Netherlands: KLM adds more flights to Cape Town for Winter 2025/26!

Good news for travellers heading to South Africa! KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is increasing its flights between Schiphol Airport (AMS) in Amsterdam and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town for the upcoming Northern Hemisphere winter season (26 October 2025 – 28 March 2026).
KLM will now operate 11 flights per week on the Amsterdam <> Cape Town route – up from 10 weekly flights last winter. This means travellers will have more flexibility and seat availability when planning their trip to South Africa's Mother City during the popular summer season.

Updated flight schedule
From 27 October 2025, the route will be served by a mix of Boeing 777-200ER, Boeing 777-300ER, and Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

• Amsterdam > Cape Town: KL597 departs 09:30 (arrives 21:55) / KL595 departs 17:45 (arrives 06:10+1)
• Cape Town > Amsterdam: KL596 departs 08:05 (arrives 18:55) / KL598 departs 23:45 (arrives 10:40+1)

From 09 January 2026 onward, the evening flights (KL595/596) are expected to be operated by the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, offering a quieter cabin and improved fuel efficiency. 

Amsterdam <> Cape Town route comparison: Winter 2024/25 vs Winter 2025/26

Season	Flights per Week	Primary Aircraft Types	Notes
Winter 2024/25	10	Boeing 777-200ER / 777-300ER	Mostly daily service + 3 extras
Winter 2025/26	11	Boeing 777-200ER / 777-300ER / 787-9	Evening flights switch to 787-9 from Jan 2026

This small but meaningful increase provides more travel day options for both leisure and business passengers, especially during Cape Town's busy summer tourist season.

Why This Matters
Cape Town is one of KLM’s most popular intercontinental destinations during Europe’s winter months. The increase to 11 weekly flights not only gives travellers more choice but also highlights growing demand for tourism and business travel to South Africa.
With more convenient departure times and improved aircraft comfort, this expansion is excellent news for travellers seeking a seamless connection from Europe and beyond via Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.

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Air France-KLM and CemAir sign interline agreement!

Air France-KLM, the French-Dutch multinational airline group, has partnered with South African regional carrier CemAir through a newly implemented interline agreement. This collaboration enhances connectivity across South Africa by linking CemAir’s regional network with Air France-KLM’s major gateways at OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town.
Passengers will benefit from seamless travel between international long-haul flights and domestic routes, with the convenience of booking combined itineraries on a single ticket. The agreement streamlines the travel experience by reducing connection times and ensuring a consistent level of service, making it easier for travelers to explore destinations across South Africa.

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Airlink & Air France-KLM signed a new codeshare agreement!

French-Dutch multinational airline holding company Air France-KLM implemented a new codeshare agreement with South African regional airline Airlink, effective 03 December 2024.
This commercial partnership enhances connectivity for travellers, offering Air France and KLM customers access to an extensive range of destinations in Southern Africa via OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. At this stage, the codeshare agreement is active on 14 Airlink domestic destinations in South Africa.
Air France-KLM and Airlink plan to expand the partnership in the future, with additional destinations to come in Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, St Helena, Zambia and Zimbabwe (expansion subject to approval by the relevant authorities).
Air France and KLM currently operate up to 14 weekly flights to Johannesburg and 14 weekly flights to Cape Town on departure from their respective hubs at Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) in Amsterdam.

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The Netherlands: KLM increases capacity to South Africa! [update]

update (04 November 2024): KLM has announced that it will add another extra direct flight between Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) in Amsterdam and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town from 10 January 2025 until 30 March 2025. The additional weekly flight ups the service between the two cities to 10 times per week.

The flag carrier of the Netherlands, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, is set to increase capacity to South Africa. According to the airline, the number of direct flights between Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) in Amsterdam and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town will be increased from the Christmas period to the end of the winter season with two extra flights per week.  This expansion comes just in time for the busy December travel season. The new services on board KLM's new Boeing 777-300 will operate alongside the airline's the current daily flight. KLM's additonal service between Amsterdam and Cape Town (AMS > CPT on Tuesdays and Sundays; CPT > AMS on Mondays and Wednesdays) will operated from 17 December 2024 until 30 March 2025. 

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The Netherlands: KLM increases direct flights between Amsterdam <> Cape Town! [update]

update (30 May 2022): As of 01 November 2022, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will be adding three direct flights on their Amsterdam <> Cape Town route, increasing their total frequencies to 10 flights per week. 

