Venezuela’s Conviasa Inaugurates New Flight from Caracas to Algiers

Linéa Aérea Conviasa has successfully launched its inaugural flight from Caracas to Algiers, marking the opening of a nonstop air route.

Victor Shalton

Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 10:36 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Conviasa's Airbus A340 fleet parked in Caracas in 2020. (Photo: Conviasa)

Linéa Aérea Conviasa has successfully launched its inaugural flight from Caracas to Algiers, marking the opening of a nonstop air route between Venezuela and Algeria. The official launch of the long-awaited route took place on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, as communicated in a press release on Conviasa’s official page.

The Caracas-Algiers route holds great significance for Conviasa, as it represents its entry into the African market following years of negotiations between Algerian and Venezuelan authorities, with plans to extend the route to Doha airport, connecting the two nations further.

With a monopoly on this route and operating Airbus A340-600 aircraft, Conviasa aims to provide passengers with unrivaled service, comfort, and convenience. The exact flight schedule for this route is yet to be announced, but expectations are high for regular operations at least twice a month.

Conviasa’s aircraft touched down at Algiers International Airport, carrying a significant ministerial delegation from Venezuela. The delegation included key figures from the Ministries of Transportation, Petroleum, Fisheries, Commerce, and a representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to media outlet Aviacionline, during the International Center for Productive Investment, discussions included areas such as industrial, commercial, tourism, multimodal transport, petrochemical, gas, fishing, agriculture, and trade sectors, emphasizing the potential for enhanced economic and cultural ties.

New and Unique Routes

Conviasa’s foray into the Caracas-Algiers route follows a previous announcement in June 2022. Despite initial plans, the flights during that period faced sustainability challenges, raising questions about the viability of the route. This latest venture signifies a determined effort to establish a lasting presence in the region.

With no competition on the Caracas-Algiers route, Conviasa aims to strengthen bilateral relations and offer passengers the opportunity to explore the unique destination of Algeria. The expansion aligns with Conviasa’s commitment to spreading its wings and exploring unconventional routes.

Furthermore, Conviasa envisions serving unusual yet promising destinations such as Johannesburg (South Africa), Damascus (Syria), and Luanda (Angola), in addition to its existing long-haul route to Moscow, Russia. These endeavors demonstrate Conviasa’s proactive approach to seeking new markets amidst the economic challenges and sanctions faced by Venezuela.

2/2 De igual forma, nos reunimos con el Director General de Air Algérie, Sr. Yacine Benslimane, con quien abordamos la cooperación entre @LAConviasa y Air Algérie, con miras de ampliar la conexión con África, Europa y Asia; lo que garantizará al pueblo argelino, conocer las… pic.twitter.com/JVh9Jd3qm6

— Ramón Celestino Velásquez Araguayán (@rvaraguayan) January 22, 2024

Celestino Velasquez, the Venezuelan Minister of Transportation and President of Conviasa, held a productive meeting with his Algerian counterpart, Mohamed El Habid Zahana, as part of the high-level joint commission’s strategic agenda. The discussions centered around fostering cooperation in the aviation sector. Additionally, a meeting with the CEO of Air Algérie took place, laying the groundwork for a comprehensive cooperation agreement focused on training aviation professionals and technicians.

Victor Shalton

Victor Shalton's love for aviation can be traced to when he was 11-years-old. As a seasoned aviation writer, he takes pride in providing the best aviation coverage around the globe and is passionate about advancing his skills in the aviation space. In addition, he loves travelling, writing, arts and while his speaking engagements have taken him around the world, he is proud to call Nairobi home.

United Reports Strong Q4 Earnings, Questions MAX 10 Order

United Airlines reported its fourth quarter earnings on Tuesday, presenting earnings and revenues that exceeded expectations.

Andrew Chen

Tuesday, January 23, 2024 at 06:16 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A United 737 MAX 9, the larger variant of the 737 MAX 8, on the flight line. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

United Airlines reported its fourth quarter earnings on Tuesday, presenting earnings and revenues that exceeded expectations. However, the airline is anticipating continued operational challenges, with the company highlighting the impacts of the Boeing 737 MAX 9 grounding and casting doubts on its 737 MAX 10 order.

Strong Fourth Quarter Results

United shares rose by nearly 6% in after-hours trading on Tuesday on the heels of its earnings announcement, with the gain in share price holding steady throughout Wednesday. Shares of other airlines that are scheduled to release earnings reports later this week – Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines – were also up following United’s announcement.

