KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is celebrating a significant anniversary this year: 95 years of continuous presence in Greece. The story began on October 2, 1930, when Athens officially joined the company’s network, initially as a stopover on the route from the Netherlands to the East.
A particularly interesting fact from that time is that in 1931 a single ticket from Amsterdam to Athens cost 316 guilders; an amount that corresponded to approximately nine weeks’ wages of a dock worker, who at that time earned only 35 guilders per week.
After World War II, Athens joined the Amsterdam-Cairo route, via Marseille and Rome, and has remained a permanent part of KLM’s global network ever since.
The long-standing presence of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines in Greece reflects the importance of Athens as a strategic destination and confirms the strong ties that have developed between Greece and the Netherlands through the world of aviation.
KLM is the first airline in the world to have already completed 100 years operating under the same, original name. The company completed a century of operation in 2019, focusing on welcoming travelers and seeking innovation. During the upcoming winter season, it will fly to 90 European and 70 intercontinental destinations, offering, through its hub in Amsterdam, connections to major cities and financial centers around the world.
About KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
For 106 years, KLM has been connecting people with each other and with the world. Tens of millions of customers choose to fly with KLM every year, for business or pleasure. The more than 160 destinations in the KLM network connect the Netherlands to all the world’s major financial centers and are a powerful economic engine. At the same time, the company aims for cleaner, quieter and more efficient flights. Every day, big and small steps are taken to achieve this ambition, so that it can continue to be a great airline for its customers for centuries to come.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is a member of the Air France–KLM Group and a member of the global SkyTeam Alliance.
