KLM eyes new widebody order

Nagorno-Karabakh flare-up disrupts airline operations

The resumption of the full-scale military conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh has disrupted commercial airline operations over and to/from Azerbaijan, although airspace restrictions were lifted after a few hours, once a ceasefire was reached.

The Azeri authorities initially issued two NOTAMs closing four waypoints on the border with Armenia, effectively forcing all international flights heading west and north to fly via Georgia. The NOTAMs, issued early on September 20, were cancelled as of 1524L (1124Z) on the same day. Nonetheless, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows that international airlines have continued to alter their routings to detour via Georgia.

Lufthansa (LH, Frankfurt International) announced the suspension of its services to Baku and cancelled a flight during the night of September 19-20, 2023. The initial uncertainty related to the possibility of overflying Azerbaijan forced KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL, Amsterdam Schiphol) to return its flight to Tokyo Narita back to Amsterdam Schiphol and cancel three other services to the Far East. Services resumed on September 20, although the airline continues to bypass Azerbaijan entirely. The head...

KLM to lease three A321neo in 2H24

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL, Amsterdam Schiphol) has concluded a contract with CDB Aviation to lease three A321-200NX with deliveries expected between September and November 2024.

The aircraft will be incremental to the outstanding order for 100 A320neo Family aircraft placed by Air France-KLM which are expected to start delivering in early 2024 and will be split between KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Transavia Airlines, and Transavia France. The holding said that it would likely commit to more A320neo Family aircraft leases.

The Dutch airline's current narrowbody fleet comprises six B737-700s, thirty-one B737-800s, and five B737-900s.

CDB Aviation leases a single A330-300 to KLM, the ch-aviation fleets ownership module shows. The Dublin-based lessor does not have any aircraft placed with Air France or either of the Transavia airlines.

KLM to wet-lease a B737-700 in mid-4Q23

Ex-TAP CEO Ourmières-Widener sues Portuguese state - report

Christine Ourmières-Widener, a former chief executive of TAP Air Portugal (TP, Lisbon), will contest her dismissal earlier this year in court, sources told the business daily Jornal de Negócios. Her lawyers have reportedly filed a compensation claim of EUR5.9 million euros (USD6.3 million).

Ourmières-Widener, who is French and who in July became CEO of Air Caraibes (TX, Pointe à Pitre) and French Bee (BF, Paris Orly) parent Groupe Dubreuil, was Group CEO at TAP from June 2021 to April 2023. Before that, she was chief executive of flybe. (2002), having previously held senior posts at CityJet, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Air France.

When she was fired from TAP, she accused Portugal’s auditor general (Inspeção-Geral de Finanças - IGF), which was investigating a severance payment of EUR500,000 (USD535,000) handed the previous year to a former executive board member, of “discriminatory behaviour”. At the time she hinted at, “in due time, legal consequences” in retaliation, in an effort to restore her “honour and reputation”.

This was...