KLM breaks ground on new The Link training centre

KLM has started construction work on the expansion of its pilot training centre. Bas Brouns, CFO of KLM, yesterday broke ground on the building, which is expected to be put into use in mid-2026.

With The Link, we can secure our training capacity in the future. We consciously choose to train our pilots in-house, because that way we have the best control over the quality and continuity. It is a crucial investment in the training of our pilots and therefore in the future of KLM.

Eimerd Bult, EVP Flight Operations

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 m2 will include space for five state-of-the-art flight simulators, which will be used by KLM and Transavia pilots. 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.

KLM has selected multi-technical service provider SPIE as the main contractor for construction. KLM Real Estate & Facility Contracting is supervising the construction in collaboration with Flight Operations. So-called DPA piles are used for the foundation, the installation of which results in considerably less ground vibration for the existing simulators and the Operations Control Centre in the adjacent buildings. The new building has been designed in accordance with the applicable guidelines for a sustainable and energy-efficient utility building and therefore meets the requirements for a Near Energy Neutral Building. The building is gas-free, uses heat pumps for heat generation and has solar panels on the roof for part of the power supply. It is also partly fitted with a sedum roof for better insulation and longer water retention.