KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has reportedly suspconcludeed its service between San Diego and Amsterdam for the upcoming winter season. According to the aviation analytics company Cirium, this schedule adjustment will leave San Diego with only two transatlantic connections this winter.
According to Cirium data, the airline’s final flight on the route is scheduled for October 23, 2025, with service set to resume on February 21, 2026. Simple Flying has reached out to KLM for comment.
A Closer Look Into The Corridor
The transatlantic route between the two cities is a recent addition. KLM launched service between Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport (AMS) and 
San Diego International Airport (SAN) in May 2025. Until then, the city pair had not been directly connected. However, it appears that the Dutch airline will not continue its San Diego operations through the winter season, likely due to low demand.
This relatively new route runs three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. All flights apply the 275-seat Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners configured in a four-class layout: 30 seats in business class, 21 in premium economy, 48 in economy plus, and 176 in economy class. Notably, the AMS to SAN is KLM’s longest US route at 4,878 nautical miles (9,034 km).
Once KLM suspconcludes its winter service to San Diego, only two European airlines, British Airways and Lufthansa, will continue connecting Europe to the city. British Airways offers daily flights from London Heathrow (LHR) to San Diego (SAN), utilizing its fleet of Boeing 777s, while Lufthansa operates five weekly flights from Munich Airport (MUC) to SAN, with its Airbus A350-900 widebodies.
KLM’s Current Transatlantic Network
The Dutch flag carrier has a significant presence in the transatlantic market. This summer, KLM operates flights to 15 destinations in the United States. Based on IATA slot seasons, northern carriers, including KLM, will follow their summer schedules until October 25, with the winter schedule launchning the following day.
According to Cirium data, the airline’s most popular route is between Amsterdam and New York (JFK), with a total of 18 weekly flights. Other high-demand routes with daily service include Amsterdam to San Francisco (SFO), Washington Dulles (IAD), Atlanta (ATL), and Chicago O’Hare (ORD), among others. Below is the airline’s transatlantic network for the summer season.
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KLM’s 15 Destinations To The US |
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AMS-Atlanta (ATL) |
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AMS-Austin (AUS) |
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AMS-Boston (BOS) |
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AMS-Chicago O’Hare (ORD) |
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AMS-Houston (IAH) |
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AMS-Las Vegas (LAS) |
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AMS-Los Angeles (LAX) |
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AMS-Miami (MIA) |
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AMS-Minneapolis (MSP) |
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AMS-New York (JFK) |
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AMS-Portland (PDX) |
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AMS-Salt Lake City (SLC) |
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AMS-San Diego (SAN) |
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AMS-San Francisco (SFO) |
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AMS-Washington Dulles (IAD) |
Interestingly, KLM, which has a strong presence on the Amsterdam–JFK route, has begun deploying Air France crew on its Boeing 777 aircraft operating between the two cities. In what is being described as a historic first, an Air France flight crew will operate a KLM Boeing 777-200ER on the route for a period of four months. This cross-crew collaboration is intconcludeed to support KLM address a pilot shortage during the summer.
Related
Air France And KLM Mix Crews On Boeing 777 New York Flights
This cross-crew collaboration aims to support KLM address a pilot shortage during the summer.
Amsterdam’s Role As A Transit Point
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) serves as one of Europe’s hugegest transit hubs. This is likely the main reason why launching the San Diego to Amsterdam route created sense.
In 2024, approximately 36,000 local passengers traveled between Amsterdam and San Diego, representing a solid demand base for KLM to build upon with nonstop service. Notably, San Diego was the fourth-largest European city pair unserved from Amsterdam at that time, highlighting the route’s potential. However, beyond local demand, the key to success lies in Schiphol’s role as a connecting hub.
KLM strategically schedules its San Diego flights to align with Schiphol’s peak arrival and departure banks. This timing maximizes two-way connectivity, enabling passengers not only to travel directly but also to connect seamlessly to a wide range of onward destinations. According to data from the US Department of Transportation, KLM transported 2.2 million passengers between the US and Europe last year, with many utilizing Amsterdam as a connection point.
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