KLM’s Huge UK Network Just Got Bigger with New Exeter Service
KLM has launched a new service from Amsterdam to Exeter, further expanding its UK flight network to an impressive 18 airports.
New KLM service to Exeter
KLM has launched daily flights from Amsterdam to Exeter, a historic cathedral city and the county town of Devon in South-West England.
The first flight from Amsterdam took off on 30th March and arrived at Exeter Airport with a delay of one hour.
The Amsterdam to Exeter route was previously served by Flybe, the Exeter-based British regional airline that ceased operations in 2020.
Stephen Wiltshire, Managing Director of Exeter Airport, told local press that the new KLM service “is a game-changer for connectivity in the South-West.”
Mr Wiltshire said: “We are thrilled to see KLM’s new service take off, giving both leisure and business travellers access to the world from their local airport.”
Until KLM’s arrival, the only other full-service network carrier at Exeter Airport has been Aer Lingus, operating flights to its hub at Dublin Airport as well as to Belfast.
Flight schedule
The KLM flight between Amsterdam and Exeter operates daily, with the Dutch flag carrier using an Embraer 175 regional jet with 88 seats.
The outbound flight from Amsterdam to Exeter has the flight number KL1101 and departs the Dutch capital at 16:15, with a scheduled arrival in Devon at 16:50 local time.
Return flight KL1102 from Exeter to Amsterdam departs at 17:20, with a scheduled arrival back in the Netherlands at 19:50 local time.
Although the flight has a scheduled duration of one and a half hours, the actual flight time is only one hour.
I’ve flown on a KLM Embraer 175 many times before in both economy and business class, so check my review of a recent flight from Stavanger to Amsterdam to see what you can expect on board.
KLM’s huge UK route network
Although the news of KLM launching flights to Exeter might not seem particularly interesting beyond those living in the counties of South-West England, such as Devon and Cornwall, or leisure and business travellers with an interest in the area, it marks an important milestone for KLM as it is the airline’s 18th destination in the UK.
KLM now offers flights from Amsterdam to these 18 airports in the UK: London Heathrow, London City, Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Humberside, Inverness, Leeds-Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Southampton, and Teesside.
KLM has built a highly impressive network in the UK, as no other full-service airline offers such wide regional coverage of the country.
It’s even more impressive when you factor in the flights of KLM’s partner airline Air France, although the French flag carrier only serves five British destinations: London Heathrow, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Newcastle.
Flying Blue
For Brits, or passengers abroad wanting to travel to the UK, choosing KLM over British Airways can make a lot of sense, as the latter has a much more limited route network within the United Kingdom.
Indeed, for many British passengers living outside the Greater London area, it can be far more convenient to start their journey from a regional airport and fly with KLM, rather than first driving, taking a train, or flying domestically to London for a British Airways flight abroad.
Many people also prefer the transit experience at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to that of London Heathrow.
It’s therefore unsurprising that many British frequent flyers have shown interest in a recent status match from Flying Blue, Air France-KLM’s frequent flyer programme, after British Airways revamped their Executive Club programme, making it much harder to earn status and benefits.
Conclusion
KLM has started flights from Amsterdam to Exeter, bringing the total number of UK airports served by the Dutch airline to 18.
The launch of KLM flights to Exeter is welcome news for travellers in South-West England, who now not only have a convenient way to travel to the Netherlands, but can also connect in Amsterdam to destinations worldwide via KLM’s global route network.
