KLM Celebrates 80 Years Since Becoming the First European Airline to Resume Scheduled U.S. Service After World War II

(IN SHORT) KLM is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its Amsterdam–New York route, which began on 21 May 1946 when the airline became the first European carrier to launch scheduled service to the United States after World War II. The first flight, operated with a Douglas C-54 Skymaster, carried 32 passengers and took more than 25 hours, with stops in Prestwick and Gander before reaching New York. Today, the route is one of the most important in KLM’s network, with KLM and Delta Air Lines jointly operating four daily flights between Amsterdam and New York. Last year, KLM carried nearly half a million passengers and more than 17 million kilograms of cargo on the route, supporting passenger travel, trade, cultural exchange and specialised cargo flows between Europe and North America. The anniversary is being marked with events at The New York Historical, including the unveiling of a limited-edition Delft Blue miniature house and a temporary exhibition, while Aviodrome in the Netherlands is opening an exhibition on KLM’s first transatlantic service and the historic PH-TAR aircraft.

(PRESS RELEASE) AMSTELVEEN, Netherlands, 2026-May-21 — /Travel PR News/ — KLM is marking 80 years of scheduled service between Amsterdam and New York, celebrating one of the most significant transatlantic routes in the airline’s history and a long-standing aviation link between Europe and the United States. The anniversary commemorates the launch of KLM’s first scheduled post-war service to the United States on 21 May 1946, when the airline became the first European carrier to establish a regular connection to the country after World War II.

The inaugural service departed Amsterdam on 21 May 1946 aboard a Douglas C-54 Skymaster carrying 32 passengers. The journey to New York took more than 25 hours and included stops in Prestwick, Scotland, and Gander, Canada. At the time, the flight represented a major step forward for international aviation and opened a new chapter in scheduled air travel between Europe and North America.

Eight decades later, the Amsterdam–New York route has developed into one of the most important connections in KLM’s global network. Today, KLM and its partner Delta Air Lines jointly operate four daily flights between the two cities, providing frequent connectivity for business passengers, leisure travellers and cargo customers on both sides of the Atlantic.

The route also plays a significant role in KLM’s cargo operations. Last year, the airline carried nearly half a million passengers and more than 17 million kilograms of cargo between Amsterdam and New York. The connection supports the movement of time-sensitive and high-value goods, including pharmaceutical products, high-tech equipment, fashion and luxury items, e-commerce shipments and industrial components. It is also an important corridor for perishable goods and other specialised cargo flows between Europe and North America.

Beyond the direct link between Amsterdam and New York, the route provides travellers with access to a wider network of destinations across North America. Through New York, passengers can connect onward to numerous cities, strengthening the role of the service as a gateway between the Netherlands, the wider European market and the United States.

Marjan Rintel, CEO of KLM, said the Amsterdam–New York route has reflected the close relationship between the Netherlands and the United States for 80 years. She noted that what began in 1946 as a pioneering air connection has grown into a vital route for business travellers, tourists and cargo transport, while supporting trade, investment and cultural exchange across the Atlantic.

The launch of the service was closely linked to the determination of Albert Plesman, KLM’s founder, whose efforts helped the airline move ahead of competitors and become the first European airline to begin scheduled service to New York after the war. KLM said that same pioneering spirit has remained part of its identity as the airline has continued to modernise and develop the route over the decades.

Since 1946, KLM has introduced several generations of aircraft on the Amsterdam–New York service, including the Boeing 747 and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The airline continues to invest in fleet renewal, with the aim of operating flights that are cleaner, quieter and more efficient.

KLM is celebrating the anniversary in New York with partners, colleagues and passengers at The New York Historical museum. As part of the occasion, the airline is unveiling an exclusive Delft Blue miniature house representing The New York Historical. The commemorative house has been produced in a limited edition of 300 pieces and will be distributed exclusively to guests attending the event.

The New York Historical is also opening a temporary exhibition dedicated to the history of the Amsterdam–New York route and the long-standing links between the Netherlands and New York. The exhibition highlights the importance of the connection and its role in bringing people, businesses and cultures closer together over eight decades.

In the Netherlands, Aviodrome, the Dutch aviation museum, is opening a new exhibition titled “The PH-TAR and the Journey to the New World” on 21 May. The exhibition commemorates 80 years of transatlantic scheduled service between the Netherlands and the United States through historical images and stories from KLM’s first transatlantic flight.

Visitors to Aviodrome will also be able to view a Douglas DC-4 painted in PH-TAR livery, the same type of aircraft used for the historic journey. The aircraft’s interior has been carefully restored to reflect its original appearance. The exhibition will remain open to visitors from 21 May 2026 through the end of 2027.

mediarelations@klm.com

SOURCE: KLM