The Invisible Power of Air France-KLM

When you think of Air France-KLM, you probably picture impressive airplanes. Not necessarily telecom. But while hundreds of thousands of passengers are taking off, there’s a lot happening behind the digital screens.

Our IT professionals ensure that networks and systems run smoothly every day. And believe us: this goes far beyond the onboard Wi-Fi. The funny thing is, the better these people do their jobs, the less you see of them. So, it’s time to put them in the spotlight.

Chaima is a Network Maestro

As a Service Operations Manager, Chaima is responsible for the LAN and Wi-Fi networks of Air France-KLM. "Long story short: I ensure that these networks continue to operate well, quickly, and without disruptions – worldwide."

Chaima's biggest challenge: squashing disruptions at the root. "Recently, we had a problem in Terminal 2G at Charles de Gaulle. The self-service desks weren’t working. You know, the screens where passengers check in and drop off their luggage. Can you imagine? Long lines, delays. That’s incredibly frustrating for passengers and costs Air France-KLM a lot of money." Chaima's team had to act immediately to fix the problem. "What I love about my job is that I get to see the direct impact. In this case, we ensured that passengers could continue their journey quickly."

Manar is a Cybersecurity Gatekeeper

Manar is a cybersecurity expert and project manager at Air France-KLM’s telecom team. By securing our network environment, Manar keeps the risks of cyberattacks as small as possible. "I mainly focus on the security of our internal network. Of course, it's well protected – we handle so much sensitive data, we’re careful with it."

"However, you don’t want to leave anything to chance. Take the flight simulators – a crucial part of pilot training. If they aren’t properly secured, flight safety could be at risk because pilots might learn incorrect procedures. If an attack breaches the first, second, or third security layer, it’s up to me and my colleagues to identify and neutralize it before any harm is done."

Jordy is a Future Engineer

As a network engineer, Jordy is involved in a large and complex project: the relocation of our data centers. It probably comes as no surprise: it’s quite a job, where countless amounts of data, applications, and network settings need to be seamlessly transferred from old to new data centers. "We’re working on migrating thousands of applications and petabytes of data. The challenge is making sure everything keeps running smoothly during and after the move. In other words – as is and without downtime," Jordy explains.

But his work goes beyond just moving data. "Network engineering is changing fast. Right now, I’m working a lot with coding and script development to automate my work. In short, moving away from traditional network engineering toward a more software-oriented approach. It’s faster and easier. The great thing is, at Air France-KLM, you have all the space to do that."

Ron is a Data Center Strategist

Ron has worked at Air France-KLM for over thirty years and is an expert in data center infrastructure. He coordinates the data center relocation and works closely with Jordy and his team on it. "Moving all that data? It takes a lot of planning and teamwork. We’re dealing with countless applications and systems, each with its own complexities. Timing and coordination are crucial."

Telecom at Air France-KLM

From cybersecurity to data centers: as a telecom expert at Air France-KLM, you can choose from a wide range of challenging roles. Still, all our IT professionals have one thing in common: their love for technology, aviation, and Air France-KLM. Here, you’ll have the chance to work at the cutting edge of technology and innovation. And you’ll have a direct impact on the success of one of the world’s largest aviation organizations. If you’re looking for a challenging telecom career, you’ve found your next destination with us.

"Go to techdata.klm.com for more stories about IT at KLM."