating its centenary. Throughout the years, KLM has brought the wonder of air travel to generations. In the past 100 years, KLM has grown from a small carrier to a well-recognized global airline. Today KLM operates a fleet of almost 120 aircraft.

Boet Kreiken, Executive Vice President Customer Experience, KLM: “Today, we at KLM celebrate our 100th birthday, so it’s a great moment in time to talk about what we really stand for. We believe in bringing people together. Caring for our passengers. On top of this we also stand for continuous progress. Progress in aviation, obviously, but also progress in a wider sense. Also, we’ve never forgotten the magic of flying. A magic that has been passed on through generations of customers, fans and employees.”

KLM is currently preparing to enter a new phase of operations. The airline is currently in the process of retiring its iconic Boeing 747 aircraft. Meanwhile, the carrier is welcoming several new Boeing 787s. Meanwhile, KLM is currently working with TU Delft’s research into an innovative flight concept known as the “Flying-V”, which embraces an entirely different approach to aircraft design, in anticipation and support of sustainable long-distance flight in the future. The aircraft was originally conceptualized as a potential aircraft design for the future, but can be compared to today’s most advanced aircraft, the Airbus A350.