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Dutch airline KLM swaps planes for trains to save the planet
In a bid to cut its environmental impact, KLM will reduce the number of flights from Amsterdam to Brussels from five to four from March 2020.
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In a bid to cut its environmental impact, KLM will reduce the number of flights from Amsterdam to Brussels from five to four from March 2020. (AFP/Pascal Pavani)
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s it a bird? Is it a plane? No, says Dutch airline KLM. When it comes to one of its shortest routes, it will soon be… a train. In a bid to cut its environmental impact, KLM will reduce the number of flights from Amsterdam to Brussels from five to four from March 2020.
In its place, KLM will buy passengers tickets on the Thalys train that covers the same route between Schiphol airport and the Belgian capital. The 45-minute, 200 km hop has been a frequent target of environmental campaigners who say there’s no need to use the plane for such a short distance.
“KLM has often stated that it is in favor of replacing short-haul flights by train, as long as the train product is a fully-fledged alternative in terms of speed, reliability and comfort for passengers,” the airline said.
KLM – now officially part of the Air France-KLM Franco-Dutch airline – said it “intends to gradually reduce the number of flights between Brussels and Schiphol” even further in the future. The route is often used by transfer passengers coming and going from Schiphol, one of Europe’s biggest hubs.
Read also: British Airways owner IAG commits to net zero carbon emissions by 2050
KLM said the idea was part of its “Fly Responsibly” plan to create a “more sustainable future for aviation” that also allows customers to opt for carbon offsetting.
Airlines around the world face growing criticism over greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, which are soaring as more people take to the skies. KLM, which marks its 100th anniversary this year, launched an unusual campaign earlier that effectively asked people to fly less to help the environment.
“Do you always have to meet face to face? Could you take the train instead? Could you contribute by offsetting your CO2 emissions or by packing light?” said a video that was part of the campaign.