Although the Chicago-based carrier’s fourth quarter adjusted earnings were down by 18.7% to $2.00 per share and revenue growth slowed to 9.9%, these metrics still outpaced expectations. Similarly, full-year financial results were also better than anticipated.

The airline also celebrated numerous other successes from 2023, from opening its largest United Club lounge to its largest international schedule expansion. Operationally, United carried the largest number of passengers in a year in the airline’s history at 165 million and had its busiest travel period ever during the last two weeks of December.

First Quarter Loss Forecasted

In a separate filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, United revealed that it expects to post an adjusted loss between 35 cents and 85 cents per share in the first quarter of 2024. It attributed the loss to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s grounding of Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft earlier this month, following a door plug blowout and subsequent decompression on an Alaska Airlines flight on January 5.

United currently has 79 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft in its fleet, representing around 8% of the airline’s capacity. The nationwide grounding has led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights throughout the month.

CEO Casts Doubt on 737 MAX 10 Order

In an interview with CNBC following the release of the earnings report, United Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby expressed disappointment at the Boeing 737 MAX situation and raised concerns about the future of the carrier’s Boeing 737 MAX 10 order.

The largest 737 MAX variant has yet to be signed off by regulators, and United seems to believe that its entry into service will continue to be delayed. Kirby has stated that the 737 MAX 9 grounding was “the straw that broke the camel’s back” for the airline and that United has started on working on “alternative plans” for its fleet that do not include the 737 MAX 10.

A Boeing 737 MAX 10 on a test flight.
(Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

While the Boeing 737 MAX 10 variant does not have the door plug that caused the Alaska Airlines incident earlier this month, the grounding could further delay regulatory approval of the type. In a statement following Kirby’s remarks, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Chief Executive Officer Stan Deal apologized to its customers, stating, “We have let down our airline customers and are deeply sorry for the significant disruption to them, their employees and their passengers.”

Andrew Chen

Andrew is a lifelong lover of aviation and travel. He has flown all over the world and is fascinated by the workings of the air travel industry. As a private pilot and glider pilot who has worked with airlines, airports and other industry stakeholders, he is always excited to share his passion for aviation with others. In addition to being a writer, he also hosts Flying Smarter, an educational travel podcast that explores the complex world of air travel to help listeners become better-informed and savvier travelers.

Frontier Expands Connectivity From 38 Airports

Ultra-low-cost carrier Frontier announced the significant launch of flights from a variety of airports and cities in its route network.

Benjamin Pham

Tuesday, January 23, 2024 at 04:49 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Frontier A320neo in Denver. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Frontier — a major ultra-low-cost carrier in the U.S. — announced the significant launch of new and resuming routes from a variety of airports and cities in its network, many of which feature flights from its crew and operating bases. The carrier is eager to prepare for the summer travel season, as these new routes will begin in April, May, or June.

“This is a massive expansion of our operation from coast to coast and internationally as part of our focus on growing in underserved and overpriced routes,” Josh Flyr, Vice President for the carrier’s network and operations design, said in a press release. “More destinations and greater frequency means a larger number of consumers will soon be able to enjoy Frontier’s convenient, affordable ‘Low Fares Done Right.”

Some of the new flights will launch from the airline’s current and future domestic bases such as Atlanta, Las Vegas, Baltimore, Dallas, Chicago, Phoenix, Tampa, Philadelphia, Orlando, and Miami among several other destinations in the network.

In addition, the airline will have routes beyond the continental U.S. such as Dallas/Ft. Worth to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico starting on May 16, which operates twice a week. New Flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Maarten, and the U.S. Virgin Islands will start in June.

Last year, the airline added eight new routes from Puerto Rico for the summer and will add eight more this summer, specifically to San Juan. These new routes will allow the notable ultra-low-cost carrier to grow and make a major push towards strengthening its presence at major airports that are hubs for the legacy carriers.

Furthermore, Frontier will be able to better target itself towards the leisure traveler, especially from its expanding network of bases.

Airline’s New Bases

While the airline is actively involved in adding more routes and increasing connectivity in its route map, Frontier is also currently focusing on its pilots and flight attendants. While Frontier was not successful in merging with Spirit, one of its major competitors, due to an offer from JetBlue, the ultra-low-cost carrier is adding to its growing list of existing bases, such as Cleveland and Cincinnati while reopening a pilot base in Chicago for this year.

