KLM’s initial fleet at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Photo source: KLM
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines celebrated 95 years of uninterrupted service in Greece with a special event in Athens, marking nearly a century of connecting Greece and the Netherlands by air.
The Dutch flag carrier’s presence in Greece dates back to October 2, 1930, when Athens became a stopover on KLM’s international route from Amsterdam to Jakarta. In Greece’s early aviation days, flights operated from Hasani Airport, located in what is now the popular southern Attica suburb of Glyfada.
Since then, the Greek capital has held a steady place on KLM’s global map, underscoring its importance as a strategic destination in Southeast Europe.
“Our history in Athens goes back many years, and it continues to this day,” said Yiannis Pantazopoulos, the airline group’s new Sales Manager for Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey. “For 95 years, this legacy has remained vibrant, fresh, and professional — always prioritizing safety and care for its customers.”
Photo © Greek Travel Pages
A look back at the early years shows just how much air travel has evolved: in 1931, a one-way ticket from Amsterdam to Athens cost 316 florins — the equivalent of nearly nine weeks’ wages for a dockworker earning 35 florins per week. After World War II, Athens became part of the Amsterdam–Cairo route, operated via Marseille and Rome, marking the beginning of regular post-war connections.
Today, KLM continues to deepen its ties with Greece, offering travelers smooth connections via its Amsterdam hub to major cities and key economic centers worldwide.
Photo © Greek Travel Pages
Founded in 1919, KLM is the world’s oldest airline still operating under its original name and celebrated its centenary in 2019. Guided by its pioneering spirit, the airline remains committed to innovation, hospitality, and sustainability, steadily advancing toward cleaner and quieter air travel.
In the upcoming winter season, KLM will operate flights to 90 European and 70 intercontinental destinations, reaffirming its commitment to global connectivity and exceptional service — a tradition it has proudly maintained for nearly a century in Greece.
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