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Air France–KLM moves to become majority owner in SAS
Air France–KLM announced that it will initiate proceedings to take a majority stake in SAS, marking a new and strategically important chapter for the Scandinavian carrier and a landmark strategic development in the European aviation landscape. “Air France–KLM becoming the majority owner would mark a defining moment for SAS and a strong signal of confidence in the direction we’re heading,” says Anko van der Werff, President & CEO of SAS. “It brings not just stability but will also allow for deeper industrial integration and the full backing of one of the world’s leading airline groups, once regulatory approval has been obtained. Together, we will be better positioned to deliver greater value to our customers, our colleagues, and the wider region.” SAS continues to invest in fleet renewal and network expansion while earning recognition as the most punctual airline in the world. This consolidation supports SAS’ ability to grow more sustainably, enhance customer experience, and reinforce its role in international aviation. “This relationship is grounded in mutual respect, dedication to operational excellence and strong sustainability ambitions. As global interest in Scandinavia continues to grow, we believe this consolidation strengthens SAS’ ability to connect Scandinavia with the world—and the world with Scandinavia—by positioning Copenhagen as our global hub for the region, while continuing to uphold strong and strategic operations in both Oslo and Stockholm,” added Van der Werff. “We remain true to our identity, heritage, and deep customer focus. SAS will continue to be proudly Scandinavian at heart, look and feel.” The decision also reflects a broader industry trend toward consolidation— a step that is essential to ensuring long-term competitiveness for European carriers in an increasingly globalized market.
IndiGo, Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic Announce Partnership
Representative Image IndiGo, Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic have announced plans to build an industry-leading partnership connecting India with Europe and North America, with ambitions to grow to a global scale. India, one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, is at the heart of this collaboration. By linking IndiGo’s extensive domestic network with Delta’s strength in North America and the transatlantic, the extensive reach of Air France-KLM in Europe and North America, and the U.K. and transatlantic presence of Virgin Atlantic, the partnership is poised to offer travelers broader access, smoother journeys, and a more consistent experience across continents. Linking dozens of cities in the United States, Canada, Europe and India, the airlines aim to meet rising demand for international travel while setting new standards for connectivity and cooperation in global aviation. Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, said: “IndiGo has embarked on an ambitious journey to become a global airline by 2030. This partnership represents another important milestone to pursue commercial synergies, operational excellence and innovation. This announcement not only expands our relationship with Air France–KLM and Virgin Atlantic but also marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter as we welcome Delta Airlines as a valued partner. We are particularly excited to start our long-haul expansion from this Summer and connect with our partners’ networks to provide greater access to Europe and North America. This strategic partnership enables a compelling combined customer proposition in the form of comprehensive intercontinental connectivity, seamless experience and great loyalty value. It also lays the groundwork for us to exchange best practices in areas of technology, operational excellence and service delivery.” Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, said: “This agreement is another example of our commitment to making travel more connected, more inclusive and more accessible. Combining our strengths with those of IndiGo, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic, will enable us to offer unparalleled connectivity and convenience, ensuring that our customers enjoy the highest standards of service and reliability across the globe. We look forward to restarting Delta’s direct service from the U.S. to India in the near future.” Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM, said: “We are very glad to extend our existing partnership with IndiGo and to do so alongside our partners Delta and Virgin Atlantic. India is a strategic market for Air France-KLM, where we have a strong and historic presence soon to increase. We look forward to welcoming IndiGo customers on our flights and to play an active role in the country’s connectivity.” Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, said: “In our 25th year of flying to India, we’re delighted to build on our Joint Venture with Delta and Air France-KLM, and our successful codeshare with IndiGo, by going further with this partnership. As IndiGo starts long haul operations, we’ll connect four of the world’s largest economies, enhancing the travel experience for our guests, from greater connectivity and optimized flight times to loyalty benefits.” Connecting Route Networks, 2022 and Beyond IndiGo has had partnerships with Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic and with Air France-KLM since 2022. Since then, Air France, KLM and Virgin Atlantic customers have had access to more than 30 IndiGo points in India. More recently, IndiGo announced the start of service to Europe, which, in addition to expanding the existing partnership with Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic transatlantic flights, facilitates a new partnership opportunity between IndiGo and Delta, enabling Indigo’s customers to connect to Delta’s broad transatlantic network. After commercial contracts and regulatory procedures are completed to allow IndiGo to sell partner flights as its own under its own 6E* marketing codes, IndiGo customers will be able to book onward travel on select flights operated by its international partners, making it easier to reach destinations across Europe and North America. These include: KLM flights from Amsterdam to 30 points within Europe Delta and KLM flights from Amsterdam to the United States and Canada Virgin Atlantic flights from Manchester to the United States For its part, KLM’s recently announced new route connecting Amsterdam with Hyderabad offers further opportunity for cooperation with IndiGo. With the route’s launch in September 2025, Air France-KLM will begin selling IndiGo flights to 24 destinations beyond Hyderabad. IndiGo has previously announced that it will enhance its fleet of damp leased B787 to six aircraft later this year and has in place a long-term firm order of 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, with options for 70 more. As these aircraft join IndiGo’s fleet, the airline’s long-haul expansion will enable further and deeper cooperation between IndiGo and Delta, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic in the future. Delta, meanwhile, plans to resume services to India with nonstop flights between Atlanta and Delhi, subject to government approval. The service start date will be announced later. Future Collaboration The MoU also creates a framework for deeper collaboration between the carriers on a bilateral and multilateral basis; contemplates commercial collaboration including network, loyalty, cargo and sales, subject to regulatory approvals; explores areas of non-commercial cooperation including aircraft maintenance, sustainability, training, ground handling; and acknowledges the need to develop advanced collaboration through use of technology to efficiently service joint customers.
Accenture partners with Air France-KLM
Accenture is collaborating with Air France-KLM to transform and migrate the airline group’s existing digital applications to the cloud, moving away from its three proprietary data centers. The transition will enhance all operational functions across the organization, including passenger transport, cargo services and aircraft maintenance. This multi-year initiative aims to provide the airline group with increased agility, adapting the availability of resources in real time to ensure greater business resilience through cloud, data and AI, including generative AI (gen AI). As part of this work, Accenture and Air France-KLM have defined a common operating model with a governance process, allowing Accenture to co-lead the whole initiative. Together, they have established a cloud migration factory that uses predefined processes and reusable templates, enabling the simultaneous migration and transformation of Air France-KLM's existing applications in the cloud. This industrialized approach, combined with strong quality and delivery standards, has already led to the deployment of 350 applications with a high success rate, thereby fulfilling an ambitious delivery roadmap and allowing for a faster time-to-market of the applications. The transformation has made a positive impact on Air France-KLM’s operations by providing increased resilience. This new cloud infrastructure enables the airline group to access information in real time, supporting data-driven decision-making and stronger collaboration. This infrastructure was put to the test on the occasion of a recent sales campaign in France and the Netherlands during which the scalability of the cloud provided quick access to a large number of resources. “Together with Air France-KLM, we are building resilience and new growth opportunities by harnessing the power of cloud and gen AI,” said Sabine Bechelani, managing director for Travel and client account lead at Accenture. “This collaboration underscores our ability to help clients establish the digital core needed to successfully compete in the operationally complex and highly competitive market of air travel. As a result, we are enabling our clients to thrive and innovate with speed, efficiency and access to information.” “This collaboration represents a significant milestone in our ongoing digital transformation,” said Pierre-Olivier Bandet, Executive Vice President Information Systems, Air France-KLM. “By leveraging cloud and AI, we can build more flexible and efficient operations that enhance agility and performance across the organization. Our work with Accenture will help us unlock new opportunities to streamline processes, optimize decision-making, and leverage data to continuously improve the travel experience for millions of customers.”
