Air France-KLM continues its North American route expansion this month with new routes from its European hubs. On May 8, KLM inaugurated a new connection between Amsterdam and San Diego, and today, Air France flew its first-ever flight between Paris and Orlando.
Like many airlines, new aircraft types are allowing more service opportunities that may not have previously been economically feasible. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner connects Amsterdam with San Diego while Air France is using its new Airbus A350-900 to Orlando.
KLM is also taking delivery of three new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft, which will help the airline increase its North American flights by 10% this summer.
What it takes to launch a new route
Launching new routes is no easy feat. Destinations often court airlines explaining how there is both business and leisure demand that can help sustain a year-round flight. Adding new cities for “hub and spoke” airlines like Air France and KLM are integral for the whole network. They provide feed for other destinations in an airline’s network.
“The new direct flight from San Diego to Amsterdam is a major win for our regional economy, supporting jobs, tourism and international business and investment opportunities,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “This connection was years in the making, helped by the strong relationships we built with KLM during our 2022 trade mission to the Netherlands.”
Representatives from airports and airlines often convene at conferences, like Routes, which take place around the world. These “speed dating”-style events give cities the chance to explain why their market can sustain a new flight.
“You’ll find everyone from startup carriers to the world’s biggest network airlines, all under one roof,” says Enrique Perrella, aviation director for Business Traveler magazine. “It’s a rare chance to meet decision-makers face-to-face. For smaller airports especially, it’s one of the only chances all year to get time with senior network planners.”
Some airports can even offer financial incentives to attract a new carrier or route, says Perrella.
“Airlines face significant financial risk when launching a new route, so cities and airports often sweeten the deal with incentives like reduced landing fees, marketing support, or even revenue guarantees,” he adds. “Everyone comes prepared with data, incentives and community support. But ultimately, it’s about convincing the airline that your city fits into their network strategy.”
And the more routes an airline serves, the more appealing it can be to its loyalty program members. Frequent flyer programs can represent big business for air carriers through selling miles to credit card partners and rewarding travelers with perks. Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue program just launched a new app, which provides more opportunities to earn bonus miles through shopping and program partners.
KLM grows its route map
2025 is an important year for both airline’s networks. KLM is adding new service to Georgetown, Guyana in South America, which will make an intermediate stop in St. Maarten, and Hyderabad, India. Later this year, the airline will launch service to Barbados; the same aircraft will continue to Georgetown, Guayana. It will also increase service on numerous routes. This includes going from five times weekly to daily service between Amsterdam and Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
KLM will also offer daily service from Amsterdam to both Las Vegas and Rio de Janeiro (the latter is an extension of its winter schedule). The connection between Amsterdam and Edmonton, Canada goes to six times per week during peak travel periods and five times a week to Osaka.
In Europe, KLM has boosted its regional network, too. This spring, the airline launched daily flights from its Amsterdam hub to Ljublana, Slovenia and Biarritz, France. It is also bringing back nonstop flights to Exeter in England.
Air France launches new first class, expands network
Air France is celebrating a significant milestone by flying aircraft with its new La Première suite to New York JFK. This next-generation first class cabin offers more space than any other airline’s first class seat. The airline flies to New York seven times a day, and five of these flights will offer the new La Première suite. The airline’s most premium product is also currently flying to Singapore and Tokyo Haneda with plans for the new cabin to be flying on all routes that offer first class by next year.
The airline will fly 900 daily flights to nearly 190 destinations this summer, which represents a 4% increase over last year’s schedule. In addition to Orlando, the airline launched a five-times-weekly flight on its A350-900 to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Air France is making its Paris to Papeete, French Polynesia flight, which operates via Los Angeles, a daily service. This month, it is also flying a temporary Los Angeles to Nice flight to serve visitors to the Cannes Film Festival. The A350-900 route to Phoenix, which launched last year, has seen success and will see an increase to five flights a week.
2024 was a busy year for Air France, and many of the flights added last year are coming back with the summer schedule. This includes three flights a week from Paris to Salvador, Brazil and Brazzaville, Congo. Air France will also continue its Paris to Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro, which it also started last year, this summer. Nonstop service to Manila from Paris will also continue this year.
This summer, the airline will offer seasonal service to Dubrovnik, Croatia; Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza, Spain; and Heraklion and Rhodes, Greece. It is part of an overall 2% increase in its European summer schedule.
New destinations for an airline are the product of many months and years of planning, together with airports that lobby for new service.
“Strong data is everything—airports that demonstrate real demand, economic benefit, and local business or tourism potential are far more likely to win new service,” says Perrella. “When a community aligns—local businesses, tourism boards and government leaders—it sends a powerful message to airlines that a new route will be supported and sustainable.”