Tag Archives: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to connect Hyderabad & Amsterdam from Sept, 2025

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is set to operate Hyderabad and Amsterdam starting September 2, 2025.

This new service will make Hyderabad the airline’s fourth gateway in India, joining Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai in providing direct flights to Amsterdam and connections beyond.

KLM will operate three weekly direct flights between Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. This route will be operated year-round, strengthening KLM’s commitment to the growing demand for international travel from India.
This route will be serviced with the Boeing 777-200ER. This aircraft offers 35 seats in World Business Class, 24 seats in Premium Comfort Class and 229 seats in Economy Class.

The flights are open for sale, allowing travellers to plan & book their travel in advance.

Flight Schedule:
KL874 departs from Hyderabad, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at 2:20 local time and arrives at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport the same day at 08:40.
KL873 departs from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport at 11:40 and arrives at Hyderabad, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at 00:30 local time.

Claude Sarre, Country Manager, Indian Sub-Continent, for Air France-KLM, stated, “The Hyderabad-Amsterdam route marks a significant step by KLM towards offering passengers greater connectivity, aligning with the Air France-KLM Group’s vision of expanding its footprint in India. As Hyderabad continues to grow as a major business and technology hub, the new service will play an essential role in facilitating business and tourism exchanges between India, Europe and The Americas. With 21 weekly flights from 4 major Indian cities, KLM solidifies its position as a leading international airline serving the growing demand for travel from India.”

Panel recommends tax exemptions for foreign airlines on specified imported services

A panel of officials has recommended that the GST Council grant tax exemptions to foreign airlines for certain services imported from their overseas branches or related entities, where no monetary transaction is involved.

This proposal, which emerged after extensive discussions by the fitment committee, could provide significant relief to foreign airlines currently facing tax demands from the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI). Initially, it was believed that foreign airlines’ Indian branches were required to pay an 18% tax on these imported services under the reverse charge mechanism, as outlined in Section 15 of the CGST Act, 2017.

This interpretation classified any service imported by an airline’s Indian branch from its head office or related entities abroad, even without payment, as a taxable supply.

However, after airlines clarified that their head offices cover all costs related to aircraft leases, fuel, maintenance, and other operational expenses for international flights, the committee recommended exempting these airlines from additional taxes.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation was also consulted on the matter, leading to a decision that this exemption would apply to services imported by a foreign airline’s Indian establishment from related entities abroad, provided the airline has already paid GST on the transportation of goods and passengers within India.

Notable foreign airlines, including Finnair, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Qatar Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Etihad, and Emirates, as well as shipping lines like Saudi Airlines and Air Arabia, have been issued GST notices concerning these imported services.