KLM celebrates 80 years of connection between Amsterdam and New York

Today, KLM is celebrating a special milestone: for 80 years, the airline has connected Amsterdam and New York, and with it, Europe and the United States. On May 21, 1946, KLM became the first European airline to launch a scheduled service to the United States after World War II. What began as a pioneering flight lasting more than 25 hours has grown into one of the most important routes in KLM’s network.

A historic connection

The first flight departed Amsterdam on May 21, 1946, making stops in Prestwick, Scotland, and Gander, Canada, before reaching New York. On board the Douglas C-54 Skymaster were 32 passengers. With this route, KLM became the first European airline to establish a regular connection to the United States, ushering in a new era for transatlantic aviation. Today, KLM and partner Delta Air Lines jointly operate 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 this route. This makes the connection important not only for leisure travelers and business passengers, but also for the transport of time-sensitive and high-value goods, such as pharmaceutical products, high-tech equipment, fashion and luxury items, e-commerce shipments, and industrial components. In addition, the route plays an important role in the logistics chain for perishable goods and other specialized cargo flows between Europe and North America. Via New York, KLM also offers travelers access to an extensive network of destinations across North America.

The route between Amsterdam and New York has reflected the close ties between the Netherlands and the United States for 80 years. What began in 1946 as a groundbreaking connection has grown into a vital link for business travelers, tourists, and cargo traffic. For decades, this route has supported trade, investment, and cultural exchange, bringing people and economies on both sides of the Atlantic closer together.

Marjan Rintel, KLM CEO
A spirit of pioneering

The launch of the route was made possible in part by the determination of Albert Plesman, founder of KLM. His efforts enabled KLM to move ahead of its competitors and become the first European airline to launch scheduled service to New York. That pioneering spirit has always remained a hallmark of KLM. In the decades that followed, the airline introduced successive new aircraft types on the New York route, from the Boeing 747 to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Today, KLM continues to invest in fleet renewal with the aim of flying cleaner, quieter, and more efficiently.

Anniversary celebrations

KLM is marking this special anniversary today with partners, colleagues, and passengers at The New York Historical museum. To commemorate the occasion, an exclusive Delft Blue miniature house of The New York Historical is unveiled. Produced in a limited edition of 300 pieces, it will be distributed exclusively to guests attending the event. Also opening today at The New York Historical is a temporary exhibition on the history of the route and the longstanding ties between the Netherlands and New York.

Aviodrome, the Dutch aviation museum, is also opening its new exhibition “The PH-TAR and the Journey to the New World” on Thursday, May 21. With this exhibition, the museum commemorates eighty years of transatlantic scheduled service between the Netherlands and the United States. Through historical imagery, the exhibition tells the story of KLM’s first transatlantic flight and highlights how remarkable the direct connection between the Netherlands and New York was at the time. Visitors can also see a Douglas DC-4 painted in the PH-TAR livery, the same type of aircraft used for this historic flight, with its interior carefully restored to its former glory. The exhibition will be open to visitors from today through the end of 2027.