KLM was founded in 1919, and later merged with Air France in 2004 to form Air France-KLM.

On August 30, 1933, five main French airlines merged to form a single national airline at the instigation of the Minister for Air Transport, Pierre Cot. The new national institution was named 'Air France' by journalist George Raffalovitch.

Air France was established on October 7, 1933 through the merger of several French airlines including Air Orient, Air Union, Société Générale de Transports Aériens, Compagnie Internationale de Navigation Aérienne, and Aéropostale.

After World War II, Air France transitioned into a state-owned company and underwent significant restructuring. The focus shifted towards international travel, with key long-haul routes like Paris-New York City being prioritized.

Between 1946 and 1958, air travel expanded rapidly and Air France increased its network density by expanding routes to Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The Paris – New York route was opened in July 1946.

In 1947, Air France introduced Lockheed Constellation aircraft on the Paris-New York route, reducing the flight duration to about 15 hours without requiring a layover on the return trip. This marked the beginning of collaboration between Air France and KLM as they operated similar aircraft to common destinations.

In 1952, Air France relocated from Le Bourget airport to Orly, marking a significant development in the airline's infrastructure.

In 1961, Air France established its operations and workshops in Orly Sud, further solidifying its presence at the Orly airport.

In 1967, KLM inaugurated its operations at the newly constructed Schiphol airport near Amsterdam with one of its aircraft taking off for the first time.

In 1970, Air France started operating Boeing 747 aircraft on its long-haul routes, revolutionizing air travel with its capacity to carry around 500 passengers.

Following Air France's lead, KLM also began operating Boeing 747 aircraft for its long-haul flights in 1971, keeping pace with the advancements in aviation.

In 1989, KLM and Northwest Airlines formed an alliance in the history of air transport to provide customers with easy access to both their networks. This partnership marked the beginning of a joint venture between the two airlines.

On January 12, 1990, the government-owned Air France, semi-public Air Inter, and wholly private Union de Transports Aériens (UTA) were combined to form an expanded Air France. This merger was part of a government initiative to create a unified national air carrier with increased efficiency and global competitiveness.

In 1991, an initial Open Skies agreement was signed between the Netherlands and the United States, allowing the joint venture of KLM and Northwest Airlines to operate flights between Europe and the United States starting from 1993.

In 1992, KLM created the first European hub at Schiphol airport to optimize synergies between its medium- and long-haul flights.

Following KLM's model, Air France set up a connecting hub between its medium- and long-haul flights at Paris-Charles de Gaulle in 1993.

On July 25, 1994, Groupe Air France was established through a decree, officially becoming operational on September 1, 1994. This holding company acquired majority shareholdings in Air France and Air Inter, leading to the restructuring of the Air France group.

On August 31, 1994, The New York Times reported on Air France's new adviser.

The 130,000-square-metre complex at Charles de Gaulle Airport was completed in December 1995. The project was managed by the French firm Groupement d'Etudes et de Méthodes d'Ordonnancement (GEMO) with architects Valode & Pistre.

Air France Services Ltd (AFSL) was established on 15 January 1997 as a major ground handling company at Heathrow airport. Initially a partnership between Air France and Servisair Ltd, it later became solely owned by Air France.

On February 19, 1999, the French government approved the partial privatization of Air France under Prime Minister Lionel Jospin's Plural Left government. This decision led to the listing of Air France's shares on the Paris stock exchange, marking a significant shift in the airline's ownership structure.

In early 1999, Air France opened its capital to private investment and its first shares were listed on the Paris Stock Exchange on 22 February 1999.

In 2000, Air France became a key member of the SkyTeam alliance, which consists of 19 member airlines worldwide, such as Delta Airlines, Aeromexico, and Korean Air.

In June 2001, Air France confirmed a major A380 order, according to ASIATravelTips.com.

On September 30, 2003, Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines announced their merger, forming the new entity Air France–KLM. This strategic move aimed to create a stronger airline with enhanced global presence and operational synergies.

On April 5, 2004, the Public Exchange Offer (PEO) by Air France for KLM shares was launched on the Euronext Paris and Amsterdam markets as well as on the New York Stock Exchange. This marked a significant step in the merger process between Air France and KLM.

On May 5th, 2004, Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines completed their merger, officially forming the new company known as 'Air France–KLM'. This merger solidified their position as a major player in the airline industry.

