SimAirline.net - Viewpoint

KLM yesterday flew the world's first biofuel flight with passengers on board. A 747-400 flew with a partial camelina blend and carried forty passengers, including KLM CEO and President Peter Hartman and Dutch officials, for one hour from Amsterdam. You can learn more about KLM's flight and their biofuel work here.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the world's oldest airline with the same name, was founded 90 years ago today. (Actually, the original name was slightly longer: Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij voor Nederland en Koloniën, Dutch Royal Airlines for the Netherlands and its Colonies). KLM has been hosting celebrations all year long. Rather than list them all, below are some great links to check out:

KLM the Journey
KLM Timeline
KLM Huisjes
Timetable Images

A new Alitalia, merged with domestic rival Air One, begins flights today. Air One aircraft will eventually be repainted in Alitalia livery and fold into Alitalia's operations. As long expected, Air France-KLM has taken a 25% stake in the new airline for €323 million. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said that "Lufthansa has never been present, neither physically nor with an offer."

This is a big transition for us, and we're working hard to make it a smooth one. We'll of course add Air One's aircraft and routes to our operations, although most of the timing will be determined by when those flights appear in the SkyTeam Timetable. We'll also continue to add Alitalia's discontinued routes and retired aircraft.

Here's what Air One brings to Alitalia:
-New Aircraft: A330-200, A350, Avro RJ70, 737-300/400, CRJ-900
-New Destinations: Addis Ababa, Katowice, London City, Madeira, Pescara, Porto, Riga, Rzeszow, Vilnius

Here's the combined fleet and route map, and a summary of the new schedules, a look at what's been cut.

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Speaking at the delivery ceremony for KLM cityhopper's first Embraer 190, KLM Senior Vice President for Fleet Development and Aircraft Trading Jan Witsenboer discussed KLM's latest fleet replacement plans. Here's a summary:

-747-400: the 747-8 is likely too large, with "the 777-300ER...a very likely choice. It would be a one-for-one replacement."

-747-400M/MD-11: KLM is one of few airlines to operate combi-service aircraft (747-400M): "Eventually we are going to have to split main-deck cargo from our passenger operation. All of the second-hand combis are the same age or older. Apparently there is not really a market any more for new combis." KLM and Air France are actively considering both the A350 and 787, planning to announce a joint order in 2010, with the possibility of both aircraft being selected.

-737-300/400: 737-700s are currently being delivered, but "we wouldn't use an interim solution. We want a definite solution, preferably much earlier." A decision is expected next year.

-Fokker 50/70/100: "Six or seven years from now we will have our whole Fokker fleet renewed. It could be a two-type fleet," says Managing Director Michel Coumans. Currently, the Fokker 100 is being replaced by E-190 deliveries, but KLM continues to take Fokker 70 deliveries from Air France partner Regional. "The Fokker 50 is the next challenge," says Witsenboer, with both turboprops and jets under consideration. "The Fokker 70 is a later challenge. We hope that we will have access to new technology by then." A decision will be made by 2011 with deliveries complete by 2016.