KLM merged with Air France in 2004 to create Air France-KLM.
KLM, officially Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij, was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in the Netherlands. Air France was established in 1933 and became France’s national flag carrier. Their combination created a major European airline group while both brands continued operating.
The transaction was structured as a share exchange and created a holding company based near Paris. Air France-KLM later became a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, alongside partners including Delta Air Lines.
The merger did not erase the KLM name or Dutch identity. KLM continues to operate under its own brand from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, while Air France remains centered at Paris Charles de Gaulle.