Cardiff Airport congratulates KLM on 100 years

Today marks 100 years since KLM was founded by aviation pioneer Albert Plesman in the Netherlands and the team at Cardiff Airport were on hand today to welcome the 0910 arrival from Amsterdam Schiphol and congratulate the pilot and his crew on this significant milestone.

Cardiff Airport’s Chief Commercial Officer Spencer Birns presented the airline with a commemorative Welsh love spoon. It was designed by local craftsman Sion Llewellyn, who created the stunning, bespoke piece at his workshop in Bridgend.

Customers at the Gate awaiting the next departure joined in celebrations and each received a commemorative gift to mark the birthday.

The airline, which recently celebrated 30 years of service at Cardiff Airport is a key airline partner at the national airport for Wales, serving passengers with up to three daily flights between Wales and KLM’s hub at Amsterdam Schiphol. From there, customers can connect onwards to a wealth of destinations around the globe, including Japan, China, Dubai, South Africa, North America and Canada.

Spencer Birns, Chief Commercial Officer at Cardiff Airport, said: “Today is an opportunity for the team at Cardiff Airport to congratulate and thank KLM for all of their service. 100 years is a significant milestone, 30 years of which have included regular services connecting Wales to the world.

“We’re delighted to join in the celebrations today and look forward to many more years of KLM flying customers to and from the national airport for Wales, which also serves as a gateway to the United Kingdom.”

Benedicte Duval, General Manager for Air France – KLM in the UK & Ireland said: “It is fantastic to be celebrating this important milestone with our Welsh passengers. Wales is an important market for KLM and having operated daily flights from Cardiff for over 30 years, we are grateful for our long standing partnership with the airport.

A company only reaches its 100^th anniversary through two elements: loyal customers and great staff. What makes KLM so special is the authentic way we are able to combine the two. We look forward to welcoming our Welsh passengers on board for the next 100 years.”