Klm's Odd Routing: Why Your Flight From Amsterdam Stopped in Bangkok

Klm's Odd Routing: Why Your Flight From Amsterdam Stopped in Bangkok - Why Your Flight From Amsterdam Stopped in Bangkok

Flight routes are not always the shortest distance: While it may seem counterintuitive, flights often take a longer route to save fuel, reduce wind resistance, or avoid turbulence, which can lead to unexpected stops like Bangkok on a flight from Amsterdam.

Wind and jet streams play a significant role: Commercial airliners often take advantage of wind patterns and jet streams to reduce flight times and fuel consumption, which can result in unusual routing decisions.

Air traffic control and slot restrictions matter: Air traffic control regulations and slot restrictions at busy airports can force flights to take alternative routes or make stops, even if it's not the most direct path.

Fuel efficiency is key: Airlines optimize their routes to minimize fuel consumption, which can lead to stops at airports with lower fuel prices or more favorable wind conditions.

Crew rest and duty regulations are crucial: Flight crews have strict rest and duty regulations to ensure safety, which can require stops at specific airports to allow for crew changes or rest periods.

Aircraft performance and range limitations exist: Different aircraft have varying performance capabilities and range limitations, which can affect the route taken and the need for stops.

Weather patterns and turbulence avoidance: Flights may be rerouted to avoid severe weather patterns or turbulence, which can result in unexpected stops or diversions.

Airline alliances and code-sharing agreements: Airlines often have alliances and code-sharing agreements that can influence route decisions, leading to stops at partner airlines' hubs.

Airport slot constraints and curfews: Some airports have slot constraints or curfews that limit the number of flights that can operate during certain times, forcing airlines to adjust their routes and schedules.

Route optimization is a complex process: Airlines use sophisticated algorithms and data analysis to optimize their routes, taking into account multiple factors like fuel prices, weather, air traffic control, and more, which can lead to seemingly unusual routing decisions.

Klm's Odd Routing: Why Your Flight From Amsterdam Stopped in Bangkok - The Rise of Indirect Routing in the Airline Industry

The Rise of Indirect Routing: Airlines have increasingly relied on indirect routing, where flights make stops at hubs before reaching the final destination.

This allows airlines to consolidate traffic and optimize their networks, leading to more efficient operations.

Fuel Efficiency: Indirect routing can sometimes be more fuel-efficient than direct flights, as planes can operate at their optimal altitudes and speeds for longer periods during the journey.

Economies of Scale: By funneling passengers through hubs, airlines can benefit from economies of scale, leading to cost savings that can be passed on to consumers in the form of lower fares.

Passenger Convenience: Indirect routing can provide more flight options and frequencies, especially for smaller or less-traveled routes, improving passenger convenience and choice.

Network Resilience: If a flight is disrupted, indirect routing allows airlines to reroute passengers through alternative hubs, improving the overall resilience of the network.

Hub-and-Spoke Model: The rise of indirect routing is closely tied to the adoption of the hub-and-spoke model, where airlines concentrate their operations in a few major hubs to maximize efficiency and connectivity.

Improved Load Factors: Indirect routing can help airlines achieve higher load factors, as they can combine demand from multiple origin-destination pairs on the same flight.

Yield Management: Airlines can use indirect routing to engage in more sophisticated yield management, adjusting prices based on demand and seat availability on different segments of the journey.

Passenger Preferences: Some passengers may prefer indirect flights due to lower fares or more convenient schedules, even if the total travel time is longer.

Regulatory Oversight: Indirect routing has drawn scrutiny from regulatory authorities, who monitor the potential impact on competition and consumer welfare, particularly in concentrated airline markets.

Klm's Odd Routing: Why Your Flight From Amsterdam Stopped in Bangkok - KLM's Expansion into Southeast Asia

KLM first flew to Malaya (now Malaysia) in 1924, marking the start of its operations in Southeast Asia - almost a century ago.

However, it wasn't until 1958 that KLM began scheduled passenger flights between the Netherlands and the region, showcasing the long gestation period of the airline's Southeast Asian strategy.

KLM established a wholly-owned subsidiary called "KLM Asia" in 1995, largely due to the ongoing political tensions between mainland China and Taiwan, which restricted KLM's ability to fly directly to certain destinations.

The Boeing 747 jumbo jet was crucial to KLM Asia's operations, but rising fuel costs and the aging of the fleet led to the retirement of the last 747 in KLM Asia's fleet in 2017.

