AMSTELVEEN- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) and Air France (AF) launch a four-month pilot sharing program between Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) and New York John F. Kennedy (JFK).
Air France flight crews will operate a KLM Boeing 777-200 on daily rotations, a first for the Air France-KLM Group.
The initiative boosts KLM’s summer capacity through cross-airline resource pooling while maintaining normal cabin service standards.
Photo: By Patrick Cardinal – KLM Boeing 777-200ER CloseupUploaded by benchill, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11248251KLM Air France Pilot Sharing Program
KLM and Air France have initiated a pilot sharing program to optimize summer operations. For the first time, Air France pilots will operate KLM flights on the transatlantic route between Amsterdam (AMS) and New York City (JFK), ensuring flight continuity during the peak travel season.
This arrangement is scheduled to last until October 25, 2025, coinciding with the end of the summer flight schedule.
The program focuses on a single KLM Boeing 777-200 aircraft operating flight KL 641. Air France pilots are assigned to fly the aircraft, while KLM cabin crew will handle in-flight service and passenger operations.
This pilot sharing maintains KLM’s brand experience while efficiently leveraging internal pilot resources across the group.
The first jointly operated flight departed from Schiphol Airport at 13:25 local time, marking a significant milestone in the integrated operations of the Air France-KLM Group.
Photo: Alan Wilson | FlickrEnhancing Operations
This pilot sharing program aims to support KLM in maintaining its scheduled services despite challenges such as pilot shortages and increased summer travel demand.
According to KLM COO Maarten Stienen, this initiative “supplements our capacity this summer, which is good for KLM as a whole.”
The collaboration highlights the group’s ability to act flexibly across national borders, enhancing resilience and adaptability.
It also reflects the broader strategic integration within the Air France-KLM Group, optimizing fleet and crew deployment for better operational efficiency.
Photo: Jeroen Stroes Aviation Photography | Wikimedia CommonsFuture Outlook
The initiative involved collaboration between numerous stakeholders, including internal departments, labor unions, and European aviation authorities.
Careful planning ensured regulatory compliance, crew qualification checks, and seamless crew coordination.
This temporary arrangement is not only a technical and logistical success but also serves as a model for future cross-airline operational synergies within aviation alliances.
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