KLM is facing challenging times and will have to make difficult decisions to guarantee its long-term viability. According to a recently revealed internal document, the Dutch airline outlined four possible scenarios for its organizational and operational structure looking toward 2030, ranging from deeper integration within the Air France-KLM group to far-reaching interventions that could shrink its size.
"Our cost base is under pressure. The social and political debate around aviation has intensified and, in other countries, heavy investments are changing the competitive landscape," warned Marjan Rintel, KLM's CEO, in the document's foreword. "We must take these signals seriously and respond to them together."
The report, which is meant to be a starting point for internal debate rather than a definitive strategic plan, assesses factors such as financial health, sustainability, staffing and KLM's position in the Netherlands amid growing political pressure to reduce aviation's environmental impact. The scenarios put forward are:
KLM is weighing drastic measures and has mapped out four scenarios for its organizational and operational structure toward 2030, according to an internal document.
A tough stance in labor negotiations, rebuilding trust, deep integration into Air France-KLM and "Brace for Impact."
Marjan Rintel, KLM's CEO, warned that "waiting is not an option" and that delay has consequences.
The FNV union voiced its concern, and Egon Groen, a union representative, said the jobs of KLM employees in the Netherlands come first.
Air France-KLM is integrating SAS, submitted a binding offer for up to 49.9% of TAP Air Portugal and appointed Oltion Carkaxhija as the new Transavia CEO.
"Waiting is not an option; delay has consequences," Rintel said.
The warning from KLM's management does not come out of nowhere. The airline and its parent company, Air France-KLM, are going through a period of reconfiguration driven by external and internal pressures. KLM was hit by ground staff strikes at Schiphol Airport last August, which caused cancellations and laid bare how sensitive its operations are to labor tensions. In addition, the group has had to suspend and reschedule multiple high-yield routes to the Middle East due to geopolitical instability in the region.
At the corporate level, Air France-KLM keeps making moves to consolidate the European market. Following the recent acquisition of a stake in SAS (whose network benefits are already being integrated), the group submitted a binding offer in July 2026 to acquire up to 49.9% of TAP Air Portugal. The group also announced leadership changes, appointing Oltion Carkaxhija as the new Transavia CEO, with the goal of strengthening the low-cost subsidiary's position in the intra-European market.Air France-KLM reshuffles executive committee with new Transavia CEO and sustainability chief
Following the leak of the scenarios, the Dutch union FNV voiced its concern. Egon Groen, a union representative, was clear about workers' priorities: "The scenarios are on the table, but we want to know what KLM really intends to do. For us, one thing is clear: the jobs of KLM employees in the Netherlands come first. We will measure the concrete plans against that priority."
