KLM

UK Reservations               0871 231 0000  (24hours)
USA Reservations             1-800-618-0104
Head office                       31 (0) 20 474 7747  

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is one of Europe's oldest and most respected airlines, it can trace it's history all the way back to 1919. Year after year it's provided a good service, good on time record and stress free travel.   

Our rating  4 stars.

Typical Dutch hospitality onboard on the flights,  detailed below, make KLM a popular choice for many, plus the on time record is way above the European average.  KLM was one of the few airlines that operate the Boeing 747 - 400 combi,  which houses both passengers and cargo on the same deck.  Full details of their fleet can be found at the bottom of this page. Every year, KLM transports more than twenty million passengers. About three quarters of these people make use of Schiphol Airport, KLM's home base, as a transfer point. Transfer passengers, who are growing in number, use Schiphol to leave one plane and board another to fly on to their final destination. 

Since May 2004, Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have become the largest European airline group: one group, two airlines, and three businesses. Each airline has retained its individual identity, trade name and brand. The three core businesses are Passenger Business, Cargo and Engineering & Maintenance. Both airlines run their own operations from their respective hubs Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol.

AIR FRANCE KLM Air France and KLM carry more than 71 million passengers per year. They operate more than 594 aircraft enabling them to fly 2,500 daily flights to 236 destinations worldwide. Members of the joint AIR FRANCE KLM frequent flyer programme Flying Blue earn Miles and claim rewards on both airlines’ routes.

Income

AIR FRANCE KLM’s turnover in the 2009-2010 financial year was 20.9 billion euros. KLM and Air France together employ more than 108,000 people. For more information about AIRFRANCE KLM Finance, please go to www.airfranceklm-finance.com.

Shares
AIR FRANCE KLM shares are listed on the Amsterdam, Paris and New York exchanges.

KLM 

KLM was set up on 7 October, 1919, and is the oldest airline still operating under its original name. Important milestones in its recent history have been the creation of a joint venture with Northwest Airlines (NWA) in 1989 and its acquisition of a holding in Kenya Airways in 1996. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is KLM’s homebase.

Air France

Air France was founded on 7 October, 1933. Its history has been marked by several major milestones, including the holding acquired in UTA in January 1990 and the merger with Air Inter in 1997. In June 2000, Air France and Delta Air Lines joined forces with Aeroméxico and Korean Air to launch the SkyTeam alliance. Air France’s main hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle is Europe’s number one in terms of connection opportunities.

Alitalia

In January 2009, AIR FRANCE KLM and Alitalia reached an agreement to strengthen their partnership. This was cemented by AIR FRANCE KLM taking a minority stake (25%) in Alitalia. This agreement places AIR FRANCE KLM in a unique position in the Italian market, the fourth largest market in Europe. 

SkyTeam Alliance

Air France and KLM are members of the SkyTeam alliance. SkyTeam is a global airline alliance. Its member airlines are: Aeroflot, Aeroméxico, AirEuropa, Air France, Alitalia, China Southern Airlines, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Tarom and Vietnam Airlines. Through one of the world’s most extensive hub networks, SkyTeam offers its 384 million annual passengers a worldwide system of more than 13,000 daily flights to 898 destinations in 169 countries. all major destinations.

World Business Class

Enjoy luxury, attention to detail and personal care on your intercontinental flight. We’ll make sure your trip flies by!
Before departure
A business class ticket allows you to easily tailor your flight to your travel plans. But there‘s more:

 
• Extra baggage allowance
• Your baggage will be handled with priority
• Check in at our dedicated check-in desk
• Pass through customs and security checks using the priority lanes, where available
• Visit the KLM Crown Lounges and those of our partners
• Earn 250% Flying Blue Miles

On board
Let your worries float away as you sink into your World Business Class seat. Whether you want to grab some sleep or catch up on work, you will arrive at your destination relaxed and feeling fit as a fiddle:

• Sleeper Seat: 190 cm long, 175 degrees reclinable and equipped with a massage unit
• Privacy canopy
• Personal entertainment system
• In-seat power
• Complimentary World Business Class comfort kit
• International newspapers and magazines

Savour a delicious 3-course menu prepared specially by top chefs. All meals are served on quality crockery and accompanied with a glass of fine wine or other beverage of your choice.

Our cabin attendants are happy to help you with any request. Naturally, you can also take home one of our famous Delft Blue miniature houses filled with genuine Dutch gin!

Europe Business Class

Enjoy comfort and time-saving services when flying within Europe. With Europe Business Class, you can enjoy the ease of a fully flexible reservation, allowing you to change your flight at any time!
Before departure A truly smooth ride starts well before take-off:

• Extra baggage allowance
• Your baggage will be handled with priority
• Check in at our dedicated check-in desk
• Pass through customs and security checks using the priority lanes, where available
• Visit the KLM Crown Lounges or those of our partners
• Earn 250% Flying Blue Miles

On board Be one of the first to board the aircraft and enjoy lots of personal space! We block all middle seats, so they remain unoccupied. This way, you always have a window or aisle seat!

