With the beginning of the winter schedule of 2025, KLM has finally introduced regular service with the E2 on its Basel route. They had intended to start earlier, but the ongoing issues with the E2’s engines got in the way of that. It’s been a while since I last flew from Basel airport. The last time I was passing through, the whole place resembled a building site more than an airport.

Check-In

At five in the morning on the day before my flight, I open the app to check in. Check-in opens thirty hours prior to departure. There’s a message in my PNR telling me that I can only check in for this flight at the airport. But then, without me doing anything, I’m forwarded to the seat selection page and eventually receive my wallet boarding pass just the same. In any case, as soon as I enter the terminal building, it’s clear that a lot has changed since my last visit. On the French side of the terminal the SkyTeam counters have moved from the very back of the check-in area to the front. Also, they’ve removed all the old ticket office counters, which were quite an eyesore. Mainly, because most of them were unused and looked slightly dilapidated. By removing the counters they’ve created some much needed extra space.

The Swissport Aspire Lounge

Security is a bit of a mess. Apart from our flight to Amsterdam, they’re also checking in an Air Algérie flight to Constantine and a Nouvelair flight going somewhere in Tunisia in the French sector. In theory, there is room for six passengers to put their things on the belt simultaneously. But there’s nobody managing the queue, so people don’t get it and just wait behind each other, de facto using only one position.

When I finally manage to get airside, I head straight for the Swissport Aspire Lounge. Here too they’ve made quite a few changes and modifications that work very well. The whole place looks somehow refreshed, modern and also more spacious. Not that it really matters to me, seeing as I spend most of my time in the lounge out on the terrace watching the planes.

Boarding

At 10h30 the inbound from Amsterdam touches down on runway 15. My phone vibrates with an alert from KLM informing me of my gate assignment. Previously, the Air France and KLM flights used to operate from gates 1 and 2 in the French sector. But today we’re boarding from gate 37 in the general Schengen area. I’m wondering if perhaps this has to do with the E2 possibly being too big to be able to use the stands at gates 1 or 2.

Boarding by zones is strictly enforced. Fortunately, the earlier mist has lifted and it’s turned into a gorgeous day here in Basel.

The Cabin & Seat

The cabin of KLM’s E2 is just so nice! I’m seated on 5C, on the first row of Economy Class. The seat pitch is very generous. In addition, the seat has an adjustable headrest with foldable ears as well as a USB plug to charge smaller electronic devices.

I think what is the most striking with the E2, is just how quiet the cabin is. We take off from an intersection just a bit over halfway down the runway. It’s a powerful take-off, and yet the cabin is amazingly quiet.

The Crew

There are three young females working in the cabin on today’s flight. They’re business friendly, I would say, but they don’t seem overly interested in their job or their passengers.

The Meal – Lunch

So, this one I’m a bit confused about. A while back I seem to remember reading that KLM was planning to introduce buy on board catering. So, I’m honestly quite surprised when the crew come down the aisle with a trolley once the seatbelt sign is turned off. The service consists of the usual complimentary sandwich and a drink. The sandwich is some Dutch cheese with a tomato paste and basil. It’s quite nice and fits perfectly for a flight of only seventy minutes.

Arrival

In Amsterdam the weather is also very bright. We land on the dreaded Polderbaan and then make our way to the terminal area. At some point, a rather strong smell of burned kerosene starts spreading in the cabin. A short while later it turns out it’s the fumes from the Saudia Boeing B 787-9 taxiing in right in front of us.

Eventually, our flight ends on a remote stand. With all the construction going on in Schiphol these days, it’s quite a circuitous bus ride to the terminal building.

Getting into the City

In Amsterdam I’m staying at The Okura in De Pijp. I jump on a train to Amsterdam Zuid and change there for the metro line 52 to Noord. De Pijp is the second stop. All in all, the journey from Schiphol to The Okura is thirty minutes.

Conclusion

Yep, Air France KLM are still my favourites. This was another pleasant experience with the Dutch airline. I’m not sure what it is that they do, or even how they do it, but somehow there’s a level of professionalism that is often lacking with other carriers. Other than that, while the changes and updates they’ve made to Basel airport are very welcone and have certainly upgraded the passenger experience, I think it’s also patently obvious that the terminal building is now too small for the amount and size of traffic it handles. The terminal was originally build for obnoxious Moritz Suter’s Crossair, with their extensive fleet of small 50-seater aircraft. But the airport has moved on, and with the likes of Easyjet, Wizzair, or British Airways, the A 320 family of aircraft is now the most common type at the airport.