In a press release from Fall 2023, Barry Biffle, CEO of Frontier, said, “The opening of a crew base will bring new jobs and meaningful wage impact to the greater Cincinnati area creating positive benefit for the airport and local community.”

Additionally, Frontier recently announced its intention to open a base in San Juan, which will allow the airline to grow on the island and across the Caribbean.

“Our base will provide significant economic impact and new jobs for Puerto Ricans. A crew base also helps support smooth flight operations — benefiting customers flying to and from the island who will have access to a wide variety of destinations, including a number of underserved markets, as we continue to grow our Puerto Rico operations,” Biffle said, in regards to the new base on the island.

The new routes come on the heels of Frontier focusing on growing the size of its crew and investing in its staffing. The airline expects to have a significant economic impact in Puerto Rico and generate crucial demand for the rest of its network.

Benjamin Pham

Benjamin has had a love for aviation since a young age, growing up in Tampa with a strong interest in airplane models and playing with them. When he moved to the Washington, D.C. area, Benjamin took part in aviation photography for a couple of years at Gravelly Point and Dulles Airport, before dedicating planespotting to only when he traveled to the other airports. He is an avid, world traveler, having been able to reach 32 countries, yearning to explore and understand more cultures soon. Currently, Benjamin is an Air Transporation Management student at Arizona State University. He hopes to enter the airline industry to improve the passenger experience and loyalty programs while keeping up to how technology is being integrated into airports.

U.K. Airports Could Miss The Deadline To Install New Scanners

The 100ml liquid ban could be extended after some airports failed to install new security screening technology. Airports could face penalties as a result.

Pete Ainsley

Tuesday, January 23, 2024 at 11:29 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

British Airways tails at Heathrow Airport. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | James Dinsdale)

U.K. airports could fall short of upgrading their screening equipment by June 1. As a result, Britons and travelers around the world won’t see speedier queues at the security checkpoints. Back in 2022, the U.K. government scrapped the current 100ml liquid rule.

The strict rules were introduced in 2006 following a terrorist threat. The liquids have been limited to 100ml or under and must be in a transparent plastic bag with passengers being asked to remove some items from hand luggage, such as laptops and liquids. In 2019, the government announced an end to the strict rule by the end of 2022 with the computed tomography (CT) scanner.

Passengers could bring up to two liters of liquid in response to the new scanner. The new scanner also removes the requirement for cosmetics to be placed in separate bags. According to the U.K. government, CT scanner could provide a 3D image of what’s in the passenger’s bag and deploy highly advanced threat detection algorithms. More importantly, the passengers could stand to benefit from the new scanner, which are in use by Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, Chicago’s O’Hare, and New York’s LaGuardia airports among others.

“We are in regular contact with airports as they move towards June 2024 deadline for upgrading their screening equipment and processes. For security reasons we don’t talk in detail about aviation security measures,” a Department for Transport spokesperson said.

Most airports in the U.K. have missed the mark, but two airports successfully rolled out the new scanner in 2023, Teesside International Airport became the first airport to introduce the new scanner in the U.K. Afterwards, London City Airport followed in Teesside’s footsteps to use the new technology. According to London City Airport, the new technology processes 30% more passengers per hour.

The major airports in the country are expected to miss the deadline to install the new scanners.

Big Three Airports Could Miss The Deadline

According to I News, London’s Heathrow Airport couldn’t guarantee the new scanner rollout by June, but the airport has begun introducing the new scanner in three of its four terminals. Heathrow must meet the challenge of “fitting the new scanners and retraining staff without impacting the flow of passengers.” Heathrow revealed that the new equipment could cost £50 million ($63.7 million). Meanwhile, London’s Gatwick Airport said does not expect to finish installation until early next year.

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) also said the installation won’t be completed until 2025. The group owns Manchester Airport, London Stansted Airport and East Midlands Airport in the country,

The government may consider allowing the airports to extend the deadline for installing the equipment. However, the airports could face penalties without the agreement from the government.

Pete Ainsley

United Adds Four Seasonal Routes, One New Destination

United brings back three pre-Covid routes, as well as one completely new route, including one of the longest domestic 737 flights in the U.S.

Joey Gerardi

Tuesday, January 23, 2024 at 10:05 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A United 737 MAX 8. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Noah Escobar)

United Airlines has announced the introduction of four new seasonal routes to their network, one of which will bring the carrier to a new destination.

