What company was formed by the 2004 merger of Air France and KLM?

Air France-KLM was formed by the 2004 merger of Air France and KLM.

The transaction created a Franco-Dutch airline group while allowing both airlines to keep their established brands, names, and operating identities. Air France was France’s principal flag carrier, while KLM, founded in 1919, was the Netherlands’ national airline.

The group’s holding company was established in May 2004, and Air France and KLM continued to operate flights under their own brands. This structure differs from a full rebranding: passengers generally still book flights marketed as Air France or KLM rather than under a single Air France-KLM passenger brand.

Air France-KLM became a major member of the SkyTeam alliance, which was founded in 2000. It is often confused with IAG, the separate group formed through the 2010 merger of British Airways and Iberia.