In September 2023, Air France-KLM placed an incremental order for up to 90 Airbus A350s, including 50 firm orders and 40 options. The intent was for these planes to be used for long term fleet renewal across both carriers.
Prior to this, Air France had already been flying Airbus A350s, while KLM’s wide body fleet renewal was focused on Boeing 787s. We’ve known that KLM would soon start taking delivery of the A350, and there’s now an update, as the first A350 has just been delivered, and will be entering service in the coming weeks. However, we may have to wait quite some time to fly in certain seats.
KLM plans long haul fleet renewal with Airbus A350s
KLM has just taken delivery of its first of at least 22 Airbus A350-900s, with all planes expected to join the fleet by 2030. The expectation is that the A350 will enter long haul service as of late October 2026, initially flying from Amsterdam (AMS) to Toronto (YYZ), followed by Montreal (YUL), Kilimanjaro (JRO), Dar es Salaam (DAR), and Zanzibar (ZNZ).
The intent is to use these planes for long haul fleet renewal, largely replacing Airbus A330s, and in the long run, some of the Boeing 777s (with the 777-200ERs leaving the fleet before the 777-300ERs, though the airline has invested nicely in the interiors of those planes). The A350 is an incredible aircraft in terms of range, fuel efficiency, and passenger experience.
KLM always has fun with naming its planes, and the first plane is named “The Night Watch,” after the renowned painting by Rembrandt. With this aircraft, KLM is introducing a new naming theme for the A350 fleet, inspired by famous Dutch works of art. For what it’s worth, the second plane will be named “Girl with a Pearl Earring.”
Here’s what KLM CEO Marjan Rintel had to say about the A350s joining the fleet:
“We’re delighted to welcome our first A350 to Schiphol. This is an important milestone for KLM and for the Netherlands. Fleet renewal is one of the most effective ways we can make our operations cleaner, quieter, and more fuel-efficient. We already have 17 A321neos flying on our European routes, and with the arrival of the A350, we’re taking the next step in renewing our intercontinental fleet. That means more comfort for our passengers, while also reducing our impact on our surroundings.”
KLM Airbus A350s have 331 seats in three cabins
What can passengers expect onboard KLM’s new Airbus A350-900s? The planes feature 331 seats, including 34 business class seats, 26 premium economy seats, 33 extra legroom economy seats, and 238 standard economy seats. aeroLOPA has the seat map for the plane, so it’s worth a look.
Airbus A350s represent a significant capacity increase over the planes that they’re primarily replacing, as currently A330-200s can accommodate 243 passengers, A330-300s can accommodate 292 passengers, and 777-200ERs can accommodate 316 passengers. Given the slot controls at Schiphol, it makes sense for the airline to increasingly operate higher capacity aircraft.
I don’t think this is surprising, but KLM isn’t going for a particularly premium layout here in terms of the number of business class seats vs. economy seats. For example, Air France’s newer A350-900s have 48 business class seats, so that’s a much bigger premium cabin. Obviously that reflects that Paris has a lot more premium demand than Amsterdam.
KLM has a problem with its new business class seats
In what can only be described as an incredibly common issue nowadays, the airline notes how “due to a revised interpretation of regulatory requirements by the aviation authorities, certification of the World Business Class seats has not yet been completed.” As a result, these seats unfortunately won’t be available when the first two aircraft enter service.
The seat manufacturer is working hard to complete the certification process as quickly as possible and make this cabin available to passengers. The airline notes how the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) “has now approved the test results for the WBC seats, allowing the certification process to begin.” Meanwhile all other seats and cabins will be available from day one.
Here’s what I find most noteworthy — KLM’s A350s feature the STELIA Aerospace OPERA seating platform in business class, the same product you’ll find on Air France’s newest A350s. Air France and KLM have the same regulator, so you’d think that if one product is certified, the other one would be as well.
But I appreciate KLM’s transparency here, noting that this issue is due to “revised interpretation of regulatory requirements.” So I guess Air France can keep taking delivery of the planes with the seat that’s already certified, while it’s proving an issue for a new airline? Man, the airline business isn’t easy, eh?
Bottom line
KLM has just taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-900. The planes are configured with 331 seats, and will initially fly to Canada and Tanzania. This should be a great new plane, and represents a nice modernization for the airline.
KLM A350s have similar business class seats to what you’ll find on the newer Air France A350s. The only catch is that the seats aren’t actually certified yet, due to “revised interpretation of regulatory requirements.” As airplane seats have evolved over the years, it’s amazing how much of an issue certification has become. I look forward to flying this plane… once all seats are certified!
What do you make of KLM adding the Airbus A350 to its fleet?
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