KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has signed a contract with Chinese internet giant Alibaba to sell its KLM-tickets directly via Alitrip, the company’s online travel platform. It is the first non-Asian carriers to open their own web store on the Alitrip platform, where Chinese consumers can purchase KLM-tickets directly from the airline. The web store is scheduled to open in December and is expected to significantly increase online sales in China and further expand awareness of the KLM brand among Alibaba’s huge consumer base.
This new initiative is in line with KLM’s ambitions in China, where the airline previously became the first foreign carrier to offer 24/7 customer service via the Chinese social media platforms Weibo and WeChat.
China is an important market for KLM, which serves seven destinations in the Greater China region: Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Hong Kong and Taipei. The Chinese market is now one of KLM’s five largest markets worldwide.
