When you think of KLM, you think of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. If you have ever been to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, you might have noticed the KLM, but Asia instead of Royal Dutch Airlines. Asia is there because of the airline flying to Taiwan.
Stripped of the Crown:
KLM Asia was founded in 1995 to fly to Taiwan. KLM Asia was founded because they wanted to appeal to mainland China authorities, who considered Taiwan still part of China. Did you know that other carriers have done this too? Swiss Air, Air France, and Japan Airways. KLM Asia is a subsidiary of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Instead of the crown on the aircraftâs side, the crown has been stripped away and replaced with Asia.
History and how this came to be:
Understanding the history behind this decision to call a separate fleet of aircraft is unusual but must be understood. In the 1930s, the Chinese Civil War broke out, and Taiwan came to be. This saw Taiwanâs founders found a capital on the island. Taiwan was then named the Republic of China or ROC for short. Meanwhile, back on the Chinese mainland Mao Tse Tung founded the communist Peopleâs Republic of China or PRC for short. Taiwan and its government are never actually seen as a separate country. Instead, they are seen as a breakaway province when China announced that any airline flying to Taiwan would not fly to mainland China.
This is how we have subsidiaries from the aviation industry flying to Taiwan and Asia under the Asia name.
- 777-200ER
- 747-400
- 787-9
- 777-300ER
- A350-1000ULR
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- Yes, you never had to make this!
- No, I just learned a new thing!
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