• Seat with extra legroom and more recline
• In-seat power on our Boeing 737-700, -800 and -900 aircraft
• Enjoy a free newspaper and your copy of the Holland Herald, our in-flight magazine.

From a luxurious breakfast to a delicious 3-course meal: depending on the time of day and duration of your flight, we serve a hot meal, sandwich, salad or tapas plate, and various snacks.

Naturally, our cabin crew will attend to your every need. Our Europe Business Class is located at the front of the cabin, so you are one of the first to be on your way again on arrival.

On flights between Amsterdam and Paris, Europe Business Class is divided in 2 zones. All middle seats are blocked in the front part of the cabin, whereas these seats may be occupied in the other zone. Both zones offer Europe Business Class services.

Economy Class - Intercontinental

Discover our high standards in Economy Class on intercontinental flights – and check out your seat and meal options!
Before departure

• Check in whenever and however suits you best: online, with your mobile phone, at a self-service machine or at the desk.
• Drop off your baggage at a self-service or regular drop-off point, and off you go!
• Do your onboard shopping before you fly. Simply place your order online and receive your purchases on board! Read more about Shop@KLM

On board

• Sit back and relax in an ergonomically designed seat or treat yourself to an extra comfortable seat!
• Pick up an international newspaper and your copy of the Holland Herald, our in-flight magazine
• Enjoy a good meal, refreshments, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. To meet your special dietary, religious or medical requirements, you can order a special meal. And on some flights, you can order an à la carte menu before departure!
• Have fun and relax with your personal entertainment system
• Find great deals in our onboard shopping selection

Economy Class - Within Europe

Travel comfortably, even on short flights!
Before departure

• Check in whenever and however suits you best: online, with your mobile phone, at a self-service machine or at the desk
• Drop off your baggage at a self-service or regular drop-off point, and off you go.

On board

• Enjoy an ergonomically designed seat or treat yourself to a seat with extra legroom!
• We serve a snack or freshly made sandwich, depending on the time and duration of your flight
• Choose from hot and cold beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
• Enjoy a copy of the Holland Herald
• Enjoy on-board shopping on flights longer than 60 minutes

