KLM managing director Erik Varwijk said the re-launch of the flights to Zambia would open up new markets for business. He was speaking after KLM’s re-introduced flight touched down at Lusaka’s Kenneth Kaunda (KK) International Airport last Tuesday.
He explained that KLM, which is a shareholder in Kenya Airways, had decided to add Zambia to its direct flights destinations after noticing increased traffic between Zambia and Amsterdam via Kenya on Kenya Airways.
“Zambia is experiencing strong growth, thanks to its vigorous mining industry. Moreover, this new destination for KLM will create a direct link between Zambia’s flourishing flower industry and the Netherlands, which is the largest junction in the worldwide flower industry”, KLM says in a press release.
Adding: “Zambia also offers a wide variety of tourist attractions. Tourism in Zambia is centred around the city of Livingstone, located on the banks of the Zambezi river and close to the famed Victoria Falls”.
Showers of water were immediately opened onto the 343-seater jet from the airport’s shower tower as a sign of welcome.