KLM’s inaugural service between Amsterdam and Cape Town was launched on October 27, 1992, and yesterday (November 1), the carrier celebrated the route’s 30th birthday by increasing the schedule to 10 flights a week.
After the flights were originally launched in the ’90s, demand saw KLM changing to a non-stop service in October 2003. Prior to that the Cape Town flight operated via Johannesburg. Today, the route remains one of the most popular for outbound travel from South Africa.
The first flight to Cape Town was operated with a Boeing 747-400. Today, a 316-seat Boeing 777-200ER operates the route.
“The Amsterdam to Cape Town route has proved to be both important and valuable for KLM and the many South African, Dutch and international travellers who use our service. Although Cape Town remains an extremely popular destination for tourism, industries such as wine and fashion have seen it grow into a corporate destination as well,” says Wilson Tauro, Air France KLM Country Manager for Southern Africa.
“Celebrating three decades of service is a massive accomplishment for any brand and we are thrilled that the route continues to show incredible demand.”
With the new schedule, flight KL597 departs Amsterdam daily at 10h15, arriving in Cape Town at 22h25. The return flight, KL598, departs at 00h15 daily and lands in Amsterdam at 10h50.
On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, flight KL595 departs from Amsterdam at 18h25 and arrives in Cape Town at 06h30 the following day. On Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, return flight KL596 departs Cape Town at 08h20 and touches down at 18h55.
