Monday, October 7, 2024 In a recent interview with Dutch television, Marjan Rintel, CEO of KLM, urged Europe to address the current competitive dynamics of flights between the European Union (EU) and China. She emphasized the impact of reciprocal sanctions between the EU and Russia, which prevent EU airlines from accessing Russian airspace, while Chinese carriers continue to use these routes on flights to Europe and even legacy routes to the United States. Advocating for a Level Playing Field During an appearance on the Dutch broadcaster Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (NPO) on the WNL Op Zondag program on October 6, Rintel suggested that Europe explore options to ensure fair competition between European and Chinese airlines.
She proposed that the EU consider implementing pricing strategies and other measures to support European carriers, allowing them to compete more effectively in the Chinese market. This interview took place just one day before KLM celebrated its 105th anniversary. In a recent update on its winter schedule, KLM highlighted that its service capacity to Asia has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Furthermore, avoiding Russian airspace has led to extended flight times, which has constrained the airline’s Asian network, keeping it the same as it was during the 2023/2024 winter season. Competition on Routes to China Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows that four airlines currently operate flights from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) to various de.