KLM maintains network after reaching Covid testing agreement

KLM will maintain its flight network after reaching an agreement with Dutch authorities over Covid-19 testing procedures for crew.

Last week, reports suggested the Dutch airline may need to suspend as many as 270 flights into the country as a result of stricter Covid-19 testing rules that were being brought by the government.

But in an update, the airline said that after consultations with authorities it had agreed on alternative testing solutions for its crews that comply the new coronavirus measures and allow “KLM and Martinair flight operations to continue as much as possible”.

GertJan Roelands, senior vice president sales and distribution Air France KLM Martinair Cargo, said: “We are pleased to announce that our cargo flight programme will operate according to the current schedule until further notice.”

Last week, new measures were announced that required passengers bound for the Netherlands from abroad take a rapid test prior to departure as well as a standard PCR test upon arrival.

Airfreight groups Air Cargo Netherlands, Fenex, evofenedex and Transport and Logistics Netherlands called on the Dutch government and KLM to come up with another safe solution in order to avoid the suspension of flights.

“If this happens, it will have dramatic consequences for the Dutch international supply chain,” the groups said at the time.

 

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Damian Brett

Damian Brett
I have been writing about the freight and logistics industry since 2007 when I joined International Freighting Weekly to cover the shipping sector. After a stint in PR, I have gone on to work for Containerisation International and Lloyds List - where I was editor of container shipping - before joining Air Cargo News in 2015. Contact me on [email protected]