Wow - unbelievable, especially as the KLM Loyalty programme is called "Flying Blue"
French investigation authority BEA has detailed its concern over the way the flight to Courchevel mountain airfield was arranged, after the passenger organising the trip believed the service was associated with Air France-KLM. The flight – on 8 February 2019 – was actually a private one, arranged through an internet platform called Bluewings which put passengers in contact with aircraft owners and pilots.
Bluewings had been assisted by a start-up studio for new businesses, called BigBlank, which was a subsidiary of Air France-KLM created to incubate innovative travel projects. BigBlank helped create the Bluewings platform. The Bluewings website indicated, in small print, that it was not an airline and its purpose was to facilitate travel by connecting passengers with pilots and aircraft.
But when the passenger paid for the hire of the aircraft and pilot, through a single invoice, the bank transfer details mentioned BigBlank and Air France-KLM, giving the impression that the airline group was involved. BEA adds that other services proposed on the website, such as hotel transfer, could “resemble” those of commercial transport, even while remaining in the scope of private operation.