In October 2005, the freight subsidiaries of Air France–KLM, Air France Cargo and KLM Cargo, merged their commercial activities, forming a Joint Cargo Management Team based in the Netherlands.

On 6th July 2006, the head office for Air France-KLM operations in the United Kingdom and Ireland, located in Plesman House in Hatton Cross, was inaugurated. This facility serves both Air France and KLM operations.

In 2007, Air France–KLM was one of the bidders for a majority takeover of Alitalia, which was facing financial losses. The board of Alitalia favored Air France–KLM for the takeover.

In June 2008, Air France–KLM agreed to pay $350 million to settle charges of cargo price fixing in an investigation conducted by the U.S. Justice Department. This settlement was part of a larger investigation that also involved Cathay Pacific, Martinair Holland, and SAS Cargo Group.

On 23 November 2009, Air France-KLM's first Airbus A380 aircraft completed its maiden flight. This marked a significant milestone for the airline as it upgraded its fleet with modern and efficient aircraft.

Japan Airlines decided to maintain its partnership with American Airlines and cease discussions with Delta Air Lines. The decision was made to avoid the risks associated with switching alliances from Oneworld to SkyTeam.

Japan Airlines officially announced its decision to enhance its collaboration with American Airlines, including seeking antitrust immunity approval for transpacific routes and reinforcing ties with other Oneworld alliance partners.

On September 16, 2011, Air France-KLM announced orders for 50 Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s with 60 options. These new aircraft were intended to be operated by both Air France and KLM, marking a significant investment in the fleet.

In 2012, Air France and KLM upgraded their long- and medium-haul aircraft cabins to focus on customer-centric, high-quality service. They introduced the Boeing 787 for a more eco-friendly travel experience.

KLM and Air France launched a pilot project on 29 May 2013 to test inflight Wi-Fi on one Boeing 777-300ER from each fleet. Passengers could stay online using Wi-Fi enabled devices once the flight reached 20,000 feet.

In February 2014, Air-France KLM invested $100 million in Brazilian airline Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes in advance of the 2014 football World Cup. This investment was aimed at strengthening partnerships and expanding business opportunities.

In early September 2014, the Group introduced the 'Perform 2020' strategic plan to enhance competitiveness and expand presence in growth markets.

Starting from April 2015, Air France began upgrading the seats on 24 Airbus A319 aircraft, providing a new and improved experience for passengers on medium-haul flights.

In March 2016, Air France enhanced the cabins of 30 Boeing 777 aircraft, offering new luxurious options in La Première, Business, Premium Economy, and Economy classes.

In early April 2016, Alexandre de Juniac resigned as Chairman and CEO of Air France–KLM and was succeeded by Jean-Marc Janaillac on 4 July 2016.

In the first half of 2016, Air France revamped the seats on 25 Airbus A320 aircraft, totaling 7,800 seats, to enhance passenger comfort and experience.

Until January 2017, Air France–KLM fully owned Cobalt Ground Solutions, the third largest ground handling company at London Heathrow Airport. The company was sold to Groupe CRIT in its entirety.

In July 2017, Air France-KLM entered into a multi-airline strategic partnership with Delta Air Lines, China Eastern Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic.

On May 4, 2018, Jean-Marc Janaillac announced his resignation as CEO of Air France–KLM due to employees rejecting a new salary package.

The Board of Directors of Air France–KLM announced the appointment of Benjamin Smith as the new CEO on August 16, 2018. He officially assumed his duties on September 30, 2018.

On February 26, 2019, the Dutch government revealed that it had acquired 12.68 percent of shares in Air France-KLM and aimed to increase its stake to approximately 14 percent.

In 2021, Air France once again revised its livery, adding the hippocampe ailé icon between cockpit windows and front cabin doors. This update also included changes to the placement of aircraft type, SkyTeam logo, and Air France-KLM logo.

In May 2022, Air France–KLM entered into a strategic partnership with CMA CGM to enhance their air cargo capabilities. This collaboration involved CMA CGM acquiring a 9% stake in AF-KLM, but it was later terminated in January 2024.

On July 12, 2023, Air France–KLM declared a 10-for-1 reverse stock split and an ISIN change scheduled for August 31, 2023.

Air France-KLM has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320neo, which will be operated by Transavia France.

Air France-KLM and CMA CGM have evolved their commercial cooperation in air cargo.

Air France and KLM inaugurated a new Air&Rail Terminal in Brussels Midi Station, marking a significant development in their operations.