KLM Royal Dutch Airlines hikes PHL capacity by 10%

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is increasing the capacity of its Amsterdam-Manila-Amsterdam route by 10 percent, the airline said in a statement Monday. "With aforementioned capacity increase, KLM aspires to take a first step towards the joint goal with the Department of Tourism of bringing more tourists to the Philippines," KLM said. The airline said daily flights will continue to operate via Taipei using an aircraft combination of Boeing 777-300s and Boeing 777-200s. KLM made the increase after President Benigno Aquino III signed last month Republic Act 10374, removing the three-percent common carriers tax imposed on passenger traffic of foreign airlines. The government is looking at 10 million visiting tourists by 2016. Apart from the increase in capacity, KLM said it will also introduce daily flights to Manston, Kent, starting April 3 as its 14th destination in the United Kingdom with connecting Manila flights. It will also launch flights to Alesund starting April 4, making it KLM's seventh destination in Norway. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was founded in 1919 and is the world's oldest airline operating under its original name. It merged with Air France in 2004 to become AirFrance KLM. — KBK, GMA News