KLM terminated its own 3 weekly Amsterdam-Sydney service in 2001 in favour of code shares with Malaysia Airlines. Apparently, the route via Singapore, although very popular, was a total loss-maker and they didn’t have traffic rights for the SIN-SYD leg. KLM has had a very long history with Australia. In 2001, the new codeshare agreement covered Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Cairns and Darwin..
See also:
Photo collection Evert Herman van Hummel – Flight Engineer Royal Dutch Airforce – KLM
