KLM cancels 160 flights ahead of May holidays due to high fuel prices

Dutch airline KLM has scrapped 160 flights to and from Schiphol Airport ahead of the busy May holidays due to rising jet fuel costs. With the ongoing conflict in the Middle East leading to more cancelled flights and expensive travel costs, more Dutch residents are opting to enjoy a vacation closer to home.

160 flights to and from Amsterdam scrapped

KLM has announced that it is adjusting its flight schedule for the coming month as the rising kerosene prices make it “no longer financially viable” to operate a number of flights within Europe. At the same time, KLM emphasises that “there is no kerosene shortage”.

160 flights to and from Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam will be cancelled, which the Dutch airline states is less than 1 percent of its European flights during the month. KLM reassures travellers that it should be fairly quick and easy to book them onto another flight as the destinations affected have multiple KLM flights each day, such as London and Düsseldorf.

“KLM expects a busy May holiday period and is making sure passengers can travel to their holiday destinations as planned,” writes the airline. Last month, KLM also raised ticket prices due to fuel prices.

Dutch residents choosing more local vacation spots

Since the US-Israel attacks on Iran, petrol and energy prices have been rising. Several countries in the Middle East have also been labelled with yellow and orange travel codes by the Dutch government. 

So with all this going on, more holidaymakers are overhauling their summer plans to avoid the Middle East and choosing to enjoy their May holidays closer to home, NOS reports based on the ANWB Holiday Monitor. Even with the global turmoil and rising cost of living, 59 percent of Dutch residents are still going on holiday in the coming weeks - a similar number to last year.

This year, though, travellers are probably not going as far away. At least 94 percent are choosing European holidays and almost 50 percent are opting for a local holiday within the Netherlands. Germany, France and Belgium are also popular vacation destinations.