The Dutch aviation authority has placed the engineering and maintenance division of KLM under heightened oversight following an investigation into its operations.
The measure was put in place by the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate in May and is set to remain active until at least the end of December.
Regulators initiated the increased supervision after identifying shortfalls in the department’s internal safety culture.
Deficiencies in administrative reporting
Despite the heightened oversight, officials emphasized that flight safety has not been compromised by the findings.
KLM explained that the inspectorate’s decision stems from minor audit findings rather than critical mechanical flaws.
The company noted that certain repairs need to be processed more quickly and documented more thoroughly in administrative records.
Extensive operations at Schiphol
KLM Engineering & Maintenance employs more than 5,000 people globally, with a major portion of its work centered at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
Teams based in the hangars near Amsterdam carry out routine inspections, wheel updates, and complex structural overhauls.
In addition to servicing the 250 aircraft belonging to KLM and Transavia, the unit maintains fleets for over 200 international carriers.
Training and safety protocols
The division handles technical maintenance for more than 3,000 airplanes each year, including jets from major foreign airlines.
To satisfy regulatory requirements, the airline is introducing additional internal checks and updated training programs for staff.
Management stated that the current fleet remains well maintained while these administrative and procedural adjustments are rolled out.