Remembering the first KLM flight which took off from Glasgow Airport 75 years ago

It was a packed ‘plane – the new route had had so much publicity beforehand that it had been fully booked for several months.

On board were ‘several Scottish national products’ – which we can only assume means haggis, shortbread and whisky, but who knows? – and a gift for the mayor of Amsterdam.

The flight, operated by a chartered DC-3 Scottish Airlines aircraft, landed later that afternoon at Schiphol Airport.

KLM responded to its popularity by expanding operations to twice a week. Now the airline operates up to eighteen weekly flights between the two cities.

Travelling in a DC3 in 1946 was only available to the wealthy. It was shortly after the end of the Second World War and long before travelling by air had hit the mass market. Passengers tended to be rich or famous or both, and it was still a novelty to climb aboard an aircraft.

Ten years ago, when a DC3 flew into Glasgow to mark the 65th anniversary, Vincent Kas, then commercial director for the UK and Ireland of the recently amalgamated KLM and Air France, said: “Back in the old days, aircraft were much smaller – between 18 and 44 seats.

“They flew at a lower altitude, around 15,000 ft, compared to 35,000ft today, and at lower speeds of around 137mph compared to today’s 528mph.”

By January 1947, more than 10,000 passengers had crossed the Atlantic Ocean with KLM aircraft – and many of them via Prestwick.

Bénédicte Duval, General Manager of Air France KLM UK & Ireland said: “We are delighted to be commemorating 75 years of KLM operating out of Glasgow, showcasing our historic and ongoing commitment to our Scottish customers.

“In the 75 years since we began flying from the airport, the world has changed dramatically and despite the challenges faced over the past year and half, KLM has been able to maintain our operations from Glasgow, which highlights the importance of the connection between both cities.

“With the world now opening up slowly but surely, we are looking forward to working together with Glasgow Airport to ensure a strong mutual recovery for both parties.”

Ronald Leitch, Operations Director at Glasgow Airport, said: “The success of any route is a three-way relationship between airline, airport and community.

“Since the inaugural flight, KLM has helped connect Scotland to many European and International destinations and the legacy continues to this day.

“It’s therefore a real credit to all that we’ve reached our diamond jubilee anniversary status with KLM in Glasgow and I have every confidence that KLM will still be here for many years to come.”

The Glasgow to Amsterdam journey followed in the footsteps of KLM’s successful flight into Prestwick Airport from Amsterdam in May 1946.

This was revolutionary – the first stage of the first ever scheduled transatlantic flight by any European airline to New York.

Prestwick was the only passenger airport for transatlantic flights serving the west of Scotland at that time.

Our sister newspaper, the then Glasgow Herald, noted that the KLM ‘Flying Dutchman’ service was prepared to ‘set a cracking pace’ on the North Atlantic.

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The Herald’s ‘air correspondent’ reported: “The only Scotsman on the inaugural flight was Mr Colin Martin of J and P Coats Ltd, Glasgow, who is making a business trip to the US and is returning with KLM next month.

“Large numbers of reservations have been accepted for later flights.

“Passengers and crews were welcomed at Prestwick by a company which included the Lord Provost of Glasgow (Mr Hector McNeill) and the Duke of Hamilton.”