KLM wanted to expand this summer, but wasn't able because all slots were already given out. Allthough, to be honest, that problem was more with the airport than the coördinator. KLM wanted more slots too, but couldn't het them.
And while the russian government would close the airspace tot all Dutch airlines, KLM would have been the only/biggest loser in this dispute. Little wonder KLM tried tot solve it to prevent a huge loss on the flights niet going through russian airspace.
And the solution was partly giving up some of the slots of KLM.
While this whole ordeal stinks, I can't blame KLM for choosing this solution, since closure would meander byebye to most far eastern flights.