KLM Inaugurates New Link Between Amsterdam and San Diego

Last Thursday, KLM launched its inaugural flights from Amsterdam (AMS) to San Diego (SAN), marking its longest route to the U.S. and the first direct service between the Dutch capital and the Southern California city.

With this new route, KLM becomes San Diego’s seventh international airline, expanding the airport’s offerings to ten international destinations, including three in Europe—London (LHR), Munich (MUC), and now Amsterdam.

Photo: Courtesy of San Diego International Airport

This flight addresses the growing demand for travel to Europe among San Diegans, which has surged by 30 percent in the past year. In 2024, an estimated 36,000 local passengers are expected to travel to Amsterdam via indirect flights, either to experience Dutch culture or to connect to other destinations from one of Europe’s busiest airports.

“We are thrilled to welcome KLM to SAN and celebrate the inaugural flight to Amsterdam,” said Kimberly Becker, President and CEO, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. “This new nonstop service to this beautiful city known for its iconic canals and world-class museums is now the 10^th international destination offered from SAN and will also expand options for easy connections to other European cities from San Diego. This new flight will help serve the strong demand from both business and leisure passengers for flights to Europe, which is up more than 30 percent compared to last year.”

Photo: Courtesy of San Diego International Airport

The new service is designed to facilitate these connections, with flights arriving in Amsterdam in the mid-afternoon local time. OAG data indicates that passengers can connect to over 50 destinations within four hours of landing, including major European tourist and business hubs. With longer layovers, travelers can reach more than 160 destinations served by KLM and its partners from Amsterdam.

“This direct route to Amsterdam boosts jobs, tourism, and international business opportunities,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “Years of collaboration, including our 2022 trade mission to the Netherlands, have made this possible. It demonstrates how global partnerships can bring lasting benefits to our city.”

Flight schedule

The year-round service operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Flights depart from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport at 9:50 a.m. local time and arrive in San Diego 11 hours later, in the afternoon.

Return flights from San Diego depart at 1:55 p.m. local time, with a flight duration of 10 hours and 25 minutes back to the Netherlands.

Photo: Courtesy of San Diego International Airport

These flights are operated on a Boeing 787-9, which has a capacity of 275 seats, including 30 lie-flat business class seats and 21 premium economy seats.

San Diego Joins Busy KLM U.S. Schedule

San Diego officially becomes KLM’s fifteenth U.S. destination.

Bas Brouns, CFO and Managing Director at KLM, said celebrated the launch, noting how it’s a “significant step for KLM, expanding our transatlantic network and linking two dynamic cities,” he said.  “San Diego is a gateway to Southern California and a hub of innovation and culture, making it an important destination for both business and leisure travelers. This meets our customers’ travel needs and supports our growth plans in North America. Together with Air France and our partner Delta Air Lines, we offer a wide range of destinations across North America. We remain committed to delivering seamless, high-quality travel experiences across the Atlantic.”

Photo: Courtesy of San Diego International Airport

As of May 2025, the Dutch flag carrier has an expanded North American network to the following destinations:

KLM also has a joint venture in the transatlantic market with Delta and Virgin Atlantic, giving it an ever greater presence in the U.S. than this schedule suggests.

European Carriers Boosting U.S. Routes

Despite rumblings of a transatlantic travel chill amid ongoing trade tensions, European and U.S. carriers are pressing ahead with dozens of new routes this summer — including a wave of fresh links to secondary American cities.

While some Europeans are reportedly rethinking travel to the U.S. as a form of political protest, Americans appear undeterred — and even more eager to cross the Atlantic. Air France-KLM recently reported a 2.4 percent decline in inbound bookings from Europe for May and June, but transatlantic sales originating in the U.S. are up 2.1 percent for the same period.

Photo: Courtesy of San Diego International Airport

Many of these routes were announced months before the 2016 U.S. presidential election, but airlines have stuck to their plans, signaling confidence in demand.

Here’s a look at some of the key additions this season:

American Airlines

• Chicago O’Hare (ORD) – Madrid (MAD): launched March 30
• Philadelphia (PHL) – Edinburgh (EDI): begins May 23
• Philadelphia – Milan (MXP): begins May 23
• Charlotte (CLT) – Athens (ATH): begins June 5
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Venice (VCE): begins June 5
• Miami (MIA) – Rome (FCO): begins July 5

Delta Air Lines

• Detroit (DTW) – Dublin (DUB): began May 7
• Boston (BOS) – Barcelona (BCN): begins May 22
• Minneapolis (MSP) – Copenhagen (CPH): begins May 22
• New York-JFK – Catania, Sicily (CTA): begins May 22
• Atlanta (ATL) – Naples (NAP): begins May 23
• Boston – Milan (MXP): begins May 23
• Minneapolis – Rome (FCO): begins May 23
• Atlanta – Brussels (BRU): begins June 10

JetBlue

• Boston (BOS) – Madrid (MAD): begins May 22
• Boston (BOS) – Edinburgh (EDI): begins May 22

United Airlines

• Newark (EWR) – Faro, Portugal (FAO): begins May 16
• Newark (EWR) – Palermo, Sicily (PMO): begins May 21
• Washington Dulles (IAD) – Venice (VCE): begins May 22
• Newark – Bilbao, Spain (BIO): begins May 31
• Newark – Madeira Island, Portugal (FCN): begins June 7

Even amid geopolitical headwinds, demand for U.S.–Europe connectivity is proving resilient — especially from the American side of the pond. With travelers clearly eager for new destinations, airlines are betting on a busy summer across the Atlantic.