KLM CEO: Air France-KLM has to adjust to the changes in the aviation world

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines president and CEO Pieter Elbers called on KLM employees to "stay cool, keep our company in good faith, focus on implementing our KLM strategy, take good care of our clients and each other and keep working together", according to reports citing an internal letter (Luchtvaartnieuws/parool.nl, 08-May-2018). Mr Elbers noted the 15 days of strikes at Air France from 22-Feb-2018 to 08-May-2018 cost Air France more than EUR300 million. Mr Elbers said LCCs, Gulf carriers and digitisation "have brought about radical and irreversible changes in the aviation world, which means that companies with a long history, such as Air France and KLM, have to adjust very strongly". Mr Elbers also emphasised the benefits of KLM's partnership with Air France. "This increase in scale provides benefits through joint IT, purchasing and fleet, as well as the network size and market position required for customers and partners".