Rhenus joins Air France KLM Martinair Cargo SAF Programme
Global logistics service provider Rhenus has joined the Air France KLM Martinair Cargo SAF Programme, investing in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to help cut emissions in aviation. The initiative supports the company's sustainability efforts while offering customers the opportunity to reduce their emissions. Rhenus Air & Ocean head of sustainable air freight product development Frank Swart said of the initiative: "SAF is a cornerstone for the lower emissions future of air freight, helping us meet environmental goals while maintaining the efficiency and reliability that our customers rely on. This partnership reflects our dedication to addressing the environmental challenges of aviation through forward-thinking solutions." Taking an active role in aviation sustainability Rhenus’ participation in the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Program launched by Air France KLM Martinair Cargo highlights the duty the company holds towards its customers to champion sustainability in the logistics industry. By investing in SAF, Rhenus not only takes a proactive role in addressing the environmental challenges of aviation but also supports the shift toward greener practices. This commitment reflects the company's dedication to delivering responsible and forward-thinking solutions, contributing to the long-term objective of reducing emissions and ensuring a more sustainable future for its partners and the planet. Making the most of available resources The Air France KLM Martinair Cargo SAF Program enables companies to contribute to the utilization and development of SAF for their shipments, derived from renewable sources such as waste oils and agricultural residues. The voluntary investment in SAF to support Air France KLM Martinair Cargo's efforts to scale its production and usage represents just one of the ways Rhenus drives a broader sustainability agenda. This approach not only reinforces the commitment of Rhenus to reducing emissions but also aligns with its mission to help customers advance their own sustainability goals. Complementing the SAF initiative are services like the Emission Dashboard, which tracks CO2e emissions, and Transport Mode Optimisation, including RHEGREEN: a calculation tool that evaluates aircraft types, fuel consumption, and distances to identify the most efficient options, enabling customers to lower their air freight emissions effectively.
Saudia partners with Air France-KLM
Saudia, the national airline of Saudi Arabia, has entered into a significant partnership with Air France-KLM to boost and localize its Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed during a ceremony attended by prominent figures, including President Emmanuel Macron of France, Engr. Engr. Saleh Al-Jasser, Chairman of Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation, joined by Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, were present at the event.. The agreement was officially inked by Capt. Capt. The agreement was signed by Capt. The Managing Director of Saudia Technic, Fahd Cynndy, and Anne Brachet, Executive Vice President of Air France-KLM Engineering & Maintenance. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, stated, “This agreement reflects the visionary leadership of the Saudia Group Board, led by its chairman, H.E. Engr. Saleh Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics. It aligns with the Saudi Aviation Strategy, spearheaded by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, and demonstrates our commitment to advancing the Kingdom’s aviation sector.” Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM stated: “Saudia is a historic partner of Air France-KLM, and in the context of Saudi Arabia’s fast-paced development, we see a mutual interest in expanding our commercial cooperation and pooling our expertise, notably in the strategic MRO activity. Air France-KLM Engineering and Maintenance is already a leader in the field, and further cooperation with Saudia will unlock additional opportunities in the country and in the region”. This collaboration is a major step forward in strengthening Saudia’s technical infrastructure within the Kingdom, highlighting the shared commitment of both organizations to enhance their presence and growth in the aviation industry. Under the terms of the MOU, Saudia will take on the assembly and disassembly of GE90 engines, which power Boeing 777 aircraft. In exchange for localizing this process, Saudia will allocate a guaranteed 50% of the GE90 work orders to Air France-KLM. The agreement also delves into the possibility of establishing a joint venture dedicated to GEnx engines, which power Boeing 787 aircraft.. This move complements Saudia’s existing MRO capabilities, which include servicing CFM LEAP-1A engines for Airbus A320neo family planes. On the commercial front, the partnership also aims to strengthen the existing codeshare agreement between Saudia and Air France-KLM, both of which are members of the SkyTeam alliance.
