KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has added its first Airbus A321neo to the fleet. The first aircraft touched down in Amsterdam today and marks the beginning of the Dutch flag carrier’s narrowbody fleet renewal.
The plane will spend a few weeks performing familiarization flights before entering service in mid-September. Marjan Rintel, President & CEO of KLM, had this to say about the new aircraft:
“I’ve been looking forward to this with great anticipation. 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 A321neo will replace KLM’s aging Boeing 737 fleet. I’ve flown with the airline many times and the 737’s are long overdue for replacement. While comfortable, they are far from modern with an average age of roughly 18 years.
Passengers on the A321neo will experience more comfort thanks to wider seats, larger tray tables and more spacious luggage bins. Each seat is equipped with a USB-C port and a device holder for a smartphone or tablet. The aircraft also features a wider aisle and easy-to-open luggage bins.
The A321neo is part of a €7 billion fleet renewal effort that will see the carrier add additional A320 and A321neos, A350s, 787-10s, and Embraer E2s to the fleet over the coming years.
KLM plans to deploy the A321neo on flights between Amsterdam and Copenhagen, Berlin and Stockholm. As additional A321neos join the fleet, the carrier plans to extend service to Paris, Prague and Vienna. KLM expects to have four A321neos in the fleet by the end of 2024.
In keeping with the carrier’s tradition of naming its aircraft, all of KLM’s A321neos will feature butterfly names. The names of the first four A321neo aircraft will be Swallowtail (Koninginnepage), Peach Blossom (Braamvlinder), Common Brimstone (Citroenvlinder) and Clouded Magpie (Porseleinvlinder).
Summary
The next step in KLM’s fleet renewal program occured today as the Dutch flag carrier took delivery of its first Airbus A321neo. The airline plans to begin passenger service with the plane in mid-September, flying between its Amsterdam hub and Copenhagen, Berlin and Stockholm.
Being based in Austin, KLM is one of the easiest ways for me to get to Europe and I look forward to experiencing the carrier’s A321neo for myself soon!
(Images courtesy KLM)
