This month, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines celebrated a milestone in the Houston aviation industry. After first taking flight from the Bayou City in 1957, this year, the airline reached its golden anniversary with the Houston Airport System. To honor this historic accomplishment, Houston’s City Council presented the airline with a proclamation thanking them for their commitment to the local region. Houston Mayor Bill White and Councilmember Adrian Garcia presented the award to the airline. “Fifty years in the City of Houston by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is a phenomenal occasion,” said Councilmember Garcia. “You know we’re always excited when a business decides to open (up) here in the City of Houston, but anytime anyone opens a business and stays here for 50 years you’ve got to say thank you.”

© Houston Airport System A Golden Affair. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines celebrates 50 years in Houston this month and the city was ready to congratulate them.

Originally Councilmember Michael Berry, who heads the city’s Transportation, Infrastructure and Aviation Committee, was supposed to present the proclamation to KLM, but because of a conflicting engagement he was unable to attend last week’s council meeting.

In 1919, the airline best known as simply KLM first began passenger service in Amsterdam. Today, it is the oldest airline in the world that is still operating under its original name, and it is also the fourth-largest airline in Europe.

“Fifty years by this industry in Houston should speak to how good business is in Houston and how good Houston is for business,” added Garcia. “We want to make sure they stay another 50 years and we want to encourage people to follow in KLM Royal Dutch Airlines footsteps.”

John Derphich, director of ground operations in North and South America for KLM, was on hand to accept the award from City Council and noted that the airline owes its success to the safe, reliable and careful service it provides.

“We’re pretty excited about it. It’s one heck of an accomplishment,” he expressed. “It’s a rarity in the aviation business; so many things can change so dynamically at anytime that it is difficult to maintain service to any one city for such a continuous length of time.”

KLM currently flies 13 flights per week to Amsterdam from Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) carrying approximately 2,500 passengers.

The airline continues to reach milestones in the aviation industry as they have just added a new 44-seat, business-class 737 aircraft, which has been formatted to make non-stop flights between Houston and Amsterdam, to their fleet.

They also plan to open a new lounge at IAH that will double their current seating and square footage capacity at the airport.

“The aviation industry is definitely a growing industry and we will continue to serve Houston in growth, mind, and matter,” Derphich assured the members of the City Council.

When asked about the future of KLM, he simply replied, “KLM is the oldest airline in the world and we have a lot of pride in that; we plan on being around for a long time to come.”

Copyright © 2007 - Houston Airport System