The flag carrier airline of the Netherlands, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, has announced that it will increase flights between Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport (AMS) and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, South Africa, to meet greater demand for flights. The airline, which is part of the Air France–KLM group and a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, has increased its flight schedule between the two destinations to six flights per week and is set to commence daily operations from 11 July 2022.

• Amsterdam 10:10 > 21:25 Cape Town
• Cape Town 23:15 > 10:45+1 Amsterdam

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KLM resumes flights between Amsterdam <> South Africa!

The flag carrier airline of the Netherlands, KLM, is set to resume flights to South Africa. Effective 23 February 2021, the airline can accept the following passengers on flights from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg to Schiphol Airport (AMS) in Amsterdam, regardless of their final destination: Dutch nationals, Schengen and other EU residents, Dutch Antilles residents, Medical staff, Seafarers, Airline crew.
KLM will operate daily flights between Amsterdam and Johannesburg as well as three weekly flights on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays between Amsterdam and Cape Town.
According to the airline, the requirements for entry into the Netherlands have not changed. They are as follows:

• a negative PCR test result test conducted less 72 hours prior to arrival/transit in the Netherlands
• an antigen test taken no less than 4 hours before boarding
• a completed health declaration
• 10-day self-isolation period on arrival in the Netherlands if the Netherlands is the final destination. 

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KLM forced to temporarily cancel all flights from South Africa to the Netherlands! [update]

update (04 February 2021): South Africa is still subject to the passenger flight ban. The purpose of the flight ban is to prevent the further spread of new variants of coronavirus in the Netherlands.

The Dutch Government has imposed a travel ban on flights from South Africa to the Netherlands on 20 January 2021. Effective 23 January 2021, all flights operated by KLM between Schiphol Airport (AMS) in Amsterdam and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg / Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town will have to be cancelled in order to comply with this new regulation. All passengers affected will be informed individually and re-booked on alternative flights. Please note the following:

• KL 525 20 January 2021: AMS > CPT operates as scheduled
• KL 525 21 January 2021: AMS > CPT will operate as scheduled
• KL 526 21 January 2021: CPT > AMS will operate as scheduled
• KL 526 22 January 2021: CPT > AMS will operate as scheduled

Please also note that the flight schedule of  KLM's partner airline, the flag carrier of France, Air France, are not affected by these new regulations and will continue to operate (at least) three times per week between Johannesburg and Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris. Please contact KLM for further information!

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Covid-19: KLM reduces flights between Amsterdam and South Africa!

The flag carrier airline of the Netherlands, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, has announced that it had to modify its flight schedules between the Netherlands and South Africa after the Dutch government restricted travel from South Africa. Effective today (18 January 2021), the airline operates four flights per week from Schiphol Airport (AMS) in Amsterdam to OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and three flights per week from Amsterdam to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, with a technical stop at Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Passengers must remain on board during this stop. All flights are confirmed to operate.
Please also note that the flight schedules of KLM's partner airline, the flag carrier of France, Air France, have not been affected by these new regulations, and will continue to operate three times per week between Johannesburg and Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris.

Please note: Passengers flying from South Africa travelling to the Netherlands or transiting in the Netherlands are now required to produce a negative rapid antigen test which must be taken 4 hours prior to departure. This antigen test can be taken at Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town or OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg where facilities are being arranged. This antigen test is in addition to the mandatory negative PCR test valid 72 hours prior to arrival in the Netherlands and the completed and signed Negative Test Declaration. 

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South African regional carrier FlySafair and Air France-KLM have signed an interline agreement. The new cooperation, which took effect on 11 December 2018, enables travellers to book just one ticket with two flight segments for intercontinental flights between Europa and South Africa with Air France-KLM and domestic (connecting) flights within South Africa with FlySafair. The interline agreement also includes baggage transfer at the connecting airport.
Air France-KLM currently operates flights between Paris (Air France & Joon) and Cape Town, between Amsterdam (KLM) and Cape Town, between Paris (Air France) and Johannesburg as well as between Amsterdam (KLM) and Johannesburg. FlySafair's domestic network in South Africa includes Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, George, East London and Durban.

