History
Air France-KLM was created by the mutually agreed merger between Air France and Netherlands-based KLM on 5 May 2004.
As a result of the deal, the French government's share of Air France was reduced from 54.4% (of the former Air France) to 44% (of the combined airline). Its share was subsequently reduced to 25%, and later to 18.6%.
At the time of the merger in May 2004, Air France and KLM combined offered flights to 225 destinations in the world. In the year ending 21 March 2003, the two companies combined transported 66.3 million passengers.
In October 2005, Air France Cargo and KLM Cargo, the two freight subsidiaries of the group, announced a merge of their commercial activities. The Joint Cargo Management Team now operates the organisation worldwide from the Netherlands.
In a 2007 opening for a majority takeover of the loss-generating Alitalia, Air France-KLM was one of three bidders, and was favoured by the board of Alitalia. However, on 2 April 2008, it was reported that negotiations have been abandoned. After the acquisition of Alitalia and Air One by Compagnia Aerea Italiana on 12 December 2008, Air France-KLM has announced it is interested once again in purchasing a participation in the new merged company. On 12 January 2009, Air France-KLM announced that it will buy a 25% share in this company for €323 million.
February 2011: Air France-KLM with Delta Air Lines are working together to examine a bid for Virgin Atlantic. At the present Richard Branson has 51 percent stake of Virgin Atlantic and the rest is held by Singapore Airlines.
Air France-KLM was categorized as one of World's 10 safest airlines announced by ATRA in August 2011.
In June 2012 it was released, that Air France-KLM is considering to sell its subsidiary CityJet.
Read more about this topic: Flying Blue
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“In history the great moment is, when the savage is just ceasing to be a savage, with all his hairy Pelasgic strength directed on his opening sense of beauty;—and you have Pericles and Phidias,—and not yet passed over into the Corinthian civility. Everything good in nature and in the world is in that moment of transition, when the swarthy juices still flow plentifully from nature, but their astrigency or acridity is got out by ethics and humanity.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“What would we not give for some great poem to read now, which would be in harmony with the scenery,—for if men read aright, methinks they would never read anything but poems. No history nor philosophy can supply their place.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“At present cats have more purchasing power and influence than the poor of this planet. Accidents of geography and colonial history should no longer determine who gets the fish.”
—Derek Wall (b. 1965)