KLM Upgrades its World Business Class with Brand-New Seats

The Dutch flag carrier, KLM, unveiled a newly upgraded Boeing 777-300ER showcasing the airline’s new World Business Class and Premium Comfort Class.

KLM s has introduced new World Business Class seats. Tapis’ Vertical Surface Material, 9-series was used throughout this gorgeous interior. The panels seen on the doors and behind the seat were completed at our Texas facility. #klm #B77 #worldbusinessclass #commercialav #avgeek pic.twitter.com/QTz60D9EFo

— Tapis Corporation (@tapiscorp) June 29, 2023

Distinguished by its iconic ‘Orange Pride’ livery, a blend of KLM’s classic blue and the Netherlands’ national color, the aircraft has long been a favorite among passengers and aviation enthusiasts alike. This particular plane holds a special place in KLM’s history as it was the first of its kind received by the airline back in February 2008.

The aircraft had some upgrades done to its cabin, such as adding the Premium Comfort section and installing new Business Class seats, which required it to be temporarily grounded from mid-April to mid-June.

Photo: Orange Pride, Boeing 777-300ER. Courtesy of KLM.

The inaugural flight showcasing the new interior took place on June 23-24 on the route between Amsterdam-Schiphol and Los Angeles International. However, the official debut flight, attended by a delegation of KLM’s management, was on June 28, when ‘Orange Pride’ embarked on a journey to Cape Town, South Africa.

The New Cabin

KLM announced that the new cabin configuration and the upgraded World Business Class would gradually be introduced across its entire Boeing 777 fleet over the next year.

Photo: New World Business Class cabin. Courtesy of KLM.

The fleet comprises 15 777-200ERs and 16 777-300ERs. Currently, the two versions of the Triple Seven accommodate 320 (34 in Business Class and 286 in Economy) and 408 (34 in Business Class and 374 in Economy) passengers, respectively.

With the addition of the Premium Comfort cabin, these numbers will decrease to 288 (35 in Business Class, 24 in Premium Comfort, and 229 in Economy) and 381 (35 in Business Class, 24 in Premium Comfort, and 322 in Economy) passengers, respectively.

Photo: New World Business Class seat onboard the Boeing 777-300ER. Courtesy of KLM.

For the Business Class seating on the Boeing 777s, KLM opted for the same World Business Class product previously selected for its Boeing 787-10 fleet. Both cabins feature the renowned Jamco America Venture seats arranged in a reverse herringbone configuration, offering passengers an 18.5-inch HD touchscreen display.

The most notable improvement in the new cabin design is the 1-2-1 cross-section, ensuring every passenger has unobstructed access to the aisle. This marks a significant advancement from the previous 2-2-2 seating arrangement.

Photo: New World Business Class seat commands. Courtesy of KLM.

KLM emphasized that each seat in the upgraded cabin has a lightweight sliding door, allowing passengers to enjoy enhanced privacy while working, relaxing, or sleeping.

Other features include an adjustable lower-back support, a relaxed setting with a subtle back-massage feature, multiple accessible charging sockets, wireless charging options, and a lockable compartment with a built-in mirror for convenient storage of personal belongings.

Photo: New World Business Class cabin. Courtesy of KLM.

The investment in these upgrades reaffirms KLM’s commitment to its Boeing 777 fleet, despite the average age of the -200ER series being 18 years (while the -300ER series averages around ten years).

As part of the Air France-KLM group, the Dutch airline operates two additional aircraft types for its long-haul network, including the A330-200s and -300s and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in the -9 and -10 variants. This extensive fleet allows KLM to serve a range of destinations, including 12 United States locations during the summer of 2023.

Photo: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Courtesy of KLM.

With the new World Business Class and Premium Comfort Class, KLM aims to provide passengers with an exceptional and comfortable travel experience, solidifying its position as a leading airline in the global aviation industry.