Europe: Air France/KLM Merger Looms

Europe: Air France/KLM Merger Looms

Now that the merger between Air France and KLM has received the go-ahead from the European Commission and the American authorities, the process is expected to be concluded in the coming months.

The new group will be called Air France-KLM and will be the first European airline group. Together Air France and KLM will become the third largest airline in the world, based on the number of revenue passenger kilometers.

The Air France-KLM network will open 93 new Air France destinations and 48 new KLM destinations, and increase frequency.

Within the group, KLM and Air France will continue as separate operating companies, while focusing on three core group businesses: passengers, cargo and maintenance.

Schiphol Airport will serve as the dual hub of the new group.