KLM will suspend all long-haul flights and some short-haul ones on Friday due to new Covid-19 requirements instituted by the Dutch government this Friday (January 22, 2021).
Netherlands instituted a negative Covid-19 PCR-RT test requirement for all passengers, including those on transit, effective December 29, 2020 (read more here), and further restrictions this week (separate piece follows).
You can access KLM here.
KLM has now decided to cancel all long-haul flights from Friday and many short-haul flights where the crew would need to overnight at the outstation.
Here’s an excerpt from the RTL Nieuws:
KLM will stop all long-haul routes on Friday due to the stricter travel regulations of the cabinet announced today. The airline keeps the aircraft on the ground because travelers abroad who want to go to the Netherlands are obliged to have a corona rapid test. Infected employees would then not be able to fly back home.
KLM does not want to leave cabin crew and pilots behind. Due to working hours, airline personnel often stay a day or more in a hotel in the country to which the flight was made on long flights, depending on the flight. The rapid test may be a maximum of 4 hours old when boarding, according to the national government.
“As a good employer, we never leave crew behind abroad,” said a spokesperson. In addition, a crew member would also not be able to work, so KLM will be practically short of staff.
European flights
Flights to certain European destinations will also be impossible. This concerns late flights where staff have to spend the night in a hotel. It is not yet known which European destinations are excluded from the schedule. “But it concerns flights that do not return to the Netherlands in the evening.”
Conclusion
There will soon be very little connectivity to/from/via Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, one of the major (former) hubs in Europe.
The new requirements instituted by the Dutch government are close to impossible for the airlines and to the passengers to adhere to, and that is likely the reason behind them. Effectively close down the country’s main airport.
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Sadly, the Dutch government is destroying their own airline. I love KLM. Flown them over 70 times in the last ten years. If fact, just last week I flew back to the US from Kenya. My next trip (late Feb) is now in doubt. The Kenyan government isn’t helpful either with the new PanaBIOS requirement. (Sad face)
Sadly, the Dutch government is destroying their own airline. I love KLM. Flown them over 70 times in the last ten years. If fact, just last week I flew back to the US from Kenya. My next trip (late Feb) is now in doubt. The Kenyan government isn’t helpful either with the new PanaBIOS requirement. (Sad face)
Why are you traveling during a pandemic?
Healthcare training for underserved populations (even in Kenya). 🙂
My bad. I just see a lot of people traveling for fun.
No worries. I have made 30 trips to Africa for humanitarian reasons. I understand/appreciate your concerns, as do I, about “fun” travelers. I love the people, not a fan of the food or the weather. Our goal is to “lift them up,” not to make them “dependent.” Blessings!
Frank Cummings, the only way you can “lift them up” and to stop making “dependent”, “them” being Africans, is to convince your government, and governments of the so-called first world countries as well as companies from these countries, to stop plundering the resources of African countries, to stop exporting arms to warring factions in African countries and to stop fighting proxy wars on African soil. It is annoying to read about “humanitarian missions” to Africa which, in the long run, are paid for by Africans. It is Africans who should be talking about benevolence and humanitarian missions to the West.
AmaB: How many times have you been to Africa? And, what country do you live in?
Great question to AmaB! I love people who sit on their high horses pontificating about how to fix everything while the real problem solvers, like you, are on the ground helping out!
Thank you for your service
Karibu sana (which is Swahili for “you are welcome”)
Waiting for the cancellation of my return flight from MEX to ZRH via AMS on 30.1. No official cancellation so far.
Very frustrating, for sure! Prayers offered for your flights home.
We came back the day after the new rule of Neg PCR was rolled out (1-1). We were able obtain the required test while in Accra without issue. But I know this would not be the case at all destinations.
Wow, just took KLM from IAD thru AMS to Ghana over Christmas/New Year. Sounds like KLM will be cutting that route out soon. Just made it by the skin of our teeth sounds like. Bummer.
FAKE NEWS!!!!!
Don’t believe a word in this article. I just spoke to KLM today and they confirmed that this is a fake news and KLM is still flying. I can’t believe that this website didn’t confirm this with KLM.
There was never a shutdown of KLM.
This is how fake news spread!
Be aware people!
This was a good decision by KLM, and many people applauded this in January. They can start the flights again now because the cases are lowering, and people are getting vaccinated.