KLM adds its 18th UK airport as it launches flights from Exeter

Dutch airline KLM has announced that it will launch flights between Exeter and Amsterdam next year.

It is the first time Exeter Airport has served Amsterdam in almost five years, and the first time that KLM has ever flown the route.

As with its other UK regional departures, KLM is aiming to pick up long-haul connecting traffic with leisure trips to Amsterdam being a secondary focus.

Flights will operate daily from 30th March.

It is a late afternoon departure from Exeter, leaving at 17.20. The return leaves Amsterdam at 16.15.

The service will be operated with an 88-seat Embraer 175 regional jet aircraft via KLM Cityhopper. Business Class will be offered.

The other 17 UK regional airports served by KLM are:

• Aberdeen
• Belfast
• Birmingham
• Bristol
• Cardiff
• Durham
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow
• Humberside
• Inverness
• Leeds
• London Heathrow
• London City
• Manchester
• Newcastle
• Norwich
• Southampton

The new Exeter route is now bookable via the KLM UK website here.

Flights should also be bookable with Virgin Points via Virgin Atlantic as both airlines are members of the SkyTeam alliance.

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How to earn Flying Blue miles from UK credit cards (January 2025)

Air France and KLM do not have a UK Flying Blue credit card.  However, you can earn Flying Blue miles by converting Membership Rewards points earned from selected UK American Express cards.

These cards earn Membership Rewards points:

• American Express Preferred Rewards Gold (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 20,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 20,000 Flying Blue miles. This card is FREE for your first year and also comes with four free airport lounge passes.

• The Platinum Card from American Express (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 50,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 50,000 Flying Blue miles

• American Express Rewards credit card (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 10,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 10,000 Flying Blue miles. This card is FREE for life.

Membership Rewards points convert at 1:1 into Flying Blue miles which is an attractive rate.  The cards above all earn 1 Membership Rewards point per £1 spent on your card, which converts to 1 Flying Blue mile. The Gold card earns double points (2 per £1) on all flights you charge to it, with any airline.