Amex GBT partners with Air France and KLM to scale up NDC content
Representative Image, Courtesy: Freepik American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) has announced an expanded roll-out phase of new distribution capability (NDC) fares with Air France and KLM. The new commitment is focused on creating value for corporate customers through NDC-enabled technologies – in particular, enabling NDC content at scale while supporting the integrity and effectiveness of their managed travel programs. John Bukowski, Amex GBT’s Vice President, Content Acquisition & Strategic Sourcing, said: “This development demonstrates our commitment to providing customers with the best travel options within our marketplace, across all our solutions – proprietary and third-party channels, online and offline.” Stefan Vanovermeir, Vice President Distribution Air France-KLM, said: “We have collaborated closely with Amex GBT to develop a robust NDC solution for our joint customers, including better servicing capabilities compared to EDIFACT for exchanges and refunds. We are pleased to see that our NDC offerings, including the best fares thanks to continuous pricing and a more customized experience, will benefit a greater number of Amex GBT customers at scale.” With this expanded collaboration, Amex GBT and Air France and KLM will continue to grow their joint NDC footprint across multiple channels and countries.
Air France KLM Martinair Cargo and IndiGo CarGo announce partnership
Mark Sutch (left) and GertJan Roelands (right) signing the agreement at IndiGo’s Head office in Delhi Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP) and IndiGo CarGo are pleased to announce the signing of an extensive Interline Agreement connecting their expansive networks. This marks the first step in their collaborative efforts to further develop a robust cargo partnership. This Special Prorate Agreement will be effective as of 16 July 2024. The agreement was signed during a meeting at IndiGo's headquarters. In addition to the signing, the two parties discussed steps to strengthen their collaboration and to explore ways in which they can extend their cooperation in the coming years. Mark Sutch, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo CarGo said: “We are consistently expanding IndiGo CarGo’s network and capabilities. The strategic focus on growing international presence is greatly complemented by our partnership with Air France KLM Martinair Cargo. This collaboration not only broadens our service offerings but also allows us to leverage their extensive global reach, thereby providing our customers with a wider array of options across diverse geographies.” GertJan Roelands, Senior Vice President Commercial, Air France KLM Martinair Cargo:“India is a strategic growth market for AFKLMP Cargo. Having a strong partner in India is a great building block in our network strategy. The cooperation between IndiGo CarGo and AFKLMP Cargo will give our customers even more choice and solutions.” Both companies look forward to better serving the global cargo market, leveraging their complementary networks to provide enhanced services and explore new opportunities in airfreight transportation.
Air France and KLM’s loyalty programme, Flying Blue, partners with Revolut
Flying Blue, the loyalty programme of Air France and KLM, has partnered with Revolut to allow their customers to turn RevPoints* into Flying Blue Miles. Revolut has launched a loyalty programme for customers in the UK. The partnership offers a simple conversion formula: 1 RevPoint = 1 Flying Blue Mile. Customers can earn RevPoints every time they use their debit card. To take advantage of this opportunity, you must enrol to or be a current member of Flying Blue, as well as being a Revolut account holder. The conversion to Flying Blue Miles can be processed within the Revolut app. Flying Blue members can use their Miles for Flying Blue rewards and upgrades with Air France and KLM and airline partners or redeem them on one of the many Flying Blue partners.