Today, the backbone of KLM Asia's fleet is the more fuel-efficient Boeing 777, with a mix of 777-200s and 777-300ERs.

In 2006, KLM carried more seats to Asia than North America for the first time, reflecting the growing importance of the Southeast Asian market to the airline's global network.

KLM's route network in Southeast Asia is characterized by "fifth freedom" rights, which allow the airline to carry passengers between two foreign countries as part of a flight to/from the Netherlands.

This unique routing, such as Amsterdam-Bangkok-Jakarta, is partly driven by the need to optimize aircraft utilization and capture demand in multiple markets along the way.

The competition between KLM and British Imperial Airways in the 1930s to dominate colonial air routes in Asia was a formative chapter in KLM's history and laid the groundwork for its later expansion in the region.

Despite the challenges posed by political constraints and the evolution of aircraft technology, KLM has maintained a strong presence in Southeast Asia for nearly a century, underscoring the airline's resilience and adaptability.

Klm's Odd Routing: Why Your Flight From Amsterdam Stopped in Bangkok - The Rationale Behind KLM's Amsterdam-Bangkok Stopover

KLM's Amsterdam-Bangkok route is one of the longest direct flights in the world, covering a distance of over 5,600 miles.

The stopover in Bangkok serves to break up this long journey for both passengers and the aircraft.

Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport is a major regional hub for KLM, allowing the airline to efficiently connect passengers from Europe to destinations across Southeast Asia and beyond through a single stop.

Geographically, the Amsterdam-Bangkok route takes an unusual westward path over the North Atlantic, Greenland, and Russia, rather than the more direct eastward route over Europe and Central Asia.

This is due to prevailing winds and air traffic patterns.

KLM's use of the Boeing 777-300ER on this route allows for the efficient transport of a large number of passengers and cargo, making the stopover economically viable for the airline.

Bangkok's status as a major tourist destination means there is consistent demand for travel to and from the city, helping to fill the planes on both legs of the journey.

The stopover in Bangkok also provides an opportunity for passengers to break up their journey, explore the city, and potentially book add-on trips within Southeast Asia, generating additional revenue for KLM.

From a technical standpoint, the stopover allows the aircraft to refuel, offload and take on new cargo and passengers, and provide the crew with a rest period before continuing the flight.

KLM has long-standing commercial partnerships with Thai Airways, which operates a hub at Suvarnabhumi Airport, further enhancing the airline's connectivity and route network in the region.

The Amsterdam-Bangkok route has been a staple of KLM's network for decades, predating the rise of budget carriers and the increased competition in the European-Asian travel market.

Environmentally, the stopover allows KLM to potentially optimize fuel efficiency by reducing the continuous distance flown, as well as providing an opportunity for the airline to showcase its sustainability initiatives to passengers.

Klm's Odd Routing: Why Your Flight From Amsterdam Stopped in Bangkok - Passenger Reactions to Unexpected Stops

The psychology of waiting: Passengers' irritation levels increase with waiting time at bus stops, and this can affect their reactions to unexpected stops during their journey.

Speeding-related crashes: In 2019, there were 9,478 speeding-related traffic crashes in the US, resulting in 11% fewer fatalities compared to 2018.

However, the number of people killed in speeding-related crashes in 2021 increased by 8% from 2020.

Young male drivers and speeding: According to NHTSA data, about 24% of drivers aged 18-44 involved in fatal crashes were speeding, and young men are most likely to be speeding at the time of fatal crashes.

Law enforcement officers killed in vehicle crashes: Between 2000 and 2008, 559 law enforcement officers (LEOs) were killed in vehicle crashes in the US.

Stress and passenger reactions: Stress may be accompanied by other emotions such as anxiety, and factors influencing and contributing to passengers' perceived safety include trust dimensions that help structure their reactions in questionnaires.

Total stopping distance: At 55 mph, it takes about 6 seconds to stop your vehicle, and the vehicle will travel approximately 302 feet before coming to a stop.

Instrument survey: An instruments survey conducted in 2004 revealed that the impact of commuters' psychological feelings due to delay on their irritation levels is significant.

Keeping calm during extreme turbulence: Focusing on deep, slow breathing can help mitigate the effects of turbulence on passengers.

