KLM Takes Delivery of First Airbus A350, Starting Fleet Replacement
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has received its first Airbus A350-900 aircraft, named De Nachtwacht. The delivery marks the beginning of a fleet transition that will replace KLM's Boeing 777-200ERs and remaining Airbus A330s with the new aircraft. The A350-900 accommodates 331 passengers in three classes and features 34 Business Class suites, 26 Premium Comfort seats, and 271 Economy Class seats.
The aircraft was handed over to KLM in Toulouse on October 2, more than three years after Air France-KLM selected the A350 for a major renewal of its long-haul fleet. The A350 is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and has a range of up to 9,700 nautical miles (18,000 km), allowing KLM to deploy it across its long-haul network.
The introduction of the A350 increases the presence of newer-generation Airbus aircraft at KLM. The carrier is already receiving A321neos for its European network and currently operates 17 of these narrowbody jets. Air France has operated the A350 since 2019, giving the Air France-KLM Group several years of experience with the type before its introduction at the Dutch carrier.