History

Milestones in KLM's History

Sep 12, 1919	Queen Wilhelmina awarded KLM - yet to be founded - its "Royal" designation.
Oct 7, 1919	Dutch Royal Airlines for the Netherlands and its Colonies (Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij voor Nederland en Koloniën - KLM) was founded.
Oct 21, 1919	The first KLM office opened on Heerengracht in The Hague.
May 17, 1920	KLM's first pilot, Jerry Shaw, flew from London to Schiphol in a leased De Havilland DH-16.
Apr 4, 1921	Following a winter hiatus, KLM resumed service with its own pilots and aircraft: the Fokker F-II and F-III.
May 9, 1921	KLM opened its first passenger office on Leidseplein in Amsterdam.
Oct 1, 1924	KLM initiated its first intercontinental flight, from Amsterdam to Batavia (Colonial Jakarta) in a Fokker F-VII.
Sep, 1929	KLM started regular, scheduled service between Amsterdam to Batavia. Until the outbreak of the Second World War, this was the world's longest-distance scheduled service.
Dec 1933	KLM flew Christmas and New Year's cards from Amsterdam to Batavia in a record time of just over four days in a Fokker F-XVIII Pelikaan. The mail arrived in time for Christmas.
Oct 1934	The Douglas DC-2 Uiver won a "handicap" race - a flight with passengers and cargo - from London to Melbourne.
Dec 1934	KLM made its first transatlantic flight, from Amsterdam to Curacao in a Fokker F-XVIII Snip.
Sep 1945	KLM resumed service following the Second World War, starting with domestic flights.
May 21, 1946	KLM initiated scheduled service between Amsterdam and New York using the Douglas DC-4 Rotterdam.
Nov 1, 1958	KLM opened its Amsterdam-Tokyo service, flying over the North Pole using the Douglas DC-7 Caraïbische Zee.
Mar 1960	The Jet Age began with the introduction of the Douglas DC-8.
Sep 12, 1966	NLM ("Netherlands Airlines") was founded. This was later renamed NLM Cityhopper.
Apr 1967	Schiphol Center went into service.
Feb 1971	The Wide-body Age began with the advent of the Boeing 747-206B.
Mar 1, 1971	KLM opened its headquarters in Amstelveen, south of Amsterdam.
Nov 1975	KLM added the Boeing 747-306B Combi to its fleet, an important milestone for KLM cargo transport.
Mar 1988	KLM took over NetherLines European Commuter service.
Jun 1989	KLM introduced the Boeing 747-400, the most advanced 747 of its time.
Jul 1989	KLM acquired a 20% interest in the US carrier Northwest Airlines, an important step toward the creation of a worldwide network.
Apr 1, 1991	KLM merged NLM Cityhopper and NetherLines to create KLM cityhopper.
Oct 1991	KLM increased its interest in charter carrier Transavia from 40% to 80%.
Dec 1991	KLM introduced Flying Dutchman, making it the first airline on the European continent to create a frequent flyer loyalty program.
Jan 1993	The US Department of Transportation granted KLM and Northwest Airlines antitrust immunity, allowing the two airlines to intensify their partnership.
Sep 1993	KLM and Northwest Airlines started operating all their flights between the US and Europe as part of a joint venture.
Nov 1993	For the first time in its history, KLM transported more than ten million passengers in a single year.
Mar 1994	KLM and Northwest Airlines introduce World Business Class, a new product on intercontinental flights.
Jul 1995	KLM introduced Boeing 767-300ER to service.
Jan 1996	KLM acquires 26% share in Kenya Airways.
Jan 1998	KLM and Malaysian Airlines System announce investigation into commercial cooperation.
Feb 1998	KLM-Northwest Airlines alliance honored with ‘Airline of the Year Award’ by influential US trade magazine Air Transport World.
Aug 1998	KLM repurchases all regular shares from the Dutch state. The state retains cumulative preference shares A and priority shares with a franchise in excess of 14%.
Nov 1, 1999	KLM founded AirCares, a communication and fundraising platform supporting worthy causes and focusing on underprivileged children around the world.
Dec 1999	KLM was the world's first airline to attain ISO 14001 certification for its Environmental Management System.
Spring 2002	KLM announced the first phase of a fleet renewal program for its intercontinental aircraft - three Boeing 747-400ER freighters and eight Boeing 777-200ERs to replace the Boeing 747-300s; two more Boeing 777-200ERs to replace two MD-11s. KLM placed an order with Airbus for six A330-200s. Upon completion of the program, KLM's fleet consisted solely of Boeing 747-400s, Boeing 777-200ERs, and Airbus A330-200s.
Oct 25, 2003	KLM's first Boeing 777-200R landed at Schiphol. The aircraft provides service to Cape Town, Nairobi, and New York.
May 5, 2004	The AIR FRANCE KLM Group was born. On this day Air France redeemed the conditions of its share bid, allowing for the merger between Air France and KLM. Seven months earlier, in September 2003, the airlines had decided to join forces.
Sep 2004	KLM, Northwest, and Continental join SkyTeam, an international alliance of airlines, of which Air France, Delta Air Lines, Alitalia, Korean Air, ĿSA Czech Airlines, and Aeromexico were already members.
Jun 2005	AIR FRANCE KLM introduced its new, combined, frequent flyer program, "Flying Blue." It was the first time in history that two European airlines had joined their loyalty programs - exclusive service packages targeting loyal customers.
Aug 25, 2005	Aircraft manufacturer Airbus delivered the first of KLM's A330s.
Dec 2006	KLM was the world's first airline to introduce self-service transfer kiosks at which transfer passengers at Schiphol can print out their own boarding passes, quickly and easily.
Jun 2007	KLM introduced a unique partnership with the Worldwide Fund for Nature. The agreement includes hard and fast limitations to CO2 emissions and the corporate expression that, even in the airline industry, there are different and better ways of doing business. KLM views this cooperative effort as a crowning achievement to the steps it had already taken in corporate sustainability - efforts that have earned it the title of "best in class" in terms of energy efficient flight among all the major international airlines.
Mar 30, 2008	The Open Skies treaty went into effect, allowing airlines to fly freely - for the first time - between Europe and the US. KLM had long been a proponent of this treaty.
May 23, 2008	The US Department of Transportation granted antitrust immunity to KLM, Air France, Delta Air Lines, and Northwest Airlines. This will allow these airlines to make better use of the Open Skies treaty, streamlining their activities and better attuning them to customer demand.
Dec 31, 2008	KLM becomes 100% owner of Martinair.
Jan 12, 2009	Air France-KLM takes 25% minority stake in Alitalia.   Revenue and income In financial 2009-2010 the KLM Group carried 20.7 million passengers and 473,000 tonnes of freight. Income in this year was 7.4 billion euros. KLM Group incurred a loss of 383 million euros. Employees On 31 March 2010, KLM had 31,787 employees. Technical maintenance KLM Engineering & Maintenance is largest aircraft manufacturer in the Netherlands, employing around 5,000 technical staff. KLM E&M and Air France Industries (AFI) jointly carry out maintenance, repairs and modifications on aircraft, engines, and components for the AIR FRANCE KLM fleet and various other airlines worldwide. Fleet composition The KLM Group fleet comprises 205 aircraft with an average age of 11 years. Destinations KLM expanded its network from Schiphol in 2009-2010 by reopening two routes – Aruba and Denpasar (Bali) – and adding a new destination: Calgary. With this expansion and certain adjustments, the number of direct routes offered by KLM (and its partners) from Amsterdam was 72 intercontinental destinations and 79 European destinations. At the beginning of financial 2010-2011 the new destination Hangzhou, China, was added to the network. Homebase and global hub Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Fleet compositon KLM Group
                                                                   Average age              number of  aircraft
Boeing 747-400 PAX wide body                       20.0                                 6
Boeing 747-400 Combi wide body                    15.9                                16
Boeing 747-400 ER Freighter wide body            6.7                                  4
Boeing 747-400 BC Freighter wide body             -                                    1
Boeing 777-300 ER wide body                          1.5                                   4
Boeing 777-200 ER wide body                          5.5                                 15
MD-11 wide body                                            15.1                                10
MD-11 Freighter wide body                             14.                                  17
Boeing 767-300 ER wide body                         -                                       4
Airbus A330-200 wide body                            4.1                                   10
Boeing 737-900 narrow body                           7.2                                    5
Boeing 737-800 narrow body                           9.8                                   40
Boeing 737-700 narrow body                           3.6                                   16
Boeing 737-400 narrow body                           18.4                                  9
Boeing 737-300 narrow body                           17.6                                  7
Embraer 190 regional                                        0.6                                  13
Fokker 100 regional                                         15.9                                5
Fokker 70 regional                                           14.3                               26
Training aircraft 7
Total consolidated fleet                                     11.0                              205

