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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 6-K

Report of Foreign Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

of April 5, 2004

KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES

(translation of Registrant’s trade name into English)

Amsterdamseweg 55, 1182 GP Amstelveen, The Netherlands

(Address of principal executive offices)

     (Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)

Form 20-F __X__ Form 40-F _____

     (Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)

Yes ____ No __X__

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS — MARCH 2004
SIGNATURES


Table of Contents

(KLM LOGO)

04/023

TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS — MARCH 2004

#     Passenger load factor increased by 5.4 percentage points to 82.5 percent
#     Intercontinental business class traffic increased 12 percent
#     Cargo load factor increased 2.8 percentage points to 77.4 percent

Passenger Traffic
March passenger traffic increased by 8 percent, whereas capacity was 1 percent higher than last year. As a result, passenger load factor improved by 5.4 percentage points to 82.5 percent. Intercontinental business class traffic increased by 12 percent on 1 percent higher capacity.

Successful promotional campaigns pushed European traffic, increasing 11 percent year-on-year. As capacity was 4 percent higher, load factor increased by 4.4 percent to 74.6 percent.
On the MESA route area and the North Atlantic, the year-on-year comparison is relatively difficult because of the war in Iraq that commenced in March 2003. As of the last week of March 2003, KLM adjusted capacity on the Middle East destinations to reflect the diminishing demand.
Performance on the African routes continues to be strong. Traffic increased by 14 percent year-on-year, whereas capacity was up 6 percent. Load factor improved 5.7 percentage points to 83.0 percent. The non-stop flights to Capetown as opposed to via Johannesburg, operated by a Boeing 777-200ER since the beginning of the winter schedule, have proven to be very successful.
Traffic on the Central and South Atlantic route area increased 5 percent on 7 percent lower capacity. Load factor increased 9.2 percentage points to 85.7 percent. This route area continues to benefit from an increase in demand and network optimization.

Cargo Traffic
In March, cargo traffic increased by 11 percent compared to last year on 7 percent higher capacity. Cargo load factor improved by 2.8 percentage points to 77.4 percent, the highest level achieved in 2003/04.
Performance on the Asia Pacific routes continued to show a significant year-on-year improvement with traffic up 31 percent on 26 percent higher capacity, mainly as result of the introduction of the third 747-400 ERF. Load factor on this route area increased by 3.6 percentage points to 88.0 percent. On the North Atlantic, load factor improved by 1.6 percentage points to 75.4 percent. Traffic decreased by 11 percent, whereas capacity was 13 percent lower.
Cargo traffic outbound Europe, albeit still under pressure, increased by 5 percent compared to last year.

Amstelveen, April 5, 2004

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    Month of March
  Year to date
    2004
  2003
  change (%)
  2003/04
  2002/03
  change (%)
Revenue passenger km (RPK) (in millions)
                                               
Europe
    880       793       11 %     10,226       10,183       0 %
North Atlantic
    1,275       1,313       (3 )%     14,124       15,194       -7 %
Central and South Atlantic
    730       698       5 %     8,607       8,393       3 %
Asia / Pacific
    1,173       1,079       9 %     12,399       13,355       -7 %
Middle East / South Asia
    431       320       34 %     4,794       4,734       1 %
Africa
    682       597       14 %     7,634       7,558       1 %
Total
    5,172       4,800       8 %     57,784       59,417       -3 %
Available seat km (ASK) (in millions)
                                               
Europe
    1,180       1,129       4 %     13,642       13,727       -1 %
North Atlantic
    1,430       1,616       (12 )%     16,349       18,376       -11 %
Central and South Atlantic
    852       912       (7 )%     10,922       11,011       -1 %
Asia / Pacific
    1,426       1,353       5 %     15,456       15,945       -3 %
Middle East / South Asia
    561       443       27 %     6,115       6,386       -4 %
Africa
    822       773       6 %     9,615       9,380       3 %
Total
    6,272       6,226       1 %     72,099       74,825       -4 %
Passenger load factor (%)
                                               
Europe
    74.6       70.2       4.4 pts     75.0       74.2       0.8 pts
North Atlantic
    89.2       81.2       8.0 pts     86.4       82.7       3.7 pts
Central and South Atlantic
    85.7       76.5       9.2 pts     78.8       76.2       2.6 pts
Asia / Pacific
    82.2       79.8       2.4 pts     80.2       83.8       -3.6 pts
Middle East / South Asia
    76.8       72.3       4.5 pts     78.4       74.1       4.3 pts
Africa
    83.0       77.3       5.7 pts     79.4       80.6       -1.2 pts
Total
    82.5       77.1       5.4 pts     80.1       79.4       0.7 pts
Revenue freight ton-km (RFTK) (in millions)
                                               
Europe
    3       5       (33 )%     40       59       -33 %
North Atlantic
    89       99       (11 )%     1,003       1,027       -2 %
Central and South Atlantic
    36       41       (12 )%     419       446       -6 %
Asia / Pacific
    243       185       31 %     2,329       2,049       14 %
Middle East / South Asia
    18       22       (16 )%     253       276       -8 %
Africa
    34       30       15 %     348       339       3 %
Total
    424       382       11 %     4,392       4,197       5 %
Available freight ton-km (AFTK) (in millions)
                                               
Europe
    23       26       (9 )%     277       298       -7 %
North Atlantic
    118       135       (13 )%     1,409       1,452       -3 %
Central and South Atlantic
    51       59       (13 )%     673       721       -7 %
Asia / Pacific
    276       219       26 %     2,752       2,474       11 %
Middle East / South Asia
    28       30       (6 )%     388       397       -2 %
Africa
    50       43       16 %     528       511       3 %
Total
    547       512       7 %     6,028       5,852       3 %
Cargo load factor (%)
                                               
Europe
    14.7       19.9       (5.2 )pts     14.4       19.9       -5.5 pts
North Atlantic
    75.4       73.8       1.6 pts     71.2       70.7       0.5 pts
Central and South Atlantic
    69.0       68.5       0.5 pts     62.3       61.9       0.4 pts
Asia / Pacific
    88.0       84.4       3.6 pts     84.6       82.8       1.8 pts
Middle East / South Asia
    64.1       72.3       (8.2 )pts     65.2       69.4       -4.2 pts
Africa
    69.3       70.1       (0.8 )pts     65.8       66.3       -0.5 pts
Total
    77.4       74.6       2.8 pts     72.9       71.7       1.2 pts

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  SIGNATURES
 
 
     
     
     
 

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

       
  KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
 
 
Date: April 5, 2004  By /s/ R.A. Ruijter    
  Name: R.A. Ruijter   
  Title:   Managing Director & CFO


  By /s/ J.E.C. de Groot    
  Name: J.E.C. de Groot   
  Title:   SVP & General Secretary