✈️ Oldest Airline Still Operating: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
KLM (Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij), founded on October 7, 1919, in the Netherlands, holds the title of the world’s oldest airline still operating under its original name . Here’s a detailed overview:
🏆 Key Facts About KLM
- Foundation and Early Milestones:
- First flight: May 17, 1920, from London (Croydon Airport) to Amsterdam, carrying two journalists, newspapers, and a letter from the Mayor of London .
- Pioneered the longest air route (Amsterdam to Jakarta, then Batavia) in 1924, taking 55 days with 21 stops .
- In 1946, launched the first scheduled transatlantic flight from Europe to New York using DC-4 aircraft .
- Survival Through Challenges:
- Operated during WWII from the UK and Caribbean bases when the Netherlands was occupied .
- Merged with Air France in 2004 but retained its brand identity and operational independence .
- Modern Operations (2025):
- Fleet: 116 aircraft, serving 164 destinations across 63 countries .
- Hub: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
- Alliance: SkyTeam member .
🌍 Other Historic Airlines Still Operating
While KLM is the oldest, these airlines also rank among the earliest:
- Avianca (1919):
- Founded as SCADTA in Colombia; renamed Avianca in 1940 after a merger. It is the oldest airline in the Americas and operates 126 aircraft today .
- Qantas (1920):
- Australia’s flag carrier; pioneered the “Kangaroo Route” (Australia–UK). Operates 125 aircraft and plans nonstop Sydney/Melbourne–London flights in 2026 .
- Aeroflot (1923):
- Began as Dobrolet in the Soviet Union; now Russia’s flag carrier with 171 aircraft .
- Finnair (1923) & Czech Airlines (1923):
- Both founded in 1923; Finnair is noted for Arctic routes, while Czech Airlines (bankrupt in 2021) is restructuring .
⚖️ Controversies and Notes
- British Airways claims lineage to 1919 via predecessors (e.g., Aircraft Transport and Travel), but the current entity formed in 1974 through mergers .
- Delta (1925) is the oldest U.S. airline, starting as a crop-dusting service .
💎 Conclusion
KLM’s uninterrupted operation since 1919—coupled with its pioneering spirit and adaptability—cements its status as aviation’s oldest survivor. Its centennial in 2019 marked 100 years of connecting continents, navigating wars, and innovating through jet-age transformations . For aviation enthusiasts, KLM represents a living museum of flight’s evolution.
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