Air France

Air France

Reservations

Air France   UK      0871  66 33 777  (8am-8pm mo-fr, 9am-5pm sat-sun)

Air France  USA    1800 237 2747

Air France and KLM  one of Europe's largest and best know airline groups,  offer a vast network with over 550 aircraft.   The service on board is average with little to distinguish it from other airlines in the sector.   Many still believe that KLM have the edge, with more friendly staff although this is slowly changing.   The Air France on time record is fairly shaky,  only 62.5 per cent of its Long Haul flights arrive on time,  whilst 87.7 per cent of short and medium haul flights do.

Another key issue is safety,   whilst the airline prides itself on instigating a complete safety review,  by key aviation people,  it still has a reputation of doubtful operation.  Recently the wing tip of an Air France A380 struck the rear of a Delta CRJ aircraft in New York,  before that was an incident in Paris that required an evacuation of a Boeing 777 aircraft,  of course there is the downed Air France A330 aircraft over the Atlantic enroute to Rio in 2009.   That has claimed 228 people and whilst  there is speculation of maintenance issues the cause of the incident has yet to be established.  In 2005 passengers had a lucky escape when their Air France aircraft skidded off the runway at Toronto, down a bank and burst into flames.  Air France blamed Toronto airport,  but the fact remains that the crew landed way down the runway and as such there have been a number of lawsuits against Air France,  which its insurance has paid.

Other notable incidents with Air France aircraft include the famous flight296 crashing into the true at an air show.   There are many details still unclear of the crash including various findings, one of the most worrying aspects was not the crash itself, but during the investigation afterwards when it was found that the airline had presented 'black box' flight recorders, which were not the ones from the aircraft that crashed.

Of course no one can forget the horrific scenes of the Concorde disaster, which still haunt many and started the end of operations for the supersonic aircraft.

Flying Blue is the frequent flyer programme of both airlines and whilst has a good earning ratio, it is incredibly difficult to communicate with them for another other than the most basic enquiries.  One editor of a travel publication shared 32 emails and 16 phone calls to have his miles transferred to Delta when moving back to the states.


Our rating,  3.5 stars.

. The Air France and KLM networks have been combined to form a perfectly complementary network.  The hubs at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol are the cornerstones of this dual network linking Europe and the rest of the world, with 244 destinations in 106 countries.

With record load factors on long-haul and medium-haul sectors alike, Air France and KLM carried 71.4 million passengers in 2009-2010. 

It's true they do offer an amazingly large network and a fleet of over 550 aircraft,  most of which are under ten years old. They also operate 4 Airbus A380 aircraft.   Service is improving,  with a re-branding of economy and premium economy. 

Lufthansa

One of the worlds leading airlines can trace it's history way back to the early twenties!  It's central European position, great fares and excellent service and safety record make Lufthansa a popular and recommended choice.

