KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which is the world’s first airline still operating under its original name, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2019.
This year also marks the airline’s 95 years of service between the Netherlands and Indonesia. Jakarta was KLM’s first intercontinental destination when a Fokker F-VII arrived in the city – then called Batavia – on November 24, 1924, after a 55-day journey, with 21 stops along the way.
Wouter Gregorowitsch, country manager Air France KLM Indonesia, said: “KLM started flying (a test flight with three crew members on board) to Indonesia only five years after it was established, and from 1930, it started scheduled passenger flights between the two countries.”
KLM is currently the only European airline connecting Indonesia, with daily services on the Amsterdam-Jakarta route via Kuala Lumpur and the Amsterdam-Bali route via Singapore, using its biggest fleet of Boeing 777-300ER.
To celebrate its centennial anniversary, the airline recently organised a two-day KLM 100 years – Celebrate the Future exhibition at the Erasmus Huis Jakarta on October 5 and 7.
Gregorowitsch said: “The exhibition gives visitors a unique insight into KLM’s history and future and its pioneering role in the aviation industry. Indonesia is a special destination in KLM’s large network as it is our oldest intercontinental destination.
“Our anniversary is also a moment to look ahead to the next century, because we want to set the standard to tomorrow’s aviation. We want to keep connecting the world but with attention to the surroundings.”
