The new training facility, called The Link, will be located next to buildings 203 and 204 at Schiphol-Oost. The four-story complex with a total floor area of 4,442 sqm will include space for 5 flight simulators, which will be used by KLM and Transavia pilots.

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The expansion of the Crew Training Centre is an essential step for KLM considering the planned fleet expansion and the growth in the number of pilots in the coming years. The decision to build The Link is an investment in KLM’s future and has been carefully weighed against other investment and savings decisions made by KLM.

Due to the continuing demand for air travel and the continued importance of the Netherlands’ good connections with foreign destinations, KLM expects its pilot corps to grow from over 3,000 pilots now to around 4,000 in the coming years. To meet the increasing demand for training, a significant expansion of KLM’s training capacity is necessary, including the number of flight simulators.

The name The Link refers to the Link Trainer, the first flight simulator that was put into use almost a century ago. On the ground floor, five flight simulators will be placed in a space of 1,100 m2 with a thickened foundation floor. Here, KLM (freight) pilots and Transavia pilots can receive optimal training in the latest aircraft types, the Airbus A321neo and Airbus A350. The other floors include instruction and technical rooms and a high-voltage room, which will eventually supply the entire Crew Training Centre with power.