Lufthansa Reservations

UK               0871  945 9747    (24 hours)

USA            1-800-645-3880       (24 hours)     

Germany    +49 (0) 1805 - 805 - 805  (24 hours)  

As an airline, it's only as good as the inflight service it provides and the aircraft it flies. Onboard the service is friendly, efficient and professional and the aircraft in the fleet are mostly modern and comfortable.   Of particular note are the new flagships of the fleet,  the super jumbo Airbus A380.

Our rating    4 stars.     

The Airbus A380 – Lufthansa’s new flagship

The A380 is the largest and heaviest passenger aircraft in the world. It is 73 meters long, 24 meters high, and has a takeoff weight of up to 560 tons. The Lufthansa A380 seats 526 passengers, and its four Rolls-Royce engines each generate 70000lbs of thrust. That’s the rough equivalent of what 3500 cars could produce. Ecologically speaking, too, the A380 raises the bar. The megaliner is quieter than other planes, uses less fuel and can even “think” for itself and automatically apply the brakes after landing on the runway. Lufthansa has ordered 15 A380s, which will be delivered to the airline one after the next.

Bestselling Boeing: Lufthansa’s trusty workhorse

The twin-engined Boeing 737-300 joined the Lufthansa fleet in 1986, two years after its maiden flight. It has been the airline’s sweet-tempered, dependable and tireless workhorse ever since. Since they can carry up to 140 passengers a distance of 2,000 kilometers, they are the ideal choice for domestic German and European routes. The various models of the Boeing 737 family have been a familiar sight at airports around the globe for over four decades. Unsurprisingly, the Boeing 737 is the world’s bestselling passenger jet.

Bombardier CRJ900 joins the Lufthansa fleet

The Bombardier CRJ900 soars up to 12,500 meters on routine flights. It goes higher than any other jet in the Lufthansa fleet except for the Boeing 747. Flying at this altitude helps to save fuel, and a tilt of only one degree means the CRJ900 is almost horizontal in the air. The two-engined aircraft, which has 84 seats and a flight range of around 2,100 kilometers, will operate on regional routes for Lufthansa CityLine.

Lufthansa can look back on an eventful history. It has included many glorious moments but the course of events has not always been smooth. History is always a reflection of people and their times. The challenges facing air transport have become increasingly complex, yet Lufthansa has always found the strength to learn and renew itself. That ability has gained the company its lead position in the international airline business.

The Twenties,   Lufthansa's pioneering era: from adventure to routine operations

Fly in open aircraft, in the dead of winter? Could such a thing really be possible? It just had to work. And the time was now: the beginning of the 1920s, right after the war. Politicians and journalists were the first to crouch on uncomfortable planks, “air-cooled” and surrounded by mail bags and parcels. The were real pioneers. But it wouldn’t be long until they’d be sitting in full-fledged passenger aircraft, equipped with heated cabins.

By now a number of a small aviation companies had sprung up in Germany. Their aircraft made wobbly trips, back and forth, from one city to another – preferably along rail lines and during the day. Pilots didn’t have radio contact with the ground yet. Only two airlines survived the all-out competitive battle: Deutscher Aero Llyod and Junkers Luftverkehr. For the subsidies-paying German state, however, this was still one too many. After the two joined forces to found “Deutsche Luft Hansa AG” on January 6, 1926, the flight path started to point upward.

• 
  With the introduction of the summer timetable 1928, Lufthansa offered a special air freight service: During certain periods of the year, the airline operated daily cargo flights covering a route network measuring 3,855 kilometers

The Thirties  - going further, faster and more comfortably

Experienced pilots, with thousands of flight kilometers under their belts, found themselves back at school: They squeezed into a tiny cockpit with blacked-out windows blocking any view to the outside. There pilots learned to fly by instruments alone, to fly under adverse weather conditions and at zero visibility. This was a giant step forward for aviation, passengers and mail. Airlines were better able to adhere to their timetables, even in fall and winter.

Flying lost its seasonal character. What’s more: Larger aircraft could now fly longer routes – and therein lay the future, not in the “hop-and-skip-routes” of the early years, which merely cost subsidy money. For Lufthansa, South America and the Far East now drew within reach.

• 
• 
  Passengers aboard a Ju 52 enjoy the comfort and the fantastic views offered by the large, rectangular window.
•  

The war years, the forties & the fight for survival

Europe was in the grips of war – one that was soon to escalate into a world war. The Reich’s government obligated Lufthansa by law to provide services, transport flights and technical operations. All Lufthansa documents, including the annual report, were stamped “Secret!” Despite all the difficulties, it was business as usual.
Connections to neutral countries were particularly of great importance. That’s were businessmen, diplomats and agents continued to fly: that’s were post and information were exchanged. During the war years, timetables were always subject to changes at short notice. At the beginning of the decade, even Tempelhof, the airline’s home airport, had to be evacuated for a time. And finally – in 1945 – came the “over and out” for Germany and for Lufthansa.