The first two new seasonal routes are from Alaska, with a route from the state’s busiest airport in Anchorage to the airline’s Washington Dulles hub. The second new route out of Alaska will be from slightly further north, Fairbanks, with the airline restarting the seasonal link from the city to Denver, Colo.

The airline has served the Fairbanks to Denver route in the past, with the route last operating in the summer before the pandemic, while Anchorage to Washington Dulles is a completely new route for the airline. Both of these routes will be served by the airline’s Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft and will both begin on May 23.

The third route is another resumption of a pre-COVID route, Vancouver in British Colombia to Washington Dulles. With the addition of this route on May 2, United will now serve every single one of their U.S. hubs out of Vancouver, giving United passengers even more opportunities to connect onward in their network. This route will also be served using the airline’s Boeing 737 MAX 8.

The fourth route will still be in Canada, but on the other side of the country from Halifax in Nova Scotia. The carrier will resume flights to Newark using its Embraer E175 aircraft on May 23.

United isn’t the first airline that has announced an expansion in Halifax, with Delta announcing a resumption of service to the city for the first time in over five years. American resumed service to the city last summer but will add a fourth nonstop destination from Halifax this summer. This will be the first summer since 2019 that the three major airlines in the United States will offer service to Halifax.

All routes are seasonal and will end in the fall, but that may change depending on the demand and popularity of the routes and how they perform. All schedules and flights are subject to change.

Joey Gerardi

Joey has always been interested in planes for as long as he can remember. He grew up in Central New York during the early 2000s when US Airways Express turboprops ruled the skies. Being from a non-aviation family made it harder for him to be around planes and would only spend about three hours a month at the airport. He was so excited when he could drive by himself, the first thing he did with his driver's license was get ice cream and go plane spotting for the entire day. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 2022 with a B.S. in Aviation Management & Operations and a Minor in Business, and currently works for a major airline in his hometown.

Air France Adds New Phoenix Route

Air France is growing its network in the U.S. with a new route from Paris-CDG to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

Ryan Ewing

Monday, January 22, 2024 at 05:16 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A 787-9 Dreamliner destined for Air France during its checks at Paine Field. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Air France is growing its network in the U.S. with a new route from Paris-CDG to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). Slated to launch on May 23, 2024, the new route is the carrier’s 17th U.S. destination.

The new Paris-Phoenix flight will operate three times per week operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. AF68 will depart CDG at 10:10 a.m. local time and arrive in Phoenix at 12:10 p.m. AF69 departs PHX at 2:10 p.m. local time, arriving in Paris at 9:15 a.m. the next day.

Air France will be the third European airline to serve Phoenix. The Valley of the Sun currently has service from both British Airways and Condor.

The city estimates that the new route will bring with it $30 million in annual economic impact. The number of passengers flying between Phoenix and Paris has grown by nearly 40% from 2019 levels, according to the city.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Paris was Phoenix’s largest underserved market in Europe, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said during a news conference. In addition, the new route will start in time for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

The French flag carrier recently announced it is resuming service to Minneapolis this summer. The airline also plans to extend its service from Paris to Raleigh-Durham with up to seven weekly flights.

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Southwest Pilots Ratify New $12 Billion Contract

Southwest pilots overwhelmingly approved a new contract on Monday, which includes 50% pay raises over the life of the agreement.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, January 22, 2024 at 04:13 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Southwest Airlines 737-700 pushing back in Pittsburgh. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Southwest pilots – represented by the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) – overwhelmingly approved a new contract on Monday, which includes 50% pay raises over the life of the agreement. According to the union, 98.8% of its members voted on the new contract with 92.73% voting in favor and 7.27% against.

Valued at $12 billion, the airline is the last major U.S. carrier to ink a new pilot contract. American, Delta, and United ratified new collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) with their pilot groups last year.

Southwest pilots are set to receive an immediate 29.15% pay increase upon ratification followed by 4% incremental raises in 2025, 2026, and 2027, and a 3.25% raise in 2028. The new contract also includes quality-of-life enhancements and modifications to scheduling procedures among other changes. SWAPA also notes that the CBA includes ‘continued industry-leading Scope protections.’

The Dallas-based airline has recently faced pilot attrition woes. According to a December Bloomberg report, pilots have used Southwest as a stepping stone between flying at a regional carrier and a larger carrier, something the airline hasn’t widely seen in its over 50-year history.

