KLM

Take-off 1995 The Netherlands

KLM based its whole advertising strategy on swans and this is one of its beautiful commercials featuring this majestic bird. It appears as it if was taxiing for take-off with a voice over the P.A. asking flight attendants to set doors on automatic, setting flaps for take-off, testing flight controls, and calling the take-off speeds. All, with the sounds of jet engines, and Randy Crawford's "One Day I'll Fly Away".

View this commercial (downloadable AVI movie, 2.14 MB, from the old KLM website)

View alternate version of this scene (external link to YouTube)

Coming home 1995 The Netherlands

"Good morning Schiphol Tower, this is KLM 164, reducing airspeed to 200 knots, descending to 1000 feet..." This time, a swan is turning for a final approach to a lake. As its feet touch the clear blue water, the sound of tires screeching is heard, as well as the usual thrust reversers. All of that, as a version of Tom Jones' "The Green Green Grass of Home" is heard, with lyrics saying "The old home town looks the same, as I step down from the plane" (the original song says "the train.") The author took the liberty of adding English subtitles.

View this commercial (downloadable AVI movie, 2.71 MB, from the old KLM website)

Easy Early 2000s The Netherlands

If you think the swan TV commercial saga is over, think again. This is another beautiful ad, portraying how easy air travel should be. The song, "Easy (Like Sunday Morning)" from The Commodores is as relaxing as its message in Dutch. Thanks to Pieter, the airodyssey.net visitor who suggested this commercial, the author took the liberty of adding English subtitles.

View this commercial (downloadable AVI movie, 1.92 MB, from Reclame.nl)

Reliable Early 2000s The Netherlands

Another quality KLM wants to portray: how reliable (Betrouwbaar in Dutch) the airline is. It's all in its slogan. It's almost poetic: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by The Supremes, the rock-solid hymn to love, along with a rock-solid flying V formation of swans, is all it takes to portray this. Keep your eyes wide open for the unexpected morphing effect at the end! Thanks to Pieter, the airodyssey.net visitor who suggested this commercial, the author took the liberty of adding English subtitles.

View this commercial (downloadable AVI movie, 1.95 MB, from Reclame.nl)

Train Early 2000s The Netherlands

In one word: clever. The swan gracefully swims, leaving a trail that looks like a train track. It comes from an old alliance under which KLM passengers could ride the Dutch Railways from Amsterdam to Schiphol Airport for free, and back, therefore going "outbound together, homebound together" as the text says. And what song could go with this? Albert Hammond's "I'm A Train", of course! Thanks to Pieter, the airodyssey.net visitor who suggested this commercial, the author took the liberty of adding English subtitles.

View this commercial (downloadable AVI movie, 1.52 MB, from Reclame.nl)

Race Early 2000s The Netherlands

Two businessmen are in Thailand and one suddenly sends the other an SMS: "Race for who gets home first." It's "The Amazing Race", KLM version, except that "home" takes a whole different turn. The 1960s Thai song in the background is a fast-paced version of "Loomsiah" by Payom Moogda, which was inspired by Little Richard's "Lucille". Thanks to Pieter, the airodyssey.net visitor who suggested this commercial, the author took the liberty of adding English subtitles.

View this commercial (downloadable AVI movie, 2.39 MB, from Reclame.nl)

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