Page 19 - AHATA

A14 LOCAL
Monday 7 october 2019
Dutch flag carrier airline KLM celebrates 100 years of existence

ORANJESTAD — Today is exactly 100 years
ago that aviation pioneer Albert Plesman
founded the Dutch flag carrier airline KLM,
an abbreviation of Dutch Royal Airlines.
The airline celebrates this milestone
worldwide and Aruba participates in the
joy. The airline company is flying to the
island for 85 years already.

On 15 December 1934, exactly 80 years
ago, a very special flight departed from
the airport Schiphol in Amsterdam. At ten
minutes past midnight, the triple-engine
Fokker F-XVIII “Snip”, registration PH-AIS,
took off with a four-man crew on board:
J.J. Hondong, captain; J.J. van Balkom,
first officer/navigator; S. van der Molen,
deputy navigator and radiotelegraph
operator; L.D. Stolk, flight engineer. Their
final destination was the Antillean island
of Aruba. To get there they would have
to cross the Atlantic Ocean. They would
be the first KLM crew to do so, opening
transatlantic service to the Dutch colonies
in “the West”. Their journey was a true
adventure, not least because the last

and longest leg of the voyage went over sea. A thrilling
endeavor, which had taken several years to prepare.
Many visitors have been brought to Aruba by KLM since
then, coming from different European countries.

KLM is known worldwide for its stable position as a
company, in its operation but also for its accuracy.
The airline is the longest existing in the world that still
flies under its own name. One of the attractions for the
passengers that is popular is the gift of a miniature Delfts
Blue porcelain house while flying business class with the
airline. Especially for their 100-year celebration the KLM
has a special edition of their gift that will be revealed
today. In the development of Aruba’s tourism industry
KLM has always been an important business partner and
the island has strong bonds with the flag carrier airline of
The Netherlands. Today KLM flies on a daily base from
and to Aruba, bringing in 34.373 visitors in the year 2018,
and increase of 8, 7 % compared to 2017.
The Aruba Tourism Authority (A.T.A) has offices in
Europe and The Netherlands where they have a strong
connection with KLM. The past weekend KLM celebrated
their milestone of 100 years existence in Aruba with acting
Governor Yvonne Lacle and prime Minister of Aruba
Evelina Wever-Croes. C.E.O. of A.T.A. Ronella Tjin Asjoe-
Croes expressed her appreciation for KLM in the name of
A.T.A. q