KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is performing a robust expansion into the Caribbean, offering an additional 2,600 seats each week. The expansion will start when KLM's winter schedule goes into effect on 30 October. On that same date, KLM will introduce direct flights to Quito and Guayaquil in Ecuador.
"For the first time in our history, KLM will make more than a half-million seats available to the Caribbean, annually," said Peter Hartman, KLM's CEO. "By performing this strong capacity expansion, KLM is offering Dutch holiday-makers many more travel possibilities."
Nine times a week, KLM will depart from mainport Schiphol to Curacao, daily to Bonaire, five times weekly to Aruba and three times a week to St Maarten. On Mondays and Saturdays KLM will operate two flights daily to Curacao. The flights to the Caribbean will use Boeing 747-400s and MD-11s.
When the winter schedule goes into effect KLM will also offer a direct connection to Ecuador. KLM will replace the five flights a week to and from Ecuador, which includes a stop in Bonaire, with three direct flights each week to Quito in combination with Guayaquil. The direct connection without a stop in the Caribbean constitutes a major improvement for passengers as it shortens their travel time significantly. At the same time, KLM is reinforcing its position in the Ecuadorian market. The flight to Ecuador will use a Boeing 777-300 on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
