KLM, officially Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij, is the world’s oldest operating airline. It was founded in the Netherlands on October 7, 1919, and has continued operating under the KLM name since then.
KLM’s first scheduled service began in May 1920 between London and Amsterdam. The airline’s original Dutch name translates roughly as “Royal Aviation Company.” Queen Wilhelmina granted KLM its royal designation soon after its creation.
KLM became an important long-haul carrier through routes linking the Netherlands with its former colonial territories and other continents. In 2004, KLM merged with Air France, creating the Air France-KLM group, while both airlines retained their separate brands and identities. “Oldest airline” refers to continuous operation under the same name, not simply the earliest company ever established.