KLM reconnects with Hyderabad with thrice weekly direct flights to Amsterdam

HYDERABAD: Over 15 years after it pulled out of Hyderabad, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the flag carrier of the Netherlands, has put the `City of pearls and pharma’ on its itinerary again with direct thrice-a-week flights to Amsterdam Schipol Airport (AMS).This makes Hyderabad, KLM’s fourth gateway in India after Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. This will take up the number of flights operated by KLM from India to 22 weekly flights in the summer schedule which will be ramped up to 27 weekly flights during the winter season. The Dutch carrier, which had launched flights to Hyderabad in 2005 and suspended them in 2009, decided to reconnect with the city given its rising clout as a global IT and lifesciences hub.“Hyderabad is a fast-growing city with a strong economy, driven by the pharmaceutical industry and global IT companies. The direct connection between Hyderabad and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, which is one of Europe’s leading hubs, will offer access to over 160 destinations globally,” said Maarten Stienen, chief operating officer, KLM.Pointing out that KLM had been an important market for KLM for over 70 years, expects good growth in passenger traffic from the region driven by business, VFR (visiting friends & relatives) and leisure traffic along with belly cargo opportunities, especially for pharma products from Hyderabad.Dutch ambassador to India, Nepal and Bhutan, Marisa Gerards, said around 40 Dutch companies have their presence in the region and as they continue to expand their footprint here the new route will boost trade, innovation, tourism and strengthen bilateral ties between India and the Netherlands.GMR Hyderabad International Airport CEO Pradeep Panicker said with this the airport now serves 97 destinations, including 25 international and 72 domestic destinations. This year, he said, the airport added 14 new destinations, including global cities such as Hong Kong, Phuket, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and Madina, among others.