KLM

[maverick]

On the assumption that Davel's info is correct -

To lose one full-fare airline in the year is regrettable, but to lose them both is pretty dire. This too on top of easyjet and Ryanair expanding at Manchester and little to show at Liverpool in the way of growth.

If the airport was a football team they'd have sacked the manager by now. As Dad's Army's Fraiser would say - 'we're all dooooooomed'

[liverpoolman1]

I have read this thread with disbelief. Someone makes an unfounded suggestion and the doom merchants find that Christmas has come early. Look, Liverpool is expanding in passenger terms in the face of a depression. Other airports would give their right hands to be in that situation. Have you thought that airports such as Humberside, Teeside, Cardiff etc are not in the same league as Liverpool yet survive. There is, as many have said, more to flying than bums on seats so let the airlines make the decisions and not beat ourselves into a lather over unfounded rumour. For Pete's sake stop undermining the management of the airport who are in a far better position than mere observers to make the proper decisions. Where we are now is a long way from where we were 40 years ago and it is due to good management decisions of which we were never aware. Rant over so I'll go back to the Christmas shopping.
PS. Must remember to send the Management of LJLA a Christmas card congratulating them on a job well done.

[Nick Bartley]

I sent an email to KLM last night (as I have some flights to the USA with them next year) and received the following back from them this morning

"At the moment we do not have any information of cancellation of the route Liverpool to Amsterdam
within the next 11 months at least. However schedule changes might occur from time to time."

I know this might be the "official response" but at least it could be true !
cheers
Nick

[maverick]

Dec 14, 2011 9:25:34 GMT 1 liverpoolman1 said:

I have read this thread with disbelief. Someone makes an unfounded suggestion and the doom merchants find that Christmas has come early. Look, Liverpool is expanding in passenger terms in the face of a depression. Other airports would give their right hands to be in that situation. Have you thought that airports such as Humberside, Teeside, Cardiff etc are not in the same league as Liverpool yet survive. There is, as many have said, more to flying than bums on seats so let the airlines make the decisions and not beat ourselves into a lather over unfounded rumour. For Pete's sake stop undermining the management of the airport who are in a far better position than mere observers to make the proper decisions. Where we are now is a long way from where we were 40 years ago and it is due to good management decisions of which we were never aware. Rant over so I'll go back to the Christmas shopping.
PS. Must remember to send the Management of LJLA a Christmas card congratulating them on a job well done.

Is it an unfounded rumour when it's the KLM representative that gave the information?

If it is true, then KLM are selling tickets on a false premise for dates after a pull-out.

If the information is false then the KLM rep. should be sacked.

[delta154]

The plot thickens:

DUTCH airline KLM is axing its Liverpool route.

A source at the carrier confirmed it will cease flying from Liverpool John Lennon airport (JLA) at the end of its winter season in the last week of March next year



Read More www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2011/12/14/klm-axes-amsterdam-link-from-liverpool-john-lennon-airport-100252-29951932/#ixzz1gVX9ME85

[Monvillez]

Flown KLM with work over the last year or so and I have to admit that there were many empty seats. I recall wondering at the time 'how could KLM be making any reasonable profit from this?'.

Regards,
Garry

[jetjockey]

Announced on BBC News Northwest at 1pm KLM to axe routes from Liverpool in New Year

JJ

[viscount]

Is it just me, or does this "announcement" seem rather choreographed in its confusion to have a maximum anti-Liverpool Airport effect, to the extent of even catching KLM themselves unaware?

[Nick Bartley]

Just had this response from KLM after emailing them again with regard to the annoucements in press and on TV
"With regards to your inquiry we can inform you that KLM does not have an offical report regarding
the possible change of operations Liverpool next year.
This update will be published as soon as we have the official flight information.
At the moment your flights are not affected and scheduled as normal.
In case there will be a schedule change, we will inform you as soon as possible"

Seems to be contradicting themselves as they don't have an official report but then it will be published ASAP ?

[LPL]

Does not matter how they word it they still are selling flights that dont exist.

[steh]

So looking at the Echo's report this Consolidated PR, KLM's marketing/strategy agency has confirmed the route is being axed , yet KLM themselves arent available for comment and are emailing people saying their flights next November are scheduled as normal whilst still taking bookings.