The fifties and a new beginning - starting over with fresh spirit

Courage and drive were behind Luft- hansa’s fresh start. But these were troubled and insecure times, the years of the Cold War. Almost at the same time, two companies named Deutsche Lufthansa took to the skies – one on each side of the Iron Curtain.


American and British pilots sat beside their German colleagues in the cockpits of Lufthansa aircraft in the West, while Russian and German pilots shared the controls in the East.
This setup was not meant to last. Yet Allied regulations in the former capital of the Reich did not allow the young, up-and-coming Federal Republic to fly through the air corridors to West Berlin, to Tempelhof and Tegel Airports. And as things turned out, this restriction was to remain in place for decades to come. Consequently, the new Lufthansa developed in new centers. First in Hamburg and Cologne, and then in Frankfurt.

Jets replace propellers during the sixties. 

The principle is deceptively simple: Air is sucked into the engine, compressed and burned with kerosene; the backward thrust of the hot exhaust gases propels the aircraft forward.
These new jet aircraft, with their higher speeds, increased capacities and improved ranges, revolutionized world air transport as never before.


Like night and day. And passengers were not the only ones to feel the difference.
Starting in 1960, the fourengined Boeing B707s flew on Lufthansa’s long-haul routes; The airline restructured its entire route network. Fares dropped as capacities rose sharply, especially on the North Atlantic routes. These were challenging times for the young company, the more so as the world was shaken by political turmoil in the early 1960s, and even found itself briefly on the brink of a new war.

The seventies  - flying in wide-body dimensions

Space. Breadth. Room to move. Everything was new and different aboard the wide-body jets, the “Jumbos,” which arrived at Lufthansa just in time to kick off the new decade.


Instead of just the one down the middle, two aisles now led along a much wider cabin, dispelling all notions of confinement – and making service and communication much easier on long flights. A liberating feeling, a new era in aviation. But the joy wasn’t to remain unadulterated for very long. Prices for crude oil, raw material for the kerosene so indispensable to flying, exploded. First in 1973 and then again in 1979 – two oil crises.


This resulted in tur- bulences in the world economy, striking international civil aviation with conse- quences that were tough to deal with. Lufthansa’s engineers, as well as aircraft and engine manufacturers, applied their combined expertise to reduce fuel con- sumption – and were successful in their quest. A new awareness, a greater understanding in using our resources began to shape the collective thinking process.

Eighties - competing for customers

The world was now on our doorstep, thanks to more nonstop connections and ever-denser route networks.


At the same time, air space had become more crowded, resulting in more time spent flying in holding patterns. The aircraft had evolved into a means of mass transport. Lufthansa was increasingly transforming itself into a competitive corporation with modern organizational structures: Its watchwords were now market orientation, a newly-designed corporate identity, more efficient struc- tures, responsibility in environmental issues, employee communications. And at the end of the decade, the real- ization of a long-held dream dawned on the horizon: a reunited Germany and Lufthansa’s return to its home town – to Berlin.

Onwards to the nineties - Germany's reunification and Lufthansa's return to Berlin: The new decade got off to a most promising start.  But then came a major crisis in the early 1990s, a dramatic phase that threatened the airline's very survival. Lufthansa sought alliances and cooperations, and eventually found its way with other airlines into the "Star Alliance," which was rapidly to become the industry leader. A "new," entirely restructured Lufthansa, fully privatized in 1997, now soared toward success. Lufthansa was fully prepared to take off for the new millennium.

Merpati 737 Crashes in Indonesia.

A plane carrying 103 people has crashed near an airport in Indonesia's West Papua Province.Skip related content

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Dozens Injured In Indonesia Plane CrashEnlarge photo

At least 20 people have been injured.

The incident happened around 11am local time, when the Merpati Boeing 737 lost control approximately 300 meters from the runway at Rendani Airport in Manokwari.

The director general of civil aviation Herry Bhakti Singayuda told AFP the plane "hurtled into trees and skidded into a shallow river."

Heavy rain and fog were suspected of playing a part in the crash, although experts were on their way to look into the cause.

"All the passengers were in a total panic, some even screamed and cried," said passenger Zainal Hayat.

He managed to escape by crawling out of a crack in the fuselage and was being treated at hospital with facial injuries.

"We flew safely and the plane touched down smoothly on the runway but it just didn't stop. It skidded very fast and I felt it hit something twice before it stopped and tumbled down."

"I got out through a crack in the plane near my seat."

Witnesses said the left wing broke off as the plane smashed into the trees at the end of the runway. The cockpit was also almost completely separated from the rest of the fusilage.

The plane was flying a routine domestic route from Sorong, also in West Papua province, to Manokwari, a distance of about 210 miles.

The EU banned all Indonesia-registered aircraft from flying over its airspace in June 2007.

