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Delegations from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and SLM Surinam Airways met in
Paramaribo, Surinam, to sign a contract for the sale of a KLM Boeing 747-300 to
SLM. The upkeep of the aircraft will remain in hands of KLM Engineering &
Maintenance. A separate contract to this effect was also signed.
The aircraft in question, the PH-BUW, was delivered to KLM in October 1986.
Before it is transferred to SLM, the aircraft will be given a full overhaul and
sprayed in the SLM livery by KLM Engineering & Maintenance at Schiphol. The
aircraft will also be reregistered under Surinam's PZ code.
SLM intends to deploy the new aircraft in full-passenger configuration on the
Paramaribo-Amsterdam route, starting this summer. KLM and SLM operate five
weekly joint venture roundtrip services between the two capitals; currently using
KLM Boeing 747-400 equipment.
SLM will deploy its new Boeing 747-300 for thrice-weekly roundtrips between
Paramaribo and Amsterdam, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. KLM will operate the other twice-weekly services on this route with Boeing 747-400
equipment, on Mondays and Thursdays.
On December 17, 2003, KLM and SLM announced that they intended to
permanently change their fare structure on this route, offering a wider range of
prices as of January 15. This means passengers can earn a substantial discount
depending on the date of reservation, the season, and travel terms and conditions. The new fare structure was made possible by cost savings achieved
by KLM and SLM, in combination with an anticipated increase in passenger
traffic and the improved spread of traffic over the entire year. |
