On October 7, 1919, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was founded by eight Dutch businessmen, including Frits Fentener van Vlissingen. It was established as one of the first commercial airline companies with Albert Plesman as its first administrator and director.

On May 17th, 1920, KLM achieved a significant milestone by operating its first-ever scheduled commercial flight from Croydon to Amsterdam with pilot Jerry Shaw and two British journalists onboard.

In 1921, KLM purchased its first two aircraft, Fokker F-II and F-III, and opened its first passenger office in Amsterdam.

KLM's first intercontinental experimental flight took off on 1 October 1924 from Amsterdam to Jakarta, then known as Batavia. The flight used a Fokker F.VII aircraft and was piloted by Jan Thomassen à Thuessink van der Hoop.

In 1927, Baltimore millionaire Van Lear Black chartered a flight with KLM to Jakarta, inspired by the 1924 flight. The flight departed on June 15 and successfully completed the journey in 16 days.

In September 1929, KLM started regular scheduled services between Amsterdam and Batavia, marking the beginning of long-distance commercial flights. This route remained the world's longest-distance scheduled service by airplane until the outbreak of World War II in 1939.

In 1932, KLM utilized a Fokker aircraft for flights between Amsterdam and Batavia. This route was part of the airline's objective to establish regular services to the Dutch colonies.

On March 1, 1933, the regional timetable for European routes was introduced, including new schedules effective from December 2022, aiming to improve the connectivity and accessibility of air travel within Europe.

Air France-KLM group, of which KLM is a major part, was established on October 7th, 1933. Both airlines, as members of Skyteam, share the same founding date, creating a strong partnership in European aviation.

In December 1934, KLM conducted its first experimental transatlantic flight between Amsterdam and Curaçao using the Fokker F.XVIII 'Snip'. This marked a significant milestone in aviation history for KLM.

In July 1935, KLM experienced three major international passenger flight crashes within a week, known as the 'black week'. These tragic events led to significant losses for KLM, impacting crew members and operations.

On November 2, 1935, the route timetable for the Amsterdam to Batavia route was introduced, marking a significant milestone in air travel between the two cities.

In 1936, KLM introduced the Douglas DC-3 aircraft, which replaced the DC-2s on the service to Sydney via Batavia. This modernization of the fleet enhanced KLM's long-distance flight capabilities.

KLM became the first airline to serve Manchester's new Ringway airport in June 1938, expanding its network and offering more international flight options. This marked a significant milestone in aviation connectivity.

The outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 significantly restricted KLM's operations, with flights over France and Germany prohibited. The airline adapted by painting its aircraft in orange to avoid confusion with military planes.

Following the end of World War II in 1945, KLM swiftly resumed its operations, reinstating flights within Europe and to Jakarta. The airline also initiated direct flights between Amsterdam and New York in May 1946 using a Douglas DC4 aircraft.

On May 21, 1946, KLM became the first European airline to introduce scheduled service across the North Atlantic, flying to New York. This marked a significant milestone in the airline's history.

The year 1949 marked the introduction of the Douglas DC-4 by KLM, showcasing the airline's commitment to technological advancements in aviation.

In 1952, KLM launched a new Delft Blue house collection that resembled Amsterdam's Tuschinski Theatre. These miniature houses became popular collector's items after being gifted to long-haul business class passengers.

Albert Plesman, the founder and president of KLM, passed away at the age of 64. His death led to a challenging economic period for the company, which eventually resulted in the partial nationalization of KLM by the Netherlands government.

In 1954, following the death of long term president Albert Plesman, the Dutch government increased its ownership of KLM to two thirds, making it a Dutch national company. This ownership structure lasted until 1966, when it became private again, only to be re-nationalized in 1973 after the oil crisis.

KLM introduced its flight simulator for the Douglas DC-7C, the last KLM aircraft with piston engines. This development facilitated the opening of the transpolar route from Amsterdam via Anchorage to Tokyo in 1958.

