KLM to cut, outsource or move about 5,000 jobs
KLM said on Thursday that about 5,000 jobs will go, be outsourced or shift to sister companies, while Air France-KLM ticket prices are 11% higher in the coming period.
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Illustrative photo: Can Pac Swire / CC BY-SA 2.0KLM announced on Thursday that about 5,000 jobs will disappear, be outsourced or move to sister companies within Air France-KLM. Chief executive Marjan Rintel said the airline's survival cannot be taken for granted ("not something that can be taken for granted").
Travellers are paying more too. Air France-KLM raised ticket prices by 7% last quarter, and they are 11% higher in the coming period. "We were not afraid to raise our prices," Air France-KLM chief executive Ben Smith said when presenting the quarterly figures.
Smith cited higher costs at Schiphol and the new aviation taxes introduced by the Dutch state as reasons for changing KLM's plans. "We are now adapting to the new reality," he said.
KLM also wants to outsource part of its ground handling to another company. The union FNV is worried. "KLM is threatening to ramp up unhealthy competition at Schiphol again. We fought for years to curb that competition between ground handlers," said Egon Groen, the FNV official for KLM ground staff.
Across the Dutch economy, jobs have been rising. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) counted 9.25 million jobs in July 2026, up from 8.95 million in August 2023. KLM's 5,000 jobs include posts that will be outsourced or moved to sister companies, not only posts that disappear.
Dutch jobs have climbed steadily since 2023
Thousand jobs · Aug 2023–Jul 2026
Dutch jobs have climbed steadily since 2023 (thousand jobs). From 8,954 in Aug 2023 to 9,252 in Jul 2026; highest 9,255 in Jun 2026, lowest 8,954 in Aug 2023. Source: CBS.
View data
| Item | Thousand jobs |
|---|---|
| Aug 2023 | 8,954 |
| Sep 2023 | 8,986 |
| Oct 2023 | 9,000 |
| Nov 2023 | 9,011 |
| Dec 2023 | 9,024 |
| Jan 2024 | 9,044 |
| Feb 2024 | 9,039 |
| Mar 2024 | 9,043 |
| Apr 2024 | 9,034 |
| May 2024 | 9,036 |
| Jun 2024 | 9,034 |
| Jul 2024 | 9,035 |
| Aug 2024 | 9,010 |
| Sep 2024 | 9,055 |
| Oct 2024 | 9,066 |
| Nov 2024 | 9,081 |
| Dec 2024 | 9,091 |
| Jan 2025 | 9,110 |
| Feb 2025 | 9,123 |
| Mar 2025 | 9,134 |
| Apr 2025 | 9,151 |
| May 2025 | 9,161 |
| Jun 2025 | 9,169 |
| Jul 2025 | 9,178 |
| Aug 2025 | 9,174 |
| Sep 2025 | 9,209 |
| Oct 2025 | 9,216 |
| Nov 2025 | 9,224 |
| Dec 2025 | 9,230 |
| Jan 2026 | 9,237 |
| Feb 2026 | 9,241 |
| Mar 2026 | 9,248 |
| Apr 2026 | 9,251 |
| May 2026 | 9,251 |
| Jun 2026 | 9,255 |
| Jul 2026 | 9,252 |
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