KLM Celebrates the Arrival of Its First New Airbus Aircraft in a Decade

KLM, the Dutch flag carrier, has received its first Airbus A321neo, marking the start of its move away from Boeing aircraft used on its European routes.

The arrival of the A321neo is a significant step in KLM’s efforts to promote cleaner, quieter, and more efficient flight operations. Compared to the airline’s current Boeing 737NGs, which it is replacing, the A321neo has engines that are about 21 percent more fuel efficient and emit less CO2, reducing noise production by almost 50 percent.

Photo: Courtesy of KLM

Onboard, the airline says its passengers can expect an improved flying experience with wider seats, spacious luggage bins, and larger tables that enhance comfort.

Likewise, crew members will benefit from wider aisles and ergonomic luggage bins, while each seat has a USB-C port and a mobile phone holder.

A look inside the first @Airbus @KLM A321neo pic.twitter.com/ivTlzgr3MZ

— Richard_on_aviation (@rschuur_aero) August 27, 2024

KLM has a tradition of giving its aircraft unique names based on themes such as aviation pioneers, national parks, and members of the Royal Family. This time, KLM’s employees chose the theme ‘butterflies’ for the new aircraft.

The first four aircraft have been named Swallowtail (Koninginnepage), Peach Blossom (Braamvlinder), Common Brimstone (Citroenvlinder), and Clouded Magpie (Porseleinvlinder).

Photo: Courtesy of Airbus

“I’ve been looking forward to this with great anticipation,” said Marjan Rintel, the airline’s President and CEO. “The arrival of the first A321neo marks the start of replacing our Boeing 737 fleet. The A321neo produces less noise and CO2 and therefore contributes significantly to a cleaner, quieter future. It also offers more comfort. I am looking forward to see how our passengers will experience the new aircraft.”

The brand-new KLM A321neo will begin running services from its base in Amsterdam to Stockholm, Berlin, and Copenhagen starting mid-September before extending operations to Prague, Paris, and Vienna.

The Success Behind the A321neo

Over 90 airlines have deployed the A321neo, highlighting its exponentially increasing popularity. It can accommodate 50 more passengers and has a greater operational range of 600 miles compared to the A320neo, underscoring why it’s so in demand.

Photo: Courtesy of KLM

The Dutch flag carrier will invest seven billion euros to regenerate its fleet in the next few years. While Airbus A321neo and A320neo aircraft will serve KLM’s primary European routes, its regional arm, KLM Cityhopper, will deploy two new Brazilian-made Embraer E2 models to fly alongside the Embraer 175 and 190 aircraft it currently uses.

KLM will primarily use a mixture of Boeing 787-10s and Airbus 350s on its international services going forward, with the older Boeing 777s and A330s set to be phased out.