The Dutch government has now granted permission to operate an additional A380 flight at Amsterdam Schiphol, according to reports.
Emirates already operates a twice daily service (the other flight is currently flown by B777-300ER) from the Dutch airport so it means it will be able to both offer a more attractive product for both flights and provide more seats to passengers.
As we have previously reported (see news November 19), the news that Emirates wished to operate a twice daily A380 service at Schiphol did not go down well with both national airline KLM and the Dutch pilots’ union VNV.
But really the opportunities for the Dutch government to intervene and restrict Emirates are limited. Holland favours “open skies” and its aviation treaty with the UAE is a liberal one.
According to Dutch financial newspaper fd.nl, Sharon Dijksma, the State Secretary for Intfrastructure and the Environment emphasises that “Only if it is shown that the companies [airlines] from the UAE do not comply with the provisions of the aviation agreement can we stop the second daily service of the A380.”
The Dutch ruling will allow the carrier to start its second daily A380 service from February 1, 2016.
Business Traveller
Aéromexico launches Mexico City -> Amsterdam
AeroMexico (Mexico City) has announced three weekly nonstop flights between Mexico City (MEX) and Amsterdam (AMS) starting on May 29, 2016, making the city its fourth destination in Europe.
This new route will be operated using Boeing 787 aircraft with 243 seat capacity, including 32 seats in Clase Premier, Aeromexico’s Business Class Cabin.
Flight AM 025 will depart on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sunday from MEX at 11:58 pm (2358) and arrive the next day in AMS at 6 pm (1800). The return flight will depart on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from AMS at 10:35 pm (2235) and arrive the next day at 4:10 am (0410).
One of the key factors in establishing this new route is Amsterdam’s status as a major SkyTeam hub where KLM offers a significant number of flights within Europe. Aeromexico is a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance.
World Airline News
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines ceases Fukuoka service
The airline announced today, Oct. 1, the discontinuation of their non-stop flight between Fukuoka and Amsterdam. The last flight will be on Jan. 5, 2016. Reasons for the cancelled route include the weak Japanese yen and decrease in Japanese passengers travelling to Europe in the wake of incidents of terrorism and political unrest. The route began service in April 2013 with three or four flights per week. It is the one and only direct route to Europe from Fukuoka.
Fukuoka Now