| History: |
KLM was founded on October 7,
1919 as the national airline of the Netherlands. Operations began on May
17, 1920 with a flight from London to Amsterdam by an Airco de Havilland
DH16. In 1921 KLM started scheduled domestic services and
intercontinental operations began in 1929. From the late 1960s, KLM has
operated several subsidiaries, including KLM Cityhopper, KLM Cargo, KLM
Asia and formerly KLM exel. KLM UK was also a subsidiary until it merged
into KLM Cityhopper. For political reasons, flights into Taipei, Taiwan,
and the Republic of China are operated by KLM Asia, the livery for which
does not have the crown. In May 2004, KLM was taken over by Air France,
resulting in the creation of Air France-KLM and ending KLM's designation
as the national airline of the Netherlands. KLM's independent
operational identity is guaranteed through 2009, but is anticipated that
operations will be merged into Air France. KLM joined Air France in the
SkyTeam Alliance in September 2004. |