The geometry of physical processes in 21st century theoretical physics: Recent developments in physics may recommend the loss of time, and a viable notion of timeless agency can be rebuilt using only causation.

Klm's Odd Routing: Why Your Flight From Amsterdam Stopped in Bangkok - Analyzing the Potential Cost Savings of Intermediate Stops

Splitting long-haul flights into two legs with an intermediate stop can save airlines up to 15% in fuel costs compared to a non-stop flight.

This is because the aircraft can carry less fuel and be lighter, thereby reducing fuel burn.

Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 flights analyzed in 2010 revealed that strategic placement of intermediate stops could save over $100,000 per flight in fuel and operating costs.

Selecting the optimal intermediate stop location based on climate-optimizing criteria, such as avoiding severe weather patterns, can further enhance the environmental benefits of intermediate stop operations.

The 747-400 aircraft often makes a refueling stop in Amsterdam due to the relatively low fuel costs there, resulting in over 9% total operational cost savings compared to a direct flight.

Allowing a small detour of up to 1% during intermediate stop routing can greatly expand the number of suitable airports, increasing the potential for cost and fuel savings.

Simulation studies show that with existing and redesigned aircraft, the fuel-saving potential of intermediate stop operations ranges from 7% to 15% on long-haul routes.

A global analysis of Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 flights in 2007 identified fuel-optimal intermediate airports, demonstrating the significant potential for cost savings across the aviation industry.

The increased number of flight cycles associated with intermediate stop operations can be offset by the reduced aircraft weight and fuel burn, leading to an overall reduction in operating costs.

Airline routing decisions for long-haul flights often involve complex trade-offs between fuel efficiency, crew costs, passenger convenience, and other operational factors, leading to seemingly "odd" routings like Amsterdam to Bangkok.

Recent advancements in meteorological data and flight planning algorithms have enabled more accurate modeling of the potential benefits of intermediate stop operations, paving the way for wider implementation by airlines.

Klm's Odd Routing: Why Your Flight From Amsterdam Stopped in Bangkok - Examining the Environmental Impact of Longer Flight Paths

The environmental impact of longer flight paths can be significant, as the additional distance traveled leads to increased fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

A study by the Aviation Environment Federation found that a return flight from London to Bangkok can produce more emissions than an average person's annual carbon footprint in some countries.

Changing the flying altitude by just a few thousand feet on less than 2% of all scheduled flights can have a noticeable impact on reducing the climate damage caused by contrails, according to a study by a team of scientists at Imperial College London.

Non-CO2 effects, such as the formation of contrail cirrus clouds, make up two-thirds of aviation's total climate impact, confirming that the industry's focus on reducing carbon emissions alone is not enough to address its environmental footprint.

Even with measures like carbon-neutral travel and the use of alternative fuels, industry roadmaps suggest that aviation emissions in 2030 could still be higher than 2019 levels, highlighting the challenge of achieving true guilt-free flying.

The carbon footprint per passenger on a round-trip flight from New York to San Francisco can be larger than the yearly footprint of the average person in 51 countries, underscoring the significant role air travel plays in the climate crisis.

As of 2025, passengers booking flights online in the European Union will be able to see standardized information on the carbon footprint and carbon efficiency of their flights, allowing them to make more informed decisions.

Climate change is causing the upper-level jet stream winds to become faster, which can influence the speed and direction of travel for both weather systems and commercial aircraft, potentially leading to longer flight paths and increased emissions.

To address the aviation industry's scope 3 emissions, which account for the majority of its environmental impact, a range of approaches and new technologies, such as sustainable aviation fuels and electric aircraft, will need to be explored.

Achieving truly guilt-free flying remains a significant challenge, as the industry must grapple with the complex interplay of factors, from the scientific understanding of aviation's impact on the climate to the practical and economic constraints of implementing large-scale sustainable solutions.

Klm's Odd Routing: Why Your Flight From Amsterdam Stopped in Bangkok - The Pros and Cons of Connecting Hubs in Distant Locations

Hub-and-spoke model: Airlines use a hub-and-spoke model, where a central hub connects to multiple spokes (routes).

This model allows for efficient use of resources and increased connectivity.

Airlines consider factors like fuel efficiency, air traffic control, and passenger demand when planning routes.

KLM's Bangkok stopover: KLM's Amsterdam-Bangkok route is a strategic stopover for passengers traveling to Australia and New Zealand.

The stopover allows passengers to rest and refuel before continuing their journey.

