KLM

[lbaspotter]

According to LBASpotters' summer timetable, all flights are due to be operated by F70 but I thought one was to be operated by E195. Is this a response to BA?

The E190 is only scheduled to operate during the month of March on the morning KLM1545/1546 AMS-LBA-AMS rotation. All LBA flights revert back to Fokker 70 as from Sunday, March 31st.

 

[wawkrk]

It's a pity the talks with KLM to join with BA was eventually turned down. I know many of the staff I spoke with at the time, preferred the BA option. Air France are a disaster with strong unions and over staffing. They are dragging KLM down. It would have been an interesting alliance.

 

[Jordan-34092]

This link confirms that KLM are charging for the baggage, also there bringing in new restrictions for Hand Luggage.

http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/k ... ed-baggage

 

[Tarn Spotter]

galaxy:

<When I went to Amsterdam in December, KLM were MUCH cheaper than Jet2, approx £45 each way, Jet2 were around £70 each way without the bags etc. The KLM flights both ways were 100% full.>

Must have been a really good deal, my sons costs this month with Jet2 a shade under £200, KLM was about 10% dearer, this before new hold baggage costs, Jet2 a lot cheaper if no hold luggage. Could have been cheaper with both carriers if flexible with flight times. Could have booked with either but wanted to collect points on my Jet2 account. As it on one of those will pay you when I see you parent/children basis, thought I would take the benefit.

 

[cmj]

When I flew to AMS a few years back KLM worked out a bit cheaper than Jet with bags. It probably does depend on the day and time. Friday's KLM late arrival into LBA is often busy with people who are coming back from business trip connections.

Aside from the slight cost difference, I went with KLM to get a few (very few!) miles with FlyingBlue.

Also read on another site that KLM are doing a £39 one-way fare from some UK airports (including LBA) to AMS for a short while. Normally a one-way ticket with KLM to AMS has to be full-fare economy, so ends up being something like 400 quid!

 

[rmac]

I saw their advert/email for European flights ex Leeds and so knowing that friends from Rome wish to go to Rome in March/April checked KLM -- wow! no way.. Jet2 direct was much cheaper.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

It's a pity the talks with KLM to join with BA was eventually turned down. I know many of the staff I spoke with at the time, preferred the BA option. Air France are a disaster with strong unions and over staffing. They are dragging KLM down. It would have been an interesting alliance.

Yes because BA have absolutely no problems with unions.

I do agree with Air France dragging them down however. KLM would have done well to hold their nerve and let Air France go to the wall. They would then have been able to restructure (like Alitalia and Sabena/Brussels Airlines etc) and be rid of some, if not all, of the union influence. Then an alliance or merger may have been more useful.

 

[ridgeback]

Yes because BA have absolutely no problems with unions.

Not sure I'd go along with that (much as I wish it were so) !

 

[whoshotjimmi]

You may have noticed the slighty cynical tone in my post ridgeback :spiteful:

 

[Tarn Spotter]

As Mr Walsh has his hands full at the moment with striking Iberia staff, probably very glad no further problems on his plate. Flying Iberia in March day after strike, hope no knock on delays.
As building Madrid as the hub, plenty of runways at least, has given up hope of another London airport, certainly knows heathrows days as a major hub, down the pan.

 

[kevinbev]

Flew out to oz with Etihad on Thursday from Man and in their in flight mag it states that they are commencing flights from Amsterdam to Abu Dhabi on 15th May. At the same time it is introducing code share on flights from LBA with KLM. Some good connections from Abu Dhabi to the Far East and hopefully fares will be competitive.

 

[lbaspotter]

Well this is just to remind everyone that starting from tomorrow, Friday, March 1st the morning KLM1545/1546 Amsterdam-Leeds-Amsterdam rotations will be operated by KLM City Hopper Embrear 190's running until Saturday, March 30th. All remaining daily flights will continue to be operated by Fokker 70's

KLM1545 ETA 09:45 - KLM1546 ETD 10:25.

 

[a300boy]

It would seem the brand new E190 aircraft are at best only Cat 2 capable, as it has just diverted to MME. Klm need to sort this lack of capability out as BA now has a big operational advantage.

 

[Aviador]

Will the inability to use CAT III probably be down to crew training?

 

[a300boy]

I posted the question on another forum and some guys in the know said that only brand new aircraft have ADS-B although some airlines like Lufthansa have retrofitted it. The aircraft is Cat 2 capable but needs a Hud display fitting to operate Cat 3 approaches. As a new aircraft that it is not very impressive. Our A300s were Cat 3a and came off the production line in the 1980s.

 

[oldendays]

I'm fairly certain this morning's Amsterdam inbound performed a Cat III autoland.

 

[a300boy]

I hope thats true !!! It would contradict my information that they are only Cat 2 unless fitted with a Head up Display. But I would be happy to be wrong. What he might have done is an autoland with Cat 2 limits which is almost the same thing but you still need Cat 2 visibility to do so. We used to do that all the time.

 

[lbaspotter]

Its a good job that KLM city hopper are using the Embrear 190s on the morning KLM1545/1546 rotations at the moment. As 3x Fokker 70's are currently tech and out of service. PH-KZD is sat over at Humberside, PH-KZN is stuck up at Teeside also just found out the PH-KZT is having some maintenance done down at Norwich.

 

[lbia]

I'd love to know how many cycles those Fokkers have on the clock, doing 6-8 sectors a day must really take its tole on them. I must say though when I flew on one last year, it was a bit tatty inside but actually very quiet and pleasant.

When you fly out of Amsterdam in the morning it's amazing to see how many little Fokkers are parked up, I reckon there must have been 20 or 30 just sat waiting for their next flight. Quite a sight actually.

 

[cmj]

I'd love to know how many cycles those Fokkers have on the clock, doing 6-8 sectors a day must really take its tole on them. I must say though when I flew on one last year, it was a bit tatty inside but actually very quiet and pleasant.

When you fly out of Amsterdam in the morning it's amazing to see how many little Fokkers are parked up, I reckon there must have been 20 or 30 just sat waiting for their next flight. Quite a sight actually.

I think some call it "the fokker farm"

Didn't get to try the E190 into LBA last week as we took the early flight which is F70. Hopefully KLM will start using E190s on the AMS-LBA route in the future - not sure which rotation has the highest loads.