Southwest’s Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson called this increasing phenomenon “resume washing.”

“So they use us as a premeditated way station. They come to Southwest, get hired, trained, spend six months and then they flip their resume and apply somewhere else,” Watterson told Bloomberg.

The new CBA is set to better position top-of-scale pay rates with those of American, Delta, or United. Unlike many other airlines, Southwest has over 11,000 pilots in its ranks and hired nearly 2,000 in 2023.

Other Southwest Labor Groups

Since October 2022, Southwest says it has ratified new agreements with nine of its union-represented workgroups. The carrier’s flight attendants recently rejected a tentative agreement (TA), which would boost pay by 36% over the agreement’s five-year term. The Transport Workers Union (TWU)-represented flight attendants are set to revote on the agreement.

Ryan Ewing

Visionary Training Resources and CommuteAir Partner to Bring VR to Pilot Training

The Cleveland-based airline is the first U.S.-based regional operator to utilize virtual reality technology in a training environment.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, January 22, 2024 at 10:01 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A CommuteAir Embraer E145 aircraft (Photo: CommuteAir)

Visionary Training Resources (VTR), a Tampa-based developer of virtual reality (VR) flight training devices, and CommuteAir, a regional airline operating as United Express, recently inked a partnership to incorporate VTR’s technology into CommuteAir’s pilot training program.

This collaboration will see CommuteAir pilots utilizing VTR’s FlightDeckToGo system to gain an immersive and realistic training experience. The initial focus will be on Embraer ERJ-145 ground-based procedural flows, with potential expansion to cover other non-normal and emergency scenarios in the future.

“We look forward to expanding our rapidly growing customer base with a leader in the U.S. regional airline market. CommuteAir is fully committed to providing a world-class training experience for their pilots, and we are excited to be their partner in the VR space,” said Captain Evey Cormican, VTR’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, in a press release.

The airline says that VR headsets will be issued to new pilots during the first several weeks of their initial training, allowing them to practice during ground training at the location of their choice. VR will supplement CommuteAir’s current use of Graphical Flight Simulation (GFS).

According to a press release, CommuteAir spent over two years evaluating VR solutions and has been actively integrating VR into its pilot training infrastructure for the past year. This partnership paves the way for hundreds of new and current CommuteAir aviators to use VR training over the next two years, starting with basic flight deck procedures.

Virtual reality headset for CommuteAir (Photo: Visionary Training Resources)

“VTR’s virtual reality headsets and handsets will enhance our current training program for the more than 200 pilots we’re hiring annually by enabling them to familiarize themselves with our aircraft’s cockpit using a realistic simulation. CommuteAir trainees will practice flight deck orientation, flows, and procedures with the assistance of the VTR’s virtual instructor and eye-tracking features,” Lance Lau, the airline’s Director of Flight Crew Training, added.

VTR was founded by pilots with ‘extensive safety and training backgrounds.’ Since its inception in 2017, the company has partnered with a handful of airlines and flight schools to deliver virtual reality to pilot training programs, including Atlas Air and JetBlue.

Ryan Ewing

Airbus’ Record-Breaking 2023 Orders and Deliveries

Airbus beat both its competitor, Boeing, and also industry records when it comes to annual orders and deliveries in 2023.

Filip Kopeć

Sunday, January 21, 2024 at 04:49 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Airbus' A321XLR on display at the 2023 Paris Airshow (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Just a day after Boeing, its U.S. competitor, Airbus announced the company’s orders and deliveries figures for 2023.

Deliveries Reached the Target

Rumors had it in December that Airbus was already on the way to reach its deliveries target of 720 units. This could mean that the end-year push got Airbus employees to deliver 50 planes in just over 10 days near the year’s end as compared to mid-December figures published by Reuters. The final number of deliveries stands at 735 units.

Airbus deliveries in 2023 (Photo: Airbus – 2023 Commercial Aircraft highlights)

Still, the supply chain and manufacturing constraints hadn’t allowed it to break the high watermark of 863 set in 2019. According to the manufacturer, 2024 will not get any easier but the company is yet to publish the official targets for the year.

New Capabilities

In recent years, Airbus saw its manufacturing capabilities improve with the introduction of Airbus Mobile and Airbus Tianjin assembly lines. Since its official inauguration in 2015, the Airbus Mobile facility has received Airbus A320 family parts, including fuselage parts, from across the Atlantic.

