KLM begins nonstop flights between Amsterdam and Salt Lake City


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SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City International Airport became an even bigger player in international air travel as KLM Royal Dutch Airline’s first direct flight from Amsterdam arrived at the airport Thursday.

Following a 10-hour trip, KLM Flight 609 touched down in Salt Lake City, marking a new direct-route air service between Utah and Europe.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have KLM’s new route to Amsterdam,” said Maureen Riley, executive director for the Salt Lake City Department of Airports. “It's further evidence of a growing market in Salt Lake City, a robust economy that we have here, and the demand that we have for access to international destinations."

After touchdown, the 180 passengers received quite the Utah welcome: a lights and siren escort, and a water salute by the fire department.

Effective immediately, KLM will depart Salt Lake City International on Thursdays and Saturdays. On July 4, Mondays will be added to the schedule.

“It is indeed a great day,” said Eric Caron, vice president and general manager of KLM USA.

After the summer season, the flight schedule will depend on the profitability of the routes. “But given the info the future bookings in the coming months are very strong, I'm very confident that we can expand further in the coming years,” Caron said.

The airline’s strategy is not only to have a direct route between Salt Lake City and Amsterdam, but is really to create a network.

“Salt Lake City is for KLM the eighth destination we fly from Amsterdam,” said Pieter Groeneveld, vice president of KLM. “And in cooperation with Delta, we now fly into 14 destinations in the U.S., with more to come, including a flight to Miami.

Executives cut a ribbon to celebrate the event at the Salt Lake City International Airport, Thursday, May 5, 2016. KLM entered the Salt Lake market with a nonstop flight from Amsterdam. (Photo: Hans Koepsell, Deseret News)
Executives cut a ribbon to celebrate the event at the Salt Lake City International Airport, Thursday, May 5, 2016. KLM entered the Salt Lake market with a nonstop flight from Amsterdam. (Photo: Hans Koepsell, Deseret News)

But it’s not just the Salt Lake airport destination that has KLM excited.

“I think the importance to me is that it's part of a bigger picture,” Caron said. “It's not only about Salt Lake City-Amsterdam, it's also about the connectivity, and that's the power of our alliance with Delta and Air France where we have connectivity in the different hubs.”

The Airbus A330-200 was on the ground for only a few hours before it headed back to Amsterdam to complete the first inaugural round trip.

The flight is one of several coming to Utah direct from Europe. Earlier this year, Delta Air Lines started its nonstop flights from Salt Lake City to London’s Heathrow Airport. In 2007, the airline started to offer nonstop flights from Salt Lake City to Paris.

Contributing: Viviane Vo-Duc

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