It was acting on a report from the International Civil Aviation Organisation which criticised the country's safety standards.

Polish Air Crash Kills President !

An ageing jet carrying Poland's President Lech Kaczynski and many of the state elite crashed in thick fog in Russia Saturday killing all 97 on board and plunging a nation into grief.Skip related content

RELATED PHOTOS / VIDEOS

VIDEO: Polish president and elite killed in plane disaster.Enlarge photo

• VIDEO: Polish president and elite killed in plane disaster.Enlarge photo
• Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) and Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu…MoreEnlarge photo
• Russian rescuers work at the site of a Polish government Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft crashEnlarge photo
• Russian news agencies said pilot error had come under immediate suspicionEnlarge photo
• Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) hugs his Polish counterpart Donald TuskEnlarge photo

The Soviet-era Tupolev Tu-154 hit tree tops in fog as it approached the runway at Smolensk airport in western Russia and broke up in flames, regional governor Sergei Antufiev said.

The plane was taking Kaczynski and his wife, the military chief of staff and other top officers, central bank governor, deputy foreign minister, members of parliament and other senior officials to a memorial ceremony for thousands of Polish troops massacred by Russian forces in World War II.

"It clipped the tops of the trees, crashed down and broke into pieces," Antufiev told Russia-24 television news network. Scene: Plane lies mangled in 'forest of death'

Late Saturday Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the president's identical twin brother and fellow politician Jaroslaw Kaczynski arrived at the crash site, where they met Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin who has vowed to quickly determine the cause of the tragedy.

Lieutenant General Alexander Alyoshin, deputy head of Russia's air force, pointed to possible pilot error, saying the crew repeatedly ignored instructions from air traffic controllers.

Wreckage, including the engines and a large chunk of mud-caked tailfin, was scattered across a forest and parts of it burned for more than an hour.

As well as killing the 60-year-old head of state, the crash devastated Poland's military leadership.

The 89 passengers included General Franciszek Gagor, chief of Poland's armed forces and the heads of all the main armed forces, as well as central bank governor Slawomir Skrzypek, deputy foreign minister Andrzej Kremer, deputy defence minister Stanislaw Jerzy Komorowski, Kaczynski's wife Maria, and scores of lawmakers, historians and other officials. Facts: Polish leaders killed in crash

Former Polish president Lech Walesa, who headed the Solidarity movement, called the disaster "inconceivable".

"The Soviets killed Polish elites in Katyn 70 years ago. Today, the Polish elite died there while getting ready to pay homage to the Poles killed there," a shaken Walesa told AFP.

Bronislaw Komorowski, head of Poland's lower house, took over as interim head-of-state, and ordered a week of official mourning.

On Saturday night he joined tens of thousands of people near the presidential palace as the nation's grief spilled into the streets of central Warsaw. Scene: Tears on the streets for Poland's tragic president

Mourners laid a carpet of candles and flowers across a vast square where Pope John Paul II held masses during his historic visits to his homeland.

"We're a unique kind of nation, we become united at times of national tragedy," said Jerzy Grabowski, a 55-year-old accountant.

Throughout the Polish capital many people hung national flags from their windows.

Kaczynski and his delegation were travelling to Russia to attend a memorial service in the Katyn Forest, near Smolensk, for the 22,000 Polish officers and troops killed by Soviet troops 70 years ago. The event had been intended to help reconciliation between Poland and Russia.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev appointed Putin to head a special inquiry commission and sent Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu to the crash site.

Shoigu later reported that all of the bodies had been recovered and were transported to Moscow for identification.

"Everything must be done to establish the reasons for this tragedy in the shortest possible time," Putin was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

The two "black box" flight recorders have also been found, news agencies reported.

The jet had been repaired and refurbished in December, said Alexei Gusev, the director of its manufacturer, Aviakor.

Speculation Saturday focused on why the pilots had attempted to land the plane in thick fog.

Some 1.5 kilometres (0.9 miles) from the airport, air traffic controllers noticed the jet was below the scheduled gliding path, the air force deputy chief said.

"The head of the group ordered the crew to return to horizontal flight, and when the crew did not fulfil the instruction, ordered them several times to land at another airport," said Alyoshin.

"Nonetheless the crew continued to descend. Unfortunately this ended tragically," he added.

Kaczynski and his twin brother formed a formidable dual leadership of Poland's nationalist right wing, stubbornly taking on other European leaders at European Union summits to defend his country's cause. Profile: Kaczynski, from child star to Polish president

The crash occurred three days after Putin and Tusk attended a joint memorial for the Katyn victims. The event was seen as a huge symbolic advance in Russia's often thorny relations with Poland.

Medvedev ordered a day of national mourning in Russia on Monday.

