SLM Surinam Airways buys KLM Boeing

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.