KLM has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321neo. Let’s take a look at what the aircraft looks from the inside as well as KLM’s plans for these aircraft.
KLM Airbus A321neo
Dutch national carrier KLM has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321neo, registered PH-AXA. KLM says that the arrival of this new aircraft type “is an important step in the rigorous renewal programme initiated by KLM to support cleaner, quieter, and more efficient flight operations”.
KLM’s A321neos feature 227 seats, including 30 European Business Class seats (Economy seats with middle seat blocked) and 197 standard Economy seats. The airline has chosen RECARO BL3710 seats for Business Class and SL3710 seats for Economy Class.
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.
Marjan Rintel, President & Chief Executive Officer, KLM said.
The seats are 17-inches wide and feature larger tray tables in addition to a USB-C port and a holder for a mobile or tablet. The aircraft also offers more convenience for the crew, including a wider aisle and easy-to-open luggage bins. The cabin features Airbus’ Airspace cabin with XL bins. The larger bins provide 60% more luggage capacity for a more relaxed boarding experience for passengers and cabin crew.
The “neo” in A321neo stands for “New Engine Option”. These aircraft are equipped with new CFM LEAP-1A engines that emit less CO2 than their predecessors. Measured per passenger tonne kilometre, the A321neo is around 21% more fuel efficient than the Boeing B737 aircraft it replaces at KLM. Additionally, the aircraft reduces noise impact – essentially halving its noise footprint – causing far less disturbance to residents.
Stay up to date: Sign up for my newsletter to never miss latest Aviation and Travel news.
Plans for A321neo
From mid-September, KLM’s first A321neo will start operating flights to Copenhagen, Berlin and Stockholm, followed by Paris, Prague and Vienna. The airline will be taking delivery of three more A321neo aircraft this year, registered PH-AXB, PH-AXC and PH-AXD, in September, November and December respectively.
With this new aircraft series, KLM continues its tradition of giving aircraft unique names. Different themes have featured over the past 104 years, from names of members of the Royal Family to bridges, aviation pioneers and national parks. For A321neos, the airline’s employees were allowed to choose the theme. “Butterflies” emerged as the winning theme. The names of the first four A321neo aircraft will be Swallowtail (Koninginnepage), Peach Blossom (Braamvlinder), Common Brimstone (Citroenvlinder) and Clouded Magpie (Porseleinvlinder).
KLM’s fleet renewal program
KLM will be investing seven billion euros in its fleet renewal programme over the next few years, which accounts for a substantial share of its total investment portfolio. On European routes, KLM will be replacing its older Boeing B737s with Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft. At KLM Cityhopper, new E2 models will join the Embraer 175 and 190 aircraft.
For intercontinental flights, KLM will be adding five new Boeing B787-10s, followed by the Airbus A350 replacing the older B777s and A330s. Finally, KLM has ordered four A350Fs for its cargo division to replace the 747 freighters.
Thoughts on KLM’s A321neo
KLM getting A321neos is a big deal as it helps the airline fly longer and possibly serve thin routes (as A321neo’s range is larger than B737s it replaces) where deploying a wide-body aircraft is not feasible. The carrier has 100 A320neo and A321neo aircraft on order, with options for 60 more. These aircraft are intended for KLM and its low cost subsidiary Transavia. This order is also a big win for Airbus as KLM and Transavia have historically been B737 operators.
While it may not be easy to fill in 227 seats on every flight, it’s good for KLM given how its hub – Amsterdam Schiphol – is slot constrained.
KLM’s A321neos seat 227 passengers, something not common for “legacy full service carriers”. Just to give you an idea, SWISS’ A321neos have 219 seats, Lufthansa’s A321neos have 215 seats and British Airways’ A321neos have 218-220 seats. KLM has a denser configuration, meaning that it will be a tight squeeze at the back of the plane.
KLM A321neo’s first six rows features 32 inches of seat pitch (usually used for Business Class); 30 inches of seat pitch in rows seven up to exit rows and 28 inches of seat pitch from row 20 until the end. I don’t know what KLM is thinking here but this definitely seems tight.
Featured image by KLM
What do you think of KLM getting its first A321neo aircraft? Are you excited to fly it? Let me know in the comments section below.
Follow IH Aviation and Travel on Social Media on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.