A spokesman for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines said the carrier would restore capacity to 2001 levels during the 2004 summer travel season. The airline had cut capacity during the 2003 summer season and 2003-04 winter season as a result of lower passenger demand in the wake of the SARS outbreak in Asia.
Some lanes in KLM's European network will see fewer flights, but larger aircraft. The long-haul network will see increases as a further extension of the joint venture with Northwest Airlines. Frequency between Amsterdam and Minneapolis will be raised from two to three daily and Amsterdam-Houston flights will increase from seven to nine weekly, according to a report in Air Transport World. KLM will also deploy its new 777-200 extended range aircraft on routes to New York JFK and San Francisco. It will also increase capacity to Toronto using 747-400s instead of 777s.
The airline will begin exercising its extended landing rights for China and Japan, operating daily service to Beijing, Shanghai, and Tokyo.
Frequency to Caracas will be increased from four to five weekly beginning May 1, 2004.
