KLM breaks ground on pilot training centre
February 28, 2025
KLM has commenced construction on an expansion of its Amsterdam pilot training centre.
The new facility, named The Link, is set to open in mid-2026 and will be located at Schiphol-Oost.
The project will add a four-story complex covering 4,442 m². The centre will house five flight simulators for training KLM and Transavia pilots.
Eimerd Bult, KLM’s EVP Flight Operations, said: “With The Link, we can secure our training capacity in the future. We consciously choose to train our pilots in-house, because that way we have the best control over the quality and continuity. It is a crucial investment in the training of our pilots and therefore in the future of KLM.”
The airline anticipates an increase in its pilot workforce from 3,000 to around 4,000 in the coming years.
The name The Link pays homage to the Link Trainer, the world’s first flight simulator used nearly a century ago.
The facility’s ground floor will house five flight simulators across 1,100 m², including for the Airbus A321neo and Airbus A350. Additional floors will feature instruction rooms.
