Is KLM the oldest airline?

KLM, officially known as KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, holds the prestigious title of being the oldest airline in the world still operating under its original name. Founded on October 7th, 1919, by a visionary group led by Dutch pilot Albert Plesman (1889–1953), KLM has a rich history that spans over a century.



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Age and Introduction: The Venezolana Boeing 737 is one of the oldest planes still flying in commercial service. It was first used in 1978, making it over four decades old. Despite its age, this aircraft continues to operate under the banner of Venezolana, an airline based in Venezuela.

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Americans were wild about aviation in the 1920s and '30s, the period between the two world wars that came to be known as the Golden Age of Flight. Air races and daring record-setting flights dominated the news. Airplanes evolved from wood-and-fabric biplanes to streamlined metal monoplanes.

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KLM stands for 'Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij', literally translated as 'Royal Aviation Company'. Despite having merged with Air France in 2004, KLM is still seen as a truly Dutch icon. RELATED: Centenary Celebrations: eight firms that are 100 years old in 2019.

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Together, Air France and KLM carry more than 77 million passengers per year. They operate 548 aircraft, enabling them to fly to 318 destinations in 118 countries.

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The oldest plane in service is from Nolinor Aviation, a charter airline in Canada, that operates a Boeing 737 that first went into use in 1976. Despite its age, this plane still works like any newer one due to numerous updates throughout the years.

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Even today, KLM's transatlantic network is of major importance. Back in 1946, KLM was the first European airline to operate flights between the European Continent and America.

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KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is Certified as a 4-Star Airline for the quality of its airport and onboard product and staff service.

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Frequent travelers give the airline an average rating of 7.4/10.

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1. Singapore Airlines: The Singapore flag-carrier has been named Airline of the Year at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2023 in Paris. Click through the gallery to see the best of the rest.

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In 2004 KLM joined SkyTeam, an international airline alliance. The same year, the airline was acquired by Air France to create Air France–KLM, one of the world's largest air carriers.

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For ten years, Delta and KLM have combined their strengths and passion to take transatlantic travel to new heights. Find out more about what the partnership has to offer across the Atlantic. Delta and Virgin Atlantic combined schedule offer you more choice between key business markets in the U.S. and London.

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The Venezolana Boeing 737 is one of the oldest planes still flying in commercial service. It was first used in 1978, making it over four decades old. Despite its age, this aircraft continues to operate under the banner of Venezolana, an airline based in Venezuela.

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On average, an aircraft is operable for about 30 years before it has to be retired. A Boeing 747 can endure about 35,000 pressurization cycles and flights—roughly 135,000 to 165,000 flight hours—before metal fatigue sets in. 747s are retired after approximately 27 years of service.

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