World leaders expressed shock at the disaster. Reax: Shock and sorrow at Kaczynski death

US President Barack Obama hailed the late president as "a distinguished statesman who played a key role in the Solidarity movement, and he was widely admired in the United States as a leader dedicated to advancing freedom and human dignity."

The Emirates Story

Our rating   5 star plus

A reputation worth it’s weight in gold, or perhaps the way things are going today,  worth it’s weight in oil!  Emirates is one of the most respected airline groups in the world.  The rate of expansion and development is second to none and the high quality of service offered is out of this world,  especially on it’s A380 aircraft. 

It’s a powerful player in the industry and has a good on-time record,  although recently there have been a few major delays, sometimes due to aircraft faults – however the airline is always seems to look after delayed passengers well, with minimum fuss.

It’s fares may not always be the cheapest and often are restrictive, but there is a say that you get what you pay for, so many are happy to shell out a few more pounds, dollars of dirhams for the pleasure of flying with carrier.

It’s fleet is modern and made of up Boeing 777 aircraft and Airbus 330, 340 and 380 types. The latter offering the most luxurious First Class flying experience in the world,  complete with bars, rest areas and suites. Oh and don’t for get airborne spas and showers too!

 

 

Emirates History

On 25th October 1985, Emirates flew its first routes out of Dubai with just two aircraft—a leased Boeing 737 and Airbus 300 B4. Then as now, our goal was quality, not quantity, and in the years since taking those first small steps onto the regional travel scene, Emirates has evolved into a globally influential travel and tourism conglomerate known the world over for our commitment to the highest standards of quality in every aspect of our business.

Though wholly owned by the Government of Dubai, Emirates has grown in scale and stature not through protectionism but through competition—competition with the ever-growing number of international carriers that take advantage of Dubai’s open-skies policy. Not only do we support that policy, but we see it as vital to maintaining our identity and our competitiveness. After making its initial start-up investment, the Government of Dubai saw fit to treat Emirates as a wholly independent business entity, and today we are thriving because of it. Our growth has never been lower than 20 per cent annually, and the airline has recorded an annual profit in every year since its third in operation.

Continuing our explosive growth while continually striving to provide the best service in the industry is the secret of Emirates’ success. The airline’s business includes:

• An award winning international cargo division
• A full-fledged destination management and leisure division
• An international ground-handler
• An airline IT developer.

Emirates Inaugural Flight

Emirates Inaugural Flight

Emirates Inaugural Flight

Emirates Inaugural Flight

Emirates Inaugural Flight

With a fleet of 137 aircraft, we currently fly to over 100 destinations in 60 countries around the world, and our network is expanding constantly. Nearly 700 Emirates flights depart Dubai each week on their way to destinations on six continents. In fact, Emirates' flights account for nearly 40 per cent of all flight movements in and out of Dubai International Airport, and our aim is to increase this market-share to 70 per cent by 2010 without compromising our reputation for quality.

Toward this end, Emirates has made numerous significant announcements regarding the future of its already state-of-the-art fleet.

In 2001, Emirates demonstrated its confidence in the industry’s future growth by announcing the largest order in aviation history, valued at US$15 billion. A staggering 58 new aircraft, a mix of Airbus and Boeing, were to join the rapidly expanding fleet.

In 2005, Emirates announced the largest-ever order for the Boeing 777 family of aircraft - 42 in all – in a deal worth Dhs 35.7 billion (US$9.7 billion).

At the 2006 Farnborough Air Show, Emirates signed a Heads of Agreement for 10 of Boeing’s new 747-8F aircraft, to be powered by General Electric’s GEnx jet engines, in a deal worth US$3.3 billion.

At the Dubai Air show in November 2007, Emirates announced a historic civil aviation aircraft order when it signed contracts for a 120 Airbus A350s, 11 A380s, and 12 Boeing 777-300ERs, worth an estimated US$34.9 billion in list prices. The agreement with Airbus comprises firm orders for 50 A350-900s and 20 A350-1000s, plus 50 options for the A350-900s. The first A350 will be delivered to Emirates in 2014.

Emirates also firmed up orders on the eight A380s for which it had signed letters of intent earlier this year, and placed firm orders for an additional three of the double-decker aircraft, bringing its total firm order for the A380s to 58.

With the new order for 12 777-300ERs, valued at US$3.2 billion, Emirates now has 48 Boeing 777s pending delivery and is set to become the world’s largest 777 operator in the next few years.

Emirates’ current order-book stands at 156 aircraft, with a total value of approximately US$ 50 billion. In combination with what is already the youngest and one of the most modern fleets in worldwide commercial aviation, this commitment to the future reflects our goal to develop Dubai into a comprehensive, global, long-haul aviation hub. In the financial year 2007/2008, Emirates carried 21.2 million passengers and 1.3 million tonnes of cargo. We look forward to a bright future in which we carry many millions more across a growing network of international destinations.