The Echo naturally reports it after approaching them - my guess is that someone from there has either been reading this forum or been tipped off by a user, whilst BBC North West must just have loved reading the echo site and announcing that story.

As recently as 28th September KLM were healding the route a success, something very odd about all this, speculation I know but quite possibly Consolidated are to advise/ have just advised KLM to drop the route as they cant do any more to make it profitable, but KLM havent actually gone through the motions of changing booking systems etc.

www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/ldpbusiness/business-features/2011/09/28/klm-flies-high-with-china-plans-92534-29498017/

the timing though, ending flights after the quiet winter season without even giving them a chance to pick up over summer is extremely disappointing, as is the damage to the airports reputation as they will bear the brunt of anger of tose who have flights switched, not to mention Liverpool/Merseyside's chances of trying to move further forward as a city.

[delta154]

I know its not the most conventional source, but, the official KLM facebook page states this:

From March 25, 2012, KLM will discontinue its service to Liverpool. Unfortunately this route has not been profitable, and given the current economic situation we have decided to stop the operation.

After 23 hours previously stating this:

currently we do not have any plans ending our service to Liverpool. You would be able to check our timetable online here: klmf.ly/tjzIfc, for more information about our flights.

[ezylpl]

Quote:

"Good News! - 1

KLM affirms Liverpool commitment

Last updated: 26th Sep 2011 at 09:07am | Air France KLM's general manager Henri Hourcade has affirmed the airline's commitment to Liverpool John Lennon Airport and said its routes from the city are performing well.

Speaking to Insider, he said the company was happy with the performance of its three daily flights to Amsterdam Schiphol, adding that competition from low-cost carriers Ryanair and Easyjet was not an issue.

"We are close to 300,000 passengers since April 2009 so we're on target," he said. "We're in a consolidation period at the moment, but our main purpose as a hub carrier is to transport people from Europe to long-haul destinations, so we're not about to launch lots of new routes from the region."

KLM launched services from the city to Amsterdam Schiphol two-and-a-half years ago, marking a return to the city after a 70-year absence. It previously last flew to Liverpool from 1934 to 1939, when World War II grounded cross channel flights. The routes from Liverpool connected the city to more than 650 worldwide destinations.

Hourcade added: "It's a different business model to other carriers that operate from Liverpool as about 50 per cent of our travellers fly on from Schiphol to other destinations. Our best-sellers from Liverpool are to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong and we are optimistic about our growth in the region."

He also said that the company has continued to invest in its services, demonstrated last week when Air France KLM has agreed to purchase 60 A350XWB (extra wide body) aircraft from Airbus. The Airbus plant at Broughton, near Chester, employs about 6,000 staff making wings for its aircraft.

"The airline has demonstrated that we are investing despite the challenging times caused by rising fuel prices," said Hourcade. "We have launched 16 new long-haul routes this year alone and the Airbus agreement is a massive investment."

Speaking after the Air France-KLM deal, Airbus chief operating officer John Leahy added: "We are honoured that our all new, extra efficient A350XWB will contribute to Air France KLM's long-term success.

"The unbeatable economics and environmental credentials will establish the aircraft as the future backbone of the airline’s long-haul fleet."

Good News - 2

Travelled out to AMS, en route to Prague, last Monday on mid-morning flight and back to LPL on late evening flight on Friday. Both flights were by F 70 and with no more than 3 empty seats on each leg! Seems we really do need extra capacity now! "

This came on 26th september and to make the above announcement and then have a total change of heart within less than 3 months and with no official comment from KLM in the article I do have doubts about the ins and outs of this story - however if it is true this year has been terrible for liverpool with losing two(?) airlines and easyjet and ryanair expaning at MAN. The only new route that springs to mind is Wizz airs to Vilnius and this is only twice a week

[kevmul]

KLM's UK General Manager, Henri Hourcade is confirming the news we didn't want to hear in this BBC article -

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-16180054

Sad news indeed

[andyh]

KLM firmly nailed their colours to the mast when they cut down to three flights a day whilst upping capacity out of Manchester. At the end of the day it's sad, but 100,000 pax a year is one daily rotation by a Ryanair '737. We just have to brush ourselves down and start again.