Airline operator KLM Royal Dutch Airlines recorded an 87% take-up and a 9% increase in turnover in 2006, which allowed it to maintain its 9% market share.
"The growth is the result of the natural increase in the number of passengers that have started travelling to and from Romania. We estimate an increase of 5% in turnover for the financial year 2007," the company officials stated.
The business of the airline went up to approximately 25 million euros in 2006 compared with 23 million euros in the previous year and is set to exceed 26 million euros this year. The introduction of new destinations will also contribute to the anticipated growth.
"As for our future plans, we want to increase the number of daily flights to and from Bucharest and to begin operating from other cities in Romania," the representatives of the company also added.
According to later information provided by the company, the new destinations considered include those operated from Timisoara, Cluj, Iasi and Constanta.
KLM Romania has one of the highest take-up rates of all the companies operating in Romania, which is also higher than the average recorded by the company on the total destinations offered.
"The take-up rate of the KLM aircraft departing from Bucharest, that is the number of passengers per total seats offered, is one of the highest in Europe, an average of more than 87% a month," KLM Romania officials said.
KLMes take-up rate increased by 1.2% in 2006 in comparison with 2005.
KLM also witnessed the highest take-up rate in Europe last year, according to the Association of European Airlines.
The take-up rate on the Bucharest-Amsterdam route is higher than the average recorded by the Dutch operator.
KLM is currently operating three flights a day in Romania, carrying more than 100,000 passengers from Bucharest to Amsterdam and beyond, every year.
"Approximately 80% of the passengers transported from Bucharest pass through the Schiphol Amsterdam, one of the largest airports in the world, to more than 400 destinations where KLM and its partners operate globally," the company officials specified.
The company introduced electronic tickets (e-ticketing), at the end of 2005, which already account for 90% of the total tickets sold.
"In Romania, the share of electronic tickets stands at 90% (i.e. of the total tickets sold by KLM), as registered in January 2007, compared with the figure of 21.83% for January 2006," the KLM Romania representatives stated.
The electronic ticket contains the same elements as its paper counterpart, with the difference residing in the fact that the flight details and booking confirmation are not printed on special paper but stored on the companyes database.
The passenger only has to produce a digital code to confirm their booking at the check-in desk in the airport.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines resumed flights to and from Romania (Bucharest) in April 1996 after a 27-year hiatus.
KLM Romania
Achieved a 9% increase in turnover last year
Turnover in 2006 stood at about 25m euros from 23m euros in 2005; it is projected to reach 26m euros in 2007
Plans to introduce new destinations
Introduced electronic tickets in late 2005, which reached 90% of the total tickets sold in January 2007 compared with just 21.83% in January 2006
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