KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij), the world’s oldest airline still operating under its original name, is celebrating its 106th anniversary. Founded in 1919, KLM holds the distinction of being the oldest airline to have continuously operated without a name change since its establishment.
The Dutch carrier operated its first flight in May 1920, flying from London to Amsterdam using a leased De Havilland DH-16 aircraft. Onboard were two journalists and a load of mail. By the end of its first year, KLM had carried 440 passengers and 22 tons of cargo.
KLM soon became a pioneer in intercontinental aviation, launching its first long-haul route in 1924 to Batavia (modern-day Jakarta), then part of the Dutch East Indies. At the time, it was considered the longest scheduled air route in the world.
After resuming operations swiftly following World War II, the airline merged with Air France in 2004 to form the Air France–KLM Group. Today, KLM operates flights to more than 170 destinations worldwide and carries over 30 million passengers annually.