Fuel efficiency: Flying a more circuitous route can sometimes be more fuel-efficient than flying directly.

This is because planes can take advantage of wind currents and air pressure systems to reduce fuel consumption.

Air traffic control: Air traffic control regulations and restrictions can influence flight routes.

For example, certain airspaces may be restricted due to military operations or weather conditions.

Passenger demand: Airlines consider passenger demand when planning routes.

If there's high demand for a particular route, airlines may add more flights or adjust their routes to accommodate passengers.

Network effects: Airlines benefit from network effects, where the value of their route network increases as more passengers and flights are added.

This encourages airlines to connect hubs in distant locations.

Code-sharing agreements: Airlines often have code-sharing agreements, which allow them to sell tickets on each other's flights.

This can lead to seemingly odd routes, as airlines try to maximize their network effects.

Yield management: Airlines use yield management techniques to optimize revenue from each flight.

This involves adjusting ticket prices and availability based on demand, which can affect route planning.

Route optimization algorithms: Airlines use complex algorithms to optimize their routes, taking into account factors like fuel efficiency, passenger demand, and air traffic control restrictions.

These algorithms can lead to unexpected route choices, like KLM's Bangkok stopover.

Klm's Odd Routing: Why Your Flight From Amsterdam Stopped in Bangkok - Comparing Airfares: Direct Flights vs. Indirect Routings

Indirect flights can sometimes be cheaper than direct flights, even for the same origin and destination, due to the economies of scale associated with using larger aircraft on connecting routes.

Direct flights often have higher fuel costs per passenger as the aircraft is not operating at maximum capacity, whereas indirect flights can spread these costs over more passengers.

Airports typically charge lower landing and facility fees for connecting flights compared to direct flights, allowing airlines to offer lower fares on indirect routings.

Indirect flights provide airlines with more flexibility to adjust capacity and frequencies based on demand, enabling them to potentially offer lower fares on certain routes.

On long-haul routes, indirect flights can actually have a lower carbon footprint per passenger than nonstop flights, as the aircraft operates more efficiently at higher altitudes on the connecting segments.

Passengers on indirect flights may accrue more frequent flyer miles or points compared to direct flights, as they earn miles for each flight segment.

Stopover flights can provide an opportunity for passengers to visit an additional destination, potentially adding value beyond just the airfare savings.

Airlines sometimes use indirect routings, like KLM's flight from Amsterdam to Bangkok via Singapore, to better utilize aircraft and crew resources across their network.

Regulatory differences in airport slot availability and air traffic control constraints can make it more feasible for airlines to operate indirect routings on certain city pairs.

The rise of "hidden city ticketing", where passengers intentionally book indirect flights to reach their final destination, has led to airlines closely monitoring routing choices to prevent this practice.

Klm's Odd Routing: Why Your Flight From Amsterdam Stopped in Bangkok - Regulatory Changes and Their Effect on Routing Flexibility

The upcoming telecommunications regulatory changes in 2024 are expected to have a significant impact on scheduling and routing software, as companies must comply with new rules to maintain legal operations.

The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) requires federal agencies to consider the effects of their regulations on small businesses and other small entities, which can influence routing decisions.

Flexibility in manufacturing operations, including routing and pallet flexibility, is becoming increasingly important due to demand volatility, globalization, and shorter product life cycles.

Routing flexibility in flexible manufacturing systems can have a significant impact on the optimal choice of decision-making rules, as the current level of routing flexibility largely determines the best approach.

The role of flexibility and complexity in responding to regulatory changes is a complex topic, as the link between regulations and innovation is not always straightforward.

KLM's odd routing, where flights from Amsterdam sometimes stop in Bangkok, can be attributed to regulatory changes and the need to maintain routing flexibility to adapt to new rules and market conditions.

The cost of implementing the right level of routing flexibility is an important consideration, as excessive flexibility can be expensive and may not be necessary in all operating environments.

Compliance with regulatory changes is not just a legal necessity but also offers an opportunity for innovation, optimization, and increased efficiency in the telecommunications industry.

The Regulatory Flexibility Act has led to increased monitoring and submission of formal comment letters by the SBA's Office of Advocacy, highlighting the importance of considering the impact on small businesses.

Recent developments in physics may recommend the loss of time, suggesting a more "timeless" approach to understanding physical processes and their geometry, which could have implications for routing flexibility in the future.