Page 20 - Chinese International Airmail to 1949

1.3 Dutch Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij (KLM) Service

Although the Dutch first flew the Amsterdam to Bandung route on 1 October 1924, the Chinese Post Office did not accept
mail until August 1933. Initially mail went via Hong Kong and then by sea to Singapore.

KLM west-bound service in 1936: Bandung, Batavia, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Medan, Penang, Bangkok, Rangoon,
Calcutta, Karachi, Djask, Bushire, Basra, Baghdad, Lydda, Alexandria, Athens and Amsterdam. The route between
Athens and Amsterdam varied: Winter ‑ Athens, Rome, Marseilles, Amsterdam; Summer ‑ Athens, Budapest,
Bratislava, Halle, Amsterdam.

In May 1940, following the German invasion of the Netherlands, the European terminus became Naples. As the war
heightened in Europe, the Chinese Post Office ceased accepting mail for the KLM service from 17 June 1940.

1.3.1 China to Singapore, KLM to Europe

Route 1.3.1. KLM Bandung to Amsterdam Service as illustrated in the KLM 1936 Timetable.

From the first acceptance of Chinese mail in August 1933 until 20 October 1938, the exchange point was Singapore.
From 21 October 1938 until 18 April 1939 mail was transferred at Saigon. A third transit place of Hanoi was used
from 19 April 1939 until the route ceased in July 1940.

The rate depended on the country of destination, although the rate to Western Europe was unified in April 1939.
Some examples:

Start date Surface Netherlands UK France Germany
first 20g Air per 5g Air per 5g Air per 5g Air per 5g
Aug 1933 0.25 0.45 0.47 0.44 ‡
17 Aug 1934 0.25 0.45 0.47 ‡ 0.44
19 Mar 1935 0.25 0.42 0.43 0.40 ‡
1 Jun 1935 0.20 0.33 0.35 ‡ 0.32
1 Feb 1936 0.25 0.42 0.43 0.40 ‡
5 Jun 1936 0.25 0.40 0.45 ‡ 0.40
19 Apr 1939 0.25 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50
1 Sep 1939 0.50 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
1 Nov 1939 0.50 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.75
17 Jul 1940 route ceased

‡ Direct mail to France or Germany was seasonal.
An additional $0.25 per 20g was payable if the CNAC air mail service to Singapore was used.