Dutch airline KLM swaps planes for trains to save the planet

A file photo of a KLM plane. The airline is set to cut a string of its short-distance flights as a way to help the environment. — Reuters

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, says Dutch airline KLM. When it comes to one of its shortest routes, it will soon be... a train. In a bid to cut its environmental impact, KLM will reduce the number of flights from Amsterdam to Brussels from five to four from March 2020.

In its place, KLM will buy passengers tickets on the Thalys train that covers the same route between Schiphol airport and the Belgian capital. The 45-minute, 200km hop has been a frequent target of environmental campaigners who say there’s no need to use the plane for such a short distance.