Microsoft word - media release - klm royal dutch airlines - still soaring at 80!.docx

MEDIA RELEASE

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines marks its 80th Anniversary in
Singapore with a myriad of celebrations

[Singapore, 10 April 2013] – Commemorating 80 years of scheduled flights to
Singapore, KLM today announced it will celebrate this spectacular milestone, with a
myriad of events and campaigns for its customers.
Mr Domingo De Cola, General Manager – Singapore, Indonesia, Australia and New
Zealand says, “We are pleased to be marking this 80th anniversary with various special
celebrations for our customers, without whom this milestone would not have been
possible. On 3 May 1933, a KLM Fokker F-18 landed in Singapore, making KLM the first
western airline to serve Singapore with a scheduled service. Since then, KLM Royal
Dutch Airlines has been growing from strength to strength and we hope to continue
soaring to greater heights with our customers!”
In celebration, KLM will launch the “KLM Says” campaign on April 1st where for 30
days, various challenges will be posted daily on www.klmsays.com. To take part
participants can login using their Facebook or Twitter account. Once logged in,
participants can type in the answer to the challenge or if the challenge is picture based
upload a photo from a desktop, mobile phone or instagram. Prizes will be given away
daily and 10 Grand prize challengers will be chosen every week to go into the main
draw to be held at the end of the campaign, where they can win two economy class
return tickets from Singapore to any KLM destination in the world.
In a special collaboration between KLM and Singapore’s tropical garden, Gardens by
the Bay, 14 tons of tulips (around 48,000 bulbs) will be shipped from The Netherlands
to Singapore via KLM Cargo. These tulips, a significant symbol of the Netherlands, will
be planted and displayed at the ‘Tulipmania’ Exhibit at the Flower Dome, Gardens by
the Bay from 29 April – 20 May.
To celebrate Mother’s Day, which also falls in the month of May, KLM will import 2500
tulip stalks to be given out to at Raffles Place on the 7th of May as part of the ‘KLM
Loves Mum Campaign’.
The Band of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is set to serenade and entertain visitors of
Singapore Botanic Gardens for free on 11 May. Whilst on 12th May, music enthusiasts
can enjoy a performance of the Band of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines at the School of The
Arts (SOTA) Concert Hall. This concert will see band perform with the Singapore Winds
Symphony. Guest will be the famous Dutch composer; Johan De Meij.
“With this gesture of thanks to our customers who made this 80th anniversary possible,
we invite them to take part in these celebrations with which we hope to bring a bit of
Dutch culture and share it with all Singaporeans,” Mr De Cola adds

For more information and details please visit: www.klm.sg
About KLM

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was founded in 1919, making it the world’s oldest airline still
operating under its original name. In 2004, Air France and KLM merged to form AIR
FRANCE KLM. The merger produced the strongest European airline group based on two
powerful brands and hubs – Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
Retaining its own identity, the group focuses on three core businesses: passenger
transport, cargo and aircraft maintenance.
In the Netherlands, KLM comprises the core of the KLM Group, which further includes
KLM Cityhopper, transavia.com and Martinair KLM serves all its destinations using a
modern fleet and employs over 33,000 people around the world. KLM is a leader in the
airline industry, offering reliable operations and customer-oriented products resulting
from its policy of enthusiasm and sustainable innovation.
KLM is a member of the global SkyTeam airline alliance, offering customers an
extensive worldwide network. The KLM network connects the Netherlands to every
important economic region in the world and, as such, serves as a powerful driver for
the economy.
History of KLM in Singapore

Founded in The Netherlands in 1919, KLM is the oldest international airline in the
world, and the Amsterdam – London air link, first flown by KLM on its inaugural flight
in 1920, is the oldest air route still served by the same airline.
KLM began to write history in this region in the early 1930’s when it took the lead in
the development of air services between Europe and the Far East, competing against
Imperial Airways (now British Airways) and Quantas Empire Airways (now Qantas)
Singapore’s strategic location was already recognized at that time and allowed the city
to develop into the port of call and a convenient stopover point for flights heading for
the Dutch East Indies and Australia.
For additional Information, please contact:
Edith Kraaijeveld
CRM & PR Manager, Air France KLM
Singapore, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand
T: 6216 1214
M: 9155 0611
IMSG, PR Agency for Air France KLM:
Brigette Ponce
Cassaundra Gail Tan
Senior Account Executive
Senior Account Executive

Source: http://www.nca.org.sg/uploads/files/MEDIA%20RELEASE%20-%20KLM%20Royal%20Dutch%20Airlines%20-%20Still%20Soaring%20at%2080!%20(2).pdf