In 1958, KLM introduced economy class for the first time, which was a more basic version of their existing 'tourist class'. This move proved to be successful, leading to a 27% increase in passengers within the first three months.

In September 1959, KLM introduced the four-engine turboprop Lockheed L-188 Electra on some of its European and Middle Eastern routes. This marked a significant advancement in the airline's fleet.

KLM added the first Douglas DC-8 jet to its fleet in March 1960, signaling the airline's entry into the jet age. This transition represented a major milestone in KLM's history.

KLM played a significant role in introducing the iconic Boeing 747, known as the 'Queen of the Skies', to the world in 1961.

In 1963, Horatius Albarda was appointed as the president of KLM, succeeding Ernst van der Beugel. Albarda initiated a reorganization of the company to address financial difficulties.

Horatius Albarda, who led a reorganization of KLM, died in an air crash in 1965. He was succeeded as president by Dr. Gerrit van der Wal.

By 1966, the stake of the Dutch government in KLM was reduced to a minority stake of 49.5%, as part of an agreement forged by Dr. Gerrit van der Wal. This move reinstated KLM as a private company.

In 1969, KLM formed the KSS maintenance consortium with Scandinavian Airlines and Swissair to negotiate for lower unit prices and establish a maintenance pool for its 747 fleet.

In March 1971, KLM opened its current headquarters in Amstelveen, providing a new central location for its operations.

In 1972, KLM purchased the first of several McDonnell Douglas DC-10 aircraft, expanding its fleet with this new model.

In 1973, the 1973 oil crisis led KLM to seek government assistance for debt refinancing, resulting in the government acquiring a majority stake in the airline.

In 1975, KLM introduced the iconic Boeing 747, a milestone in the airline's fleet expansion and modernization efforts.

The Tenerife disaster occurred on 27 March 1977, involving a KLM Boeing 747-200B and a Pan Am Boeing 747-100 at Los Rodeos Airport. It resulted in 583 fatalities, making it the accident with the highest number of airliner passenger fatalities. The primary cause was pilot error due to a communication misunderstanding.

In 1980, KLM carried 9,715,069 passengers.

In 1983, KLM reached an agreement with Boeing to upgrade ten of its Boeing 747-200 aircraft with the stretched-upper-deck modification.

In 1986, KLM finished upgrading its Boeing 747-200 aircraft to Boeing 747-300, which the airline operated in addition to three newly built Boeing 747-300s manufactured from the ground up.

In 1987, Sergio Orlandini retired as president of KLM.

In June 1989, the Boeing 747-400 was introduced into KLM's fleet.

In 1990, KLM carried 16,000,000 passengers.

In 1991, KLM became the first European airline to launch a frequent flyer program called Flying Dutchman, pioneering customer loyalty programs in the aviation industry.

With the elimination of First Class in 1993, KLM started giving the Delft Blue miniature houses to all Business Class passengers. This change was a result of a rule limiting the value of gifts given by airlines.

In 1994, KLM and Northwest Airlines jointly introduced the 'World Business Class' product on intercontinental routes, enhancing the passenger experience on long-haul flights.

In July 1995, KLM introduced the Boeing 767-300ER.

In January 1996, KLM acquired a 26% share in Kenya Airways.

In 1997, Pieter Bouw resigned as president of KLM.

In August 1998, KLM repurchased all regular shares from the Dutch government to make KLM a private company.

On 1 November 1999, KLM founded AirCares, a communication and fundraising platform supporting worthy causes and focusing on underprivileged children.

On October 27, 2002, a new system timetable was introduced.

A system timetable update was implemented on June 6, 2003.

September 1, 2003 marked a change in the system timetable.

On 25 October 2003, KLM received its first Boeing 777-200ER.

The system timetable was adjusted on October 26, 2003.

A system timetable revision took place on December 18, 2003.

February 12, 2004 saw the introduction of a new system timetable.

On March 28, 2004, a system timetable adjustment was made.