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• East London, Cape Town, Durban and George from Johannesburg
• Durban also from Cape Town

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Kenya Airways flights operated by KLM (as of June 2017):

• Amsterdam <> Alicante
• Amsterdam <> Catania 
• Amsterdam <> Genoa 
• Amsterdam <> Graz
• Amsterdam <> Helsinki
• Amsterdam <> Istanbul Ataturk 
• Amsterdam - Kigali – Entebbe – Amsterdam
• Amsterdam - Kilimanjaro – Dar es Salaam – Amsterdam 
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• Amsterdam <> Malaga
• Amsterdam <> Milan Malpensa 
• Amsterdam <> Moscow Sheremetyevo 
• Amsterdam <> St. Petersburg
• Amsterdam <> Tel Aviv 
• Amsterdam <> Trondheim

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According to aviation specialists routesonline, KLM and Kenya Airways, both members of Skyteam, have expanded their codeshare agreement. Under the revised agreement, KLM places its "KL" code on Kenya Airways' flights between Nairobi, London and Paris, as well as on selected service beyond Nairobi.

KLM flights operated by Kenya Airways (as of 03 April 2017):

• Nairobi <> Bangui <> Douala <> Nairobi
• Nairobi <> Douala <> Bangui <> Nairobi
• Nairobi <> Douala <> Yaounde <> Nairobi
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• Nairobi <> Moroni <> Antananarivo <> Nairobi
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KLM introduces flights to Windhoek (Namibia)!

The flag carrier airline of the Netherlands, KLM, will expand its service to Windhoek, Namibia. The arline's flight schedule for the three existing flights to Luanda, Angola will be adapted slightly to make it possible to fly on to the Namibian capital and back after a short stopover. KLM will start to operate flights to Windhoek on 30 October 2016.

• Amsterdam (AMS) 22:45 > 07:30 Luanda (LAD) 08:45 > 12:15 Windhoek (WDH) on Tuesdays, Fridays, Sundays
• Windhoek (WDH) 17:40 > 19:15 Luanda (LAD) 20:40 > 05:20 Amsterdam (AMS) on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Mondays
  


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KLM set to increase Amsterdam <> Cape Town service to daily in 2016!

Europe's largest airline group, Air France–KLM, has announced that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) will increase its direct service between Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) in Amsterdam and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town to daily in May 2016. The airline will operate the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to connect the two destinations.
Air France–KLM (Air France and KLM) carry more than 77 million passengers per year. They operate 573 aircraft enabling them to fly to 243 destinations in 103 countries.

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KLM to introduce a non-stop service Amsterdam <> Entebbe (Uganda)

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The flag carrier airline of the Netherlands, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, has announced that it will cancel its three-weekly service between Amsterdam - Harare - Lusaka - Amsterdam from 28 October 2014. According to the airline, recent optimisations in KLM's network portfolio in East Africa led to the decision to discontinue direct services from Amsterdam to Zimbabwe and Zambia. Reservation for this route closed already on 30 July 2014.

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Kenya Airways & KLM expand their cooperation

The national airline of Kenya, Kenya Airways, and the flag carrier airline of the Netherlands, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, will expand their codeshare agreement. From 01 January 2014, the cooperation between the two airlines will be expanded through the addition of the following four routes:

• London – Nairobi
• Amsterdam –Entebbe/Kigali
• Amsterdam – Lusaka - Harare
• Amsterdam - Kilimanjaro/Dar es Salam (subject to regulatory approval)

This will bring the total number of frequencies operated jointly by Kenya Airways and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to approximately 44 weekly flights. Currently, the two airlines operate a daily service between Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in Amsterdam and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. The airlines jointly operate 19 weekly return flights between the Netherlands, France (Air France) and Kenya.

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The national airline of the Netherlands, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, is currenly operating three weekly flights between Amsterdam - Harare - Lusaka - Amsterdam on board an Airbus A330-200 aircraft, but had so far no regional traffic rights to offer flights to travellers on the Harare <> Lusaka leg only. This is changing now as the airline, according to Airline Route, secured such traffic rights and is now enabled to pick up passengers travelling between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Tickets are on sale from 14 March 2013.

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KLM to operate daily flights to Entebbe (Uganda) via Kigali (Rwanda)

The flag carrier of the Netherlands, KLM, will soon operate daily flights between Amsterdam and Entebbe in Uganda via Kigali in Rwanda. From 05 April 2013, the airline will add flights on Tuesdays to the already existing six weekly flights between the three destinations. KLM is the first European airline to operate daily flights to Entebbe and Kigali.
The Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij, or just KLM, is the world's oldest airline still operating under its original name. The airline is currently operating worldwide scheduled passenger and cargo services to more than 90 destinations. KLM merged with Air France in 2004 and created Air France-KLM, but both airlines continue to fly under their distinct brand names. Air France-KLM is a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance.

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