Nium and Air France-KLM take off to power airline payments
Nium, the global leader in real-time global payments, announced a collaboration with Air France and KLM to power “closed loop” electronic payments between the airlines and selected travel agents. The Nium Airline Payments Solution (NAP) provides an alternative to travel agent card transactions, using a private network of trusted UATP authorization rails and bank transfers to offer lower costs, simplified reconciliation, and faster settlement. NAP eliminates intermediaries from the payment flow, giving Air France and KLM the flexibility to provide a new payment method for selected travel agent partners. Using NAP, Nium guarantees payment acceptance and reduces settlement time from hours down to minutes and seconds. “For decades, the travel industry has been grappling with complex, slow, and expensive payment methods. Nium is helping travel agents and their airline and hotel partners unlock the potential of global real-time payments, transforming the way money moves through the travel ecosystem for the better. We look forward to helping Air France and KLM resolve some of the inequities – for both the airlines and for the travel-selling intermediaries – associated with outdated traditional payment models,” said Spencer Hanlon, Global Head of Travel Payments at Nium. For travel agents, payment speed, efficiency, and acceptance rates are very important. NAP is an innovative electronic payment method that combines these three critical elements on one platform. It offers a seamless payment acceptance process to the benefit of airlines and travel agents alike, boosting conversion rates, improving operational efficiencies, and increasing margins. The airline and travel agent enter into a bilateral agreement, facilitated by Nium, on the use of the platform. This creates a one-to-one “closed loop” transparent commercial relationship between the travel agent and airline. “We built NAP with the goal of creating a more equitable and sustainable model between airlines and their agent partners around the world. For airlines, payments are no longer the necessary cost of doing business, but a determining factor in distribution discussions, increasing control and collaboration within the indirect sales channel. It’s great to welcome Air France and KLM to the NAP family and we look forward to bringing the solution to its travel agent network together,” added John Taylor, Head of Airline Payments at Nium.
Air France-Klm and Etihad Airways announce frequent flyer partnership
Air France-KLM Group and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, announced a new partnership between their respective loyalty programmes following the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two airline Groups in September 2023. As part of this new partnership, members of Flying Blue, Air France and KLM’s loyalty programme, and members of Etihad Guest, the loyalty programme of Etihad Airways, will now be able to earn and redeem Miles in either loyalty programme when flying on Air France, KLM or Etihad. Reciprocal benefits for elite members will be announced soon. Following the MoU signed earlier this year, Air France-KLM and Etihad Airways customers can now connect to – and therefore to earn and redeem miles for – more than 60 new routes covering destinations worldwide. The partnership will go live today, after Air France started operating from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Abu Dhabi International Airport last October. Flying Blue Miles can be redeemed to enjoy a vast range of experiences, from flights, worldwide hotel stays, car rentals, or products from the Flying Blue Store. Etihad Guest Miles can be spent on flights, worldwide hotel stays and vacations, or products from the Etihad Guest Reward Shop. Air France currently operates daily flights between Paris – Charles de Gaulle and Abu Dhabi International Airport, while Etihad currently operates daily flights to both Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol from Abu Dhabi International Airport. Angus Clarke, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Air France-KLM, said: "I'm very happy to further develop our partnership with Etihad Airways. This 11-year collaboration is now expanding even further, as we aim to explore opportunities in loyalty, in addition to enhancing our route network for the benefit of our customers from all around the world. “The attractiveness of Abu Dhabi as a destination and a hub, powered by Etihad's large footprint spanning South and Southeast Asia, as well as Australia, brings significant richness to this partnership. This moment marks our shared commitment to providing seamless, premium, customer-centric travel experiences to our shared global customer base and our 20 million loyal Flying Blue members." Arik De, Chief Revenue Officer at Etihad, said: “Following our expanded partnership with Air France-KLM signed in September, we’re pleased to bring to market this collaboration to benefit both of our airline’s loyal guests. “Our 9 million Etihad Guest Members will now have access to earn and redeem Etihad Guest Miles when flying with Air France-KLM giving even greater opportunities to enjoy the benefits of the programme. We look forward to welcoming Flying Blue members on to the expanding Etihad network to earn Flying Blue Miles as they choose to fly with Etihad.”
Webinar – “TD Managing People During A Crisis Summit”
Continuing with the success of our prior HR Summit, this new format summit returns in the online arena and is coming all executives from the Travel and Hospitality industries to discuss ways on managing people during crisis