KLM took delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 on October 2 in Toulouse. Registered PH-ZNA and named De Nachtwacht, it is KLM’s first return to the type since it ceded its A350s to Air France in 2019; KLM has ordered 22 aircraft. From October 23, this aircraft will operate Amsterdam–Toronto in place of an A330, followed by Montreal and East Africa routes.

The aircraft has 331 seats: 34 in business class, 26 in premium economy, 33 in Economy Comfort, and 238 in economy:

  • World Business Class: Private suites with sliding privacy doors in a 1-2-1 layout, so every seat has direct aisle access. The seats convert into fully flat beds and include large screens, side tables, and storage. Meals are served as multi-course dining, with lounge access, priority check-in, security and boarding, plus priority baggage. This is the most expensive cabin on the aircraft.

  • Premium Comfort: A separate cabin in a 2-4-2 layout, with wider seats, greater recline comparable to a small business-class recliner, more legroom, better meals, and priority check-in and boarding. It is sold as its own fare cabin and costs substantially more than economy.
  • Economy Comfort: The same seats as regular economy, located at the front of the economy cabin with a few extra inches of legroom, roughly 34 inches of pitch. It is not a separate cabin, but a paid seat-selection product that can be added after booking.
  • Economy: Standard 3-3-3 economy seating with normal pitch.

There is, however, an awkward detail: the 34 new World Business Class suites on the first two delivered aircraft must remain closed and empty while EASA certification is completed. The aircraft will fly, but only the cabins behind business class will be sold. KLM says that a reinterpretation of regulatory requirements by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) caused the delay. EASA has approved the test results and the formal certification process has just started; according to InsideFlyer, it may take until mid-2027. KLM acknowledged the issue in a dedicated section of its official release.

More awkwardly, the same seat is already certified and flying on Air France’s newest A350s.

If you are booking Amsterdam–Toronto soon and see an A350 operating the flight, do not expect business-class availability. Check the cabins being sold carefully when booking.

Source: KLM official release

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