Industry Odisha Bureau, Sep 30: Air France-KLM will raise weekly India flights from 42 to 54 this winter. Premium revenue is climbing. The group is also exploring local SAF production partnerships to support decarbonisation.
Air France-KLM sees India as more than a growing passenger market. The airline group is adding flights while eyeing the country’s aviation fuel potential. Weekly India flights will rise from 42 to 54 this winter. At the same time, it is exploring partnerships for SAF production in India. One move is a firm commitment. The other remains exploratory.
More seats between India and Europe
The group currently runs up to 42 weekly flights across four Indian cities. These link Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru with Paris and Amsterdam. Stefan Gumuseli, General Manager for India & Middle East, announced the increase to 54. Air France and KLM will each operate 27 weekly flights. The winter schedule runs from October’s last Sunday to March’s final Saturday.
Business and premium segments posted double-digit revenue growth in the first half. That figure refers to revenue, not passenger numbers.
Beyond passengers, a fuel opportunity
The second strand concerns sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF. It forms part of the group’s wider decarbonisation efforts. Zita Schellekens, KLM’s Senior Vice President for Impact and Innovation, stressed India’s importance. She said India plays an important role in global decarbonisation efforts.
Asked whether the group would seek SAF production alliances in India, she said “absolutely.” Yet direct investment is not its usual route. “We hardly do any direct investments,” Schellekens said. She added that investments alongside other partners were being explored. No production investment has been committed.
Off-take could shape the model
Off-take agreements offer another route into SAF production. Under such deals, a buyer commits to purchasing future fuel output. Schellekens said these remained possible “provided the right demand is there.” No Indian off-take deal has been announced.
India builds a SAF framework
A study by Boeing and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials assessed India’s position. It gave India an overall SAF readiness score of 52%. India has set progressive SAF blending targets. These are 1% by 2027, 2% by 2028 and 5% by 2030. The targets describe future goals, not current blending levels.
Potential far exceeds the domestic scenario
The Boeing-RSB study models a 5% blending scenario in 2030. Under it, SAF demand could reach about 720 million litres a year. That equals roughly 0.6 million tonnes annually, covering domestic and international aviation. The study puts India’s estimated production potential at 14–33 million tonnes a year.
Potential is not output, however. It does not guarantee plants, supply or commercial viability. The gap nonetheless frames India’s appeal as a possible SAF production base.
A longstanding link
The India push also carries history. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines marks 70 years of flying between Delhi and Amsterdam. Laure Daynie, Air France-KLM’s Country Manager for India, called India a strategic market. She said the Delhi-Amsterdam route remains an essential connection.
Growth meets decarbonisation
India now matters to Air France-KLM on two separate fronts. It is a growing passenger market, with premium revenue rising. It could also become a partner in future SAF production. The two tracks, however, move at different speeds. The flight expansion is scheduled and concrete. The fuel strategy, for now, remains a search for partners.
