KLM increases capacity on South American routes

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is set to increase capacity on three of its key South American routes from this Sunday for its 2012 summer and winter schedule. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is set to increase capacity on three of its key South American routes from this Sunday for its 2012 summer and winter schedule. Frequencies to Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador are all set to increase.

Following strong results and high demand for its newly launched routes to Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, the carrier is increasing capacity to both destinations.

Buenos Aires will benefit from an increase in frequencies and a larger aircraft type. ?From March 25 until the end of June services on Wednesdays and Fridays will be operated by a Boeing 777-300, replacing the current Boeing 777-200, adding more than 20% more seats per week on the route. From the beginning of July until the end of October, all flights (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays) will be operated by a Boeing 777-300, increasing the current offer by a third. And from the start of the winter schedule (October 28), the airline will add a fourth weekly frequency every Saturday, also operated by a Boeing 777-300. Fares to Buenos Aires lead in at ?640.

Meanwhile, Brazil will benefit from increased frequencies to four per week to Rio de Janeiro from the start of the winter schedule, with the airline adding a Sunday rotation to its timetable, to offer flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, with capacity increasing by 33%. Lead in fares start from ?516.

The carrier's summer schedule to Ecuador will see the addition of extra weekly frequency on Tuesdays, bringing the total to four flights weekly, flying Amsterdam-Quito-Guayaquil-Amsterdam on a Boeing 777-200. ?Lead in fares start from ?874.

In addition, the airline will be increasing schedules to Paramaribo (Suriname) for the peak season from June 25 to September 10 from three weekly flights to four, with prices starting from ?1,040.