Toronto Pearson to welcome KLM’s first Airbus A350

As KLM Royal Dutch Airlines prepares to welcome its first Airbus A350, the airline is continuing its long tradition of naming its aircraft according to a theme — from famous City Squares and Unesco World Heritage sites to flowers.

For the A350 fleet, KLM has chosen iconic Dutch Masterpieces as its new naming theme. This first aircraft will be named The Night Watch after Rembrandt’s renowned painting.

The Night Watch is one of the Netherlands’ most celebrated paintings and is arguably the country’s best-known work of art.

KLM expects to receive its first Airbus A350 at the end of August.

Toronto chosen as inaugural destination

Notably, the aircraft is scheduled to enter commercial service in September, with Toronto chosen as its inaugural destination — making it the first city in KLM’s network to welcome the airline’s newest aircraft.

This summer, KLM will operate up to 40 weekly flights from Canada to Amsterdam, serving five gateways: Toronto (14 weekly flights), Vancouver (7), Calgary (7), Montreal (7), and Edmonton (5).

KLM’s fleet renewal

The Airbus A350 is part of KLM’s ongoing fleet renewal.

The aircraft, which is being built in Toulouse, France, is quieter and more fuel-efficient than the previous generation of aircraft it will replace.

Over the coming months, it will undergo final preparations before being delivered to KLM at the end of the summer.

Certification of World Business Class Seats

The Airbus A350 features a total of 331 seats: 34 seats in World Business Class (WBC), 26 seats in Premium Comfort, and 271 seats in Economy Class.

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 will unfortunately not 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 class available to customers at the earliest opportunity,” reads a press release.

Premium Comfort, which offers additional legroom, enhanced comfort, and a dedicated onboard dining experience, will be available from day one.

Over the coming years, KLM says it will invest €7 billion in fleet renewal.

In addition to the introduction of the Airbus A350 and the Airbus A350F, this investment includes new Embraer 195-E2 aircraft for KLM Cityhopper, the latest Airbus A321neo aircraft for European routes, of which KLM currently operates sixteen, and new Boeing 787 aircraft for intercontinental services.