TORONTO — After several months of a head-to-toe makeover, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines unveiled its renovated KLM Crown Lounge at Toronto Pearson Airport yesterday as part of its global initiative to enhance and elevate the comfort and customer experience in its international lounges.
“We are delighted to provide Toronto passengers with one of the two KLM international lounges,” said Jean-Eudes de La Bretèche, General Manager, Air France KLM Canada.
“The goal was to create an environment that captures the essence of travel and the waiting time before departure into a memorable experience,” he added.
Located within the international area of Terminal 3, the KLM branded lounge measures 575 square metres and has a seating capacity for 161 guests. Highlights include a stunning 50-foot-wide window offering a panoramic view of the airport activities and runways, a self-service buffet featuring a variety of hot and cold food options and a bar offering a complimentary selection of wines, beers and spirits.
The lounge renovations include a new reception counter, space and light optimization, and significant upgrades with comfortable and spacious furniture featuring the iconic KLM blue colour and additional design touches inspired by the airline’s Dutch roots.
The furniture incorporates sustainability using long-lasting materials and circular elements such as eco-leather and recycled materials.
A notable feature is a curated exhibit of KLM’s iconic miniature Delft blue houses. Each house in the collection depicts an actual Dutch building and serves as a unique gift for World Business Class passengers travelling on international flights, with 103 blue houses on record, each collectively reflecting the airline’s anniversary over the years. KLM will release the 2023 Delft Blue House on October 7.
“This event is extra special for a few reasons. First is the importance of Canada and Toronto, specifically – one of our key destinations,” said Marleen van de Pol, VP Customer Experience at KLM.
“Secondly, I’m thrilled to be here today because this showcases our focus and commitment to the customer experience with our enhanced business-class products, premium comfort and sustainability ambitions. And lastly, this beautiful branded KLM Crown lounge opening encompasses everything we try to be and do as KLM.”
The KLM Crown Lounge is open to qualifying passengers from KLM, Air France, and their SkyTeam partners, Priority Pass, Dragon Pass and DreamFolks card holders.
The lounge operates between 9 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. and is available to all international Terminal 3 travellers, regardless of their airline or class of service, upon availability.
A nominal fee of $50 can gain access to the lounge and be purchased directly.
In addition to Toronto, KLM flies to Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Montreal in Canada, with convenient connections between Montreal-Trudeau to/from Ottawa and Québec City.
Toronto is KLM’s primary destination in Canada, boasting two daily flights in the summer connecting Toronto to Europe and beyond. Starting Oct. 29, the winter program will feature 11 weekly flights operated with an A330 or B787 featuring KLM’s new Premium Comfort.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the oldest airline still operating under its original name and has been a pioneer in the airline industry for over a century. KLM aims to be the leading European network carrier in customer-centricity, efficiency and sustainability, connecting the Netherlands to the world’s key economic regions and driving the Dutch economy.
KLM is also a member of the global SkyTeam alliance, with 19 member airlines, and is part of the Air France-KLM Group.
Top Photo Caption: At the unveiling of the new KLM Crown Lounge at YYZ, alongside KLM crew members at the very far left and far right, are Laurenske van den Heuvel, Deputy Consul General, Toronto General Consulate of Netherlands; Christina Wendland, Station Manager Toronto, Air France-KLM; Jean-Eudes de La Bretèche, General Manager, Air France KLM Canada; Marleen van de Pol, KLM’s VP Customer Experience; and Janik Reigate, Director Strategic Customer Relationships, GTAA (photos courtesy Annie Cicvaric)
