KLM returns

New European gateways are expected to open for Barbados in the upcoming winter season as KLM Royal Dutch Airlines resumes flights to the island.

The direct service will take off on October 18, with three weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from Amsterdam.

According to the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), the KLM connection from the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is particularly attractive for passengers from the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy, and the Nordics.

BTMI CEO Jens Thraenhart has welcomed the pending return of the flights, underscoring that it “further positions Barbados as an accessible island for European tourists”.

“The European market is an important market to Barbados and our offices in Europe have been working to find ways to make accessibility to Barbados easier for our European visitors. With KLM currently operating out of 90 cities in Europe, the resumption of this flight to Barbados strategically places the island as a reachable hub for all,” he said.

“We are pleased at KLM’s confidence in building Barbados as a winter destination for its hub at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. We will be working on programmes in the market to support and defend this airlift and ensure we have a productive season.”

Manager Destination and Tourism Development at Air France-KLM, Emile Arnst, concurred.

“We are happy to return to Barbados this winter season and to encourage exploration of this exotic gem in the Caribbean via our hub at Amsterdam,” Arnst said.

The return of the Dutch national carrier will coincide with the Barbados Food and Rum Festival scheduled for October 27 to 30, a major event for the upcoming winter season.

The airline will fly to Barbados from October 18 to the end of March 2023. The flights will depart from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol at 10:05 a.m. and arrive at the Grantley Adams International Airport at 2:20 p.m. local time.

The BTMI said it recently launched an advertising campaign showcasing KLM as an airline partner at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, since July at Milan Malpensa Airport, and on a dedicated tram in Amsterdam.
(BT/PR)