Adding to that, in 2019 a second production line for Airbus A220 was also opened at Mobile. This helped to take the workload from the previously only manufacturing facility for the type in Mirabel, Quebec. The 11% year-over-year Airbus production increase from 2022 can be accredited predominantly to those two models

The Airbus Tianjin assembly line contributes to its production of two aircraft types, the Airbus A320 and A330. It is a joint venture between Airbus and a consortium of Tianjin Free Trade Zone and China Aviation Industry Corporation. It is also the first widebody aircraft production site outside of Europe. The facility opened in 2017 and in October 2020 already celebrated the 500th aircraft produced onsite.

A Breeze A220 in Phoenix (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Boeing Left Behind

Over recent years, Airbus seems to be ahead of its main rival Boeing. The commercial airplane manufacturing division of the American company continues to see numerous challenges, most of which are connected to Boeing’s longtime workhorse, the Boeing 737. The more than 56-year-old design can not compete with its 20 years younger Airbus A320 counterpart.

The 735 units delivered by Airbus is 39% above Boeing’s 528 aircraft. This is the fifth year in a row that the European manufacturer is holding the prime spot when it comes to aircraft manufacturing. The prognosis for the future is painted in the same colors as Airbus put an additional 2,094 aircraft orders on the books, which similarly is 59% above Boeing’s result of 1,314.

Filip Kopeć

A passionate aviation enthusiast that started off his career as an aerospace engineer, but found his true calling on the commercial side of the airline business. Now as a finance guy among avgeeks and an avgeek among finance guys, he has experience working in the Revenue Divisions of three airlines. In his spare time he enjoys traveling, but admittedly sometimes is more about the journey than the destination.

Livery of the Week: KLM

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines boasts one of the most recognizable liveries in the skies, a striking combination of blue, white, and the Dutch tricolor.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, January 19, 2024 at 04:27 PM ET

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Edited By:

John McDermott

A KLM Cityhopper Embraer E190. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks is excited to launch our ‘Livery of the Week’ series. Every Friday, a team member will share an airline livery, which can be from the past, present, or even a special scheme. Some airline liveries are works of art. The complexity associated with painting around critical flight components and the added weight requires outside-the-box thinking from designers. The average airliner can cost upwards of $200,000 to repaint, creating a separate aircraft repainting industry as a result.

Have an idea for a livery that we should highlight? Drop us a line.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines boasts one of the most recognizable liveries in the skies, a striking combination of blue, white, and the Dutch tricolor. But this iconic design wasn’t always the one gracing KLM’s fleet. Its evolution mirrors the airline’s own journey, reflecting changing trends and a connection to its Dutch heritage.

Early Beginnings

KLM’s first aircraft, an Airco DH-16, took to the sky in 1920 sporting a simple livery of silver with black and red accents. This minimalist design reflected the early days of aviation, a time when practicality trumped aesthetics.

Blue Takes Flight

The iconic Delft blue entered the picture in 1937, adorning the nose and tail of the Fokker F.XX. This elegant shade added a touch of sophistication and instantly linked KLM to its cultural roots. Over the years, the blue gradually expanded, covering the entire upper fuselage and creating the design known today.

Modern Twist

KLM’s livery has undergone subtle refinements over the decades, each iteration retaining the core elements while keeping pace with contemporary design trends. The typeface used for the airline’s logo has evolved from a serifed font to a clean sans-serif style, reflecting a shift towards modernity. The white cheatline, separating the blue upper fuselage from the lower section, has also become thinner and more streamlined.

A KLM 737-800 in Amsterdam (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Orange Pride

In 2016, KLM unveiled a special livery called “Orange Pride,” featuring a vibrant orange nose section adorned with the Dutch flag. This temporary design, applied to a single Boeing 777-300ER, paid homage to the Netherlands’ national color and was a hit with passengers and aviation enthusiasts alike. In 2023, KLM introduced a slightly modified version of the Orange Pride livery, featuring a larger Dutch flag that spans the entire length of the aircraft.

A KLM 777 departing in 2019. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Today, KLM’s livery remains a timeless symbol of Dutch aviation. Its instantly recognizable combination of blue, white, and the Dutch tricolor evokes feelings of reliability, sophistication, and national pride. It’s a testament to the airline’s rich history and its enduring commitment to connecting the Netherlands to the world.

Looking for a new airplane model? Head over to our friends at the Midwest Model Store for a wide selection of airlines and liveries.

Ryan Ewing