By Albert Kuan
KLM to Resume Service to Second Chinese City
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines announced in a press release that it will resume flying direct to Hangzhou, China from its Amsterdam hub beginning Aug. 27. The flight will only be operated once a week via Incheon, South Korea with a Boeing 777-200. However, the airline has intentions to add a second weekly flight as soon as possible depending on Chinese government restrictions.
KLM suspended all of its China services in early February due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country. The Skyteam carrier resumed passenger services to China beginning with Shanghai Pudong International Airport on July 21. Hangzhou, located approximately 110 miles away from Shanghai, is now added as its second Chinese destination.
However, KLM has continued to transport cargo to and from China during the COVID-19 pandemic. The resumption of passenger flights to China comes as the airline slowly extends its international network in the wake of the pandemic.
KLM’s flight to Hangzhou, KL 857, will depart Amsterdam on Thursdays at 6:55 p.m. and arrive at Incheon Airport at 12:25 p.m. the next day. The flight then continues as KL 821, departing Incheon at 1:50 p.m. and arriving at Hangzhou’s Xiaoshan Airport at 3:00 p.m.
The return flight, KL 822, departs Hangzhou on Fridays at 6:50 p.m. and arrives in Seoul Incheon at 9:55 p.m. The flight then continues as KL 858, leaving Incheon at 12:25 a.m., arriving back in Amsterdam at 4:45 a.m. the same day.
A KLM 747 departs Los Angeles. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | James Dinsdale
KLM is continuing to protect its passengers and frontline staff as it gradually resumes its passenger operations during the pandemic. The airline requires face coverings on all its flights and is making sure that its cabins are supplies with hygiene equipment and cleaned using suitable cleaning agents. Cabin air is refreshed using high-efficiency particulate air filters, commonly known by the acronym HEPA.
In order to resume flights to China, KLM has complied with strict requirements set by the Chinese government for the resumption of international flights. The Chinese government requires arriving passengers to complete a health declaration form online and have their body temperatures checked upon arrival in the country. Cabin lavatories are also required to be inspected frequently during the flight.
Furthermore, in order to limit possible virus transmission, meal services onboard have been cut down significantly on China-bound flights.
Albert recently completed his undergraduate studies in Business Accounting at USC in Los Angeles and he is currently recruiting for a corporate analyst position at one of the U.S. legacy carriers. During his college years, he interned at LAX for Los Angeles World Airports working behind-the-scenes (and on the ramp) in public relations and accounting. Outside of writing for AirlineGeeks, he enjoys trekking the Hollywood hills, visiting new hotspots throughout SoCal, and doing the occasional weekender on Spirit Airlines.
