KLM is launching flights to Austin, Texas, using its Airbus A330 aircraft. From May 4, 2020, Amsterdam will see thrice-weekly service to the Texas capital. These flights will all be on board Airbus A330-300s. This marks yet another link for Austin to a European hub.

KLM direct to Austin

KLM announced the new route via a press release. The service will operate on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays with the following schedule (all times are local):

  • KL667 will depart Amsterdam at 12:40 and arrive at 16:10 in Austin
  • The return KL668 will depart Austin at 18:00 and arrive in Amsterdam at 10:25

This schedule allows KLM to optimize connections at Amsterdam's Schipol Airport – home to the world's first automatic jet bridge. And, with Austin gaining greater importance to Delta Air Lines, there may be opportunities for the joint venture partners to offer connections through Austin.

Austin, Texas
Multiple airlines have noted the city's booming growth from tech companies. Photo: KLM

Austin marks KLM's 19th destination to North America. Pieter Elbers, CEO and President of KLM, offered the following statement:

We have built up a robust transatlantic network thanks to our joint ventures with Air France and Delta Air Lines. We will continue to optimise this network. As part of this we launched services to Boston and Las Vegas in the summer and are now adding Austin to our North American destinations.

A330-300 to Austin

KLM will fly A330-300s to Austin. These aircraft are outfitted with 30 World Business Class seats, 40 Economy Comfort seats, and 222 Economy class seats. World Business is a lie-flat product and should be a nice way to cross the Atlantic.

KLM WBC
World Business Class Cabin on an Airbus A330. Photo: KLM

Although the 2-2-2 layout is not ideal for solo travelers, KLM does have in-built partitions that offer some additional privacy.

A330 World Business
World Business Class on a KLM A330. Photo: KLM

Meanwhile, economy class passengers can choose to pay extra for one of the "Economy Comfort" seats, which come with extra legroom and are further forward in the cabin. Each seat will have access to on-demand seatback entertainment and the cabin is outfitted in a 2-4-2 configuration, meaning fewer middle seats.

A330 Economy
Economy Class on a KLM Airbus A330. Photo: KLM

What is KLM cutting?

As part of the announcement, KLM slipped in a nugget about changes to the KLM long-haul network in order to free up slots in Amsterdam. It is not clear which route will either be cut or reduced in order to free up aircraft and slots for this new service.

KLM A330
KLM will be modifying some of their long-haul networks in order to free up slots for the new route to Austin. Photo: KLM

Overall

These new KLM flights to Austin represent another route addition for the "Live Music Capital of the World." After British Airways' service to London, Norwegian and Lufthansa also came into the market with service to London and Frankfurt respectively.

Given how those routes are still operating, it seems that they have been a success, so now KLM wants in on the action. Hopefully, KLM is not the last airline to add service to the growing city.

KLM A330
KLM will be the fourth European carrier to offer service to Austin. Photo: KLM

Will you fly on a KLM A330 to Austin? Let us know in the comments!