October 3, 2026 — KLM (KL) took delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 at Amsterdam Schiphol on October 2. The aircraft will enter service with its business class cabin empty, because the seats are not yet certified.
What happened
The aircraft is named “The Night Watch” after the Rembrandt painting. It is the first of the A350s that will replace KLM’s Boeing 777-200ERs and Airbus A330-200s and A330-300s. The jets come from an Air France-KLM group order placed in 2023 for 50 A350s, with options for 40 more.
KLM expects passenger flights to begin within a few weeks. Toronto is the first destination. Montreal, Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Nairobi and Zanzibar follow. Exact first-flight dates: TBA.
The catch is up front. KLM says a revised reading of the rules by aviation authorities means certification of its World Business Class seats is not finished. One Mile at a Time reports the business cabin will stay empty for now, while premium economy and economy fly from day one. A date for the business cabin to open: TBA.
KLM’s A350-900 at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Delivered | October 2, 2026, Amsterdam Schiphol |
| Total seats | 331 |
| World Business Class | 34 suites (not yet certified) |
| Premium Comfort | 26 |
| Economy | 271, of which 33 are extra-legroom seats |
| First route | Amsterdam–Toronto; date TBA |
| Second aircraft | To be named “Girl with a Pearl Earring”; delivery date TBA |
The A350 is the centerpiece of a €7 billion fleet renewal that also covers the A350F freighter, Embraer E2s and Boeing 787s. Chief executive Marjan Rintel called fleet renewal “one of the most effective ways” to make the operation cleaner and quieter.
KLM Cityhopper holds its network flat this winter
Separately, Aviation Week reports that regional arm KLM Cityhopper will add no new destinations this winter. It flies 59 Embraer jets to about 80 European cities and operates roughly half of all KLM flights. A KLM spokesperson said it is uncertain whether the unit will make money this year, and warned that if fuel prices stay where they are, flight reductions or grounded aircraft are possible. No cuts have been announced.
What it means for non-revs
- No business class on the first A350 flights. With 34 suites blocked, there is nothing to upgrade into. Standby odds on those flights rest on the 26 Premium Comfort and 271 economy seats.
- Check the aircraft type on Toronto first. Once the A350 starts, flights it operates will have a different premium seat count from other KLM long-haul aircraft on the route. Look at the seat map before you list.
- Africa and Montreal come next. Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Nairobi and Zanzibar are on the list. Dates are not published, so recheck equipment close to travel.
- Keep an eye on Cityhopper. Any cut to European feeder flights would tighten loads into Amsterdam for long-haul connections. For now it is a warning, not a schedule change.
Sources
- AirlineGeeks — KLM Takes Delivery of Its First A350
- One Mile at a Time — KLM’s First Airbus A350 Delivered, But Business Class Will Stay Empty For Now
- AeroTime — KLM welcomes its first Airbus A350, named ‘The Night Watch’
- Aviation Week — KLM Cityhopper To Stabilize Network This Winter Amid High Costs