A system timetable change occurred on June 1, 2004.

August 1, 2004 marked the implementation of a new system timetable.

The system timetable was updated on October 31, 2004.

On December 15, 2004, a new system timetable was put into effect.

A system timetable was introduced on January 31, 2005.

A system timetable was implemented on March 27, 2005.

On 25 August 2005, KLM introduced its first Airbus A330-200.

In 2006, KLM developed and installed the first boarding pass kiosks at Schiphol Airport, revolutionizing the check-in process for passengers.

In March 2007, KLM started using the Amadeus CRS reservation system in collaboration with partner Kenya Airways, enhancing its reservation capabilities.

Starting from July 4, 2008, KLM, in collaboration with Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, began offering self-service baggage drop-off to its passengers. The initiative began with a trial featuring one drop-off point and gradually expanded to 12 points by February 8, 2012.

KLM released their system timetable on October 1, 2008, providing details on their flight operations and routes available during that period.

The system timetable of KLM dated December 1, 2008, was issued, presenting the flight schedules and services offered by the airline during that time frame.

KLM's system timetable for February 1, 2009, was made public, outlining the flight timetables and destinations served by the airline.

The system timetable of KLM for March 29, 2009, was released, detailing the flight schedules and routes available during that period.

On June 1, 2009, KLM published their system timetable, providing information on their flight operations and services at that time.

KLM released their system timetable on December 1, 2009, showcasing their flight schedules and routes during that period.

Starting in September 2010, KLM integrated the passenger division of Martinair into its operations, transferring personnel and routes to strengthen its services.

On 14 September 2011, KLM introduced à la carte meals in Economy Class, offering a variety of meal options including Dutch, Japanese, Italian, cold delicacies, and Indonesian meals.

On June 19, 2012, KLM made the first transatlantic flight fueled partly by sustainable biofuels to Rio de Janeiro, setting a record for the longest distance flown on biofuels.

On February 20, 2013, KLM announced that Peter Hartman would resign as president and CEO, to be succeeded by Camiel Eurlings. Hartman retired on January 1, 2014.

On 29 May 2013, KLM and Air France initiated a pilot program to test in-flight WiFi internet access on one Boeing 777-300ER in each of their fleets. Passengers were able to use WiFi with their WiFi-enabled devices after the aircraft reached 20,000 feet in altitude.

On October 15, 2014, KLM announced that Camiel Eurlings decided to resign as president and CEO. Pieter Elbers succeeded him.

In 2015, KLM began operating the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, a modern aircraft that marked a step forward in the company's fleet. The introduction of this aircraft signified KLM's commitment to technological advancement.

In September 2016, KLM introduced the world's first in-flight draft beer in partnership with Heineken. The service debuted on a flight to Curaçao in the World Business Class cabin.

In October 2017, KLM retired its last Fokker aircraft, the Fokker 70, which had been in service since the 1920s. This event marked the end of an era for KLM's history and its association with Fokker aircraft.

In 2018, KLM significantly improved its punctuality, ranking among the top 10 airlines globally and jumping to the 10th most punctual airline in the world.

KLM received its first Boeing 787-10 aircraft on 28 June 2019, featuring special 100th-anniversary markings.

KLM, the Dutch airline, marks its 100th anniversary with a century of advancements and achievements.

In 2020, KLM cut at least 6,000 jobs due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting its operations significantly.

On December 16, 2021, Air France-KLM announced an order for 100 Airbus A320neos to be divided between Transavia and KLM, indicating a strategic investment in their fleet.

In June 2022, Brim Financial announced the launch of an Air France-KLM co-branded credit card in Canada. This partnership aims to offer exclusive benefits and rewards to cardholders in the Canadian market.

In July 2022, KLM was forced to cut their summer schedule due to disruptions at airports across Europe, impacting their flight operations.

On 25 September 2023, Air France KLM signed an agreement with Airbus for 50 Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 aircraft, set to replace existing Boeing and Airbus models for intercontinental flights.