AIR FRANCE-KLM APPOINTS RAJAT KUMAR AS TANZANIA COUNTRY MANAGER

• Rajat Kumar replaces Alexander van de Wint as the Tanzania Country Manager for Air France-KLM
• Rajat has over 27 years’ experience in the airline industry having served different roles in Asia and the Middle East

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, February 20, 2024; Air France-KLM has announced the appointment of Rajat Kumar as the new Country Manager for Tanzania, effective February 2024. He replaces Mr. Alexander van de Wint, who has been in the role since 2018.

With an extensive background in aviation management, Rajat brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role, having previously served in various leadership positions within the Air France-KLM group.

Prior to his appointment in Tanzania, he served as the Country Manager for Kuwait, Qatar and Iran, where he demonstrated exceptional leadership and strategic acumen in driving business growth and enhancing customer satisfaction. He, for example, led the successful operations of Air France-KLM to Doha, Qatar during the FIFA World Cup of 2022.

Rajat’s association with the Air France-KLM group dates to May 1996, when he joined KLM as a Sales Executive in New Delhi. During his close to 27-year tenure with the group, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership and strategic vision, contributing significantly to the airline's growth and market leadership in the region.

In his new role as Country Manager of Air France Tanzania, Rajat who has a proven track record of leadership and deep understanding of the aviation industry, will be responsible for driving the group’s business objectives, enhancing customer engagement, and strengthening the airline’s position in the Tanzanian market.

"We are delighted to welcome Mr. Rajat as the new Country Manager of Air France Tanzania," said Mr. Marius van der Ham, Air France – KLM Regional General Manager for East and Southern Africa. "His extensive experience and strategic leadership will be instrumental in driving our business forward and delivering exceptional value to our customers in Tanzania."

Rajat expressed his enthusiasm for his new role, saying, "I am excited to lead Air France – KLM’s operations in Tanzania, and I look forward to working closely with all the key stakeholders to further strengthen our presence in the market and deliver the unparalleled travel experience of our brands to our customers."

Rajat’s appointment comes slightly over half a year since Air France began direct flights from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Dar es Salam, expanding its reach in the region following the popularity of the Zanzibar and Nairobi routes.

About the Air France–KLM Group

A global player with a strong European base, the Air France-KLM Group’s main areas of business are passenger transport, cargo transport and aeronautical maintenance.

Air France-KLM is a leading airline Group in terms of international traffic on departure from Europe. It offers its customers access to a worldwide network, covering over 300 destinations thanks to Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Transavia, mainly from its hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol.

Its Flying Blue frequent flyer programme is one of the leaders in Europe with over 20 million members.

Together with its partners Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic, Air France-KLM operates the largest transatlantic joint venture, with more than 340 daily flights in 2019.

Air France-KLM is also a member of the SkyTeam, the alliance dedicated to providing passengers with a more seamless travel experience at every step of their journey with 19 member airlines working together across an extensive global network.

Recognized for 18 years as an industry leader in sustainable development, the Air France-KLM Group is determined to accelerate the transition to more sustainable aviation.