KLM moves into the cloud

Over 11,000 crew members to migrate to Google Mail

KLM staff needed minimal training to use cloud-based email

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is migrating some 11,200 crew members to Gmail as part of a wider cloud computing deployment.

The carrier says staff familiarity with the Google consumer products meant minimal or no training was needed to use the email platform, which includes messaging tool Google Talk and a translation function.

According to the supplier, KLM has signed up to its entire premier application package and implementation of Gmail could be followed by the suite's calendar tool “in the near future”.

Other airlines interested in cloud-based tools for cabin crew use include EasyJet. The low-cost carrier is currently look into alternatives which include Microsoft and Google products.