Last Friday, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines released pictures of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The aircraft is due to be put into service in October and features the airline’s new World Business Class (WBC) seats.
The WBC seats are based on Zodiac Cirrus’ outward facing seat model. Most notably, the new seats lie fully-flat and offer every passenger direct access to the aisle, something that is becoming more and more necessary to compete with the major Gulf carriers who continue to excel in offering comfort and luxury.
WBC seat on-board Boeing 787-9 There will be 30 WBC seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration at the front of the aircraft. Economy Comfort and Economy will also be offered on-board. WBC seats also offer a large storage space, a pillow and new blankets. The seat pitch is 42 inches (109cm), compared to 35 inches (89cm) in Economy Comfort and 31 inches (79 cm) in Economy. A “state of the art in-flight entertainment system” will be available on 16 inch screens, along with the option to game or chat on the handset while continuing to watch a film.
WBC cabin on-board Boeing 787-9 Economy seats have also been revamped, reclining 40% more than their predecessor. An electrical socket, 11 inch screen and a renewed in-fight entertainment system is also included. Boeing’s 787-9 Dreamliner is quieter and equipped with fuel efficient engines that produce at least 20% less CO2. The purchase of this aircraft by KLM is part of their fleet investment that began with the introduction of WBC on its Boeing 747 aircraft. From December, KLM will also introduce the Embraer 175 and 190 into its fleet. KLM will also debut WiFi on-board its 787-9 after recent successful trials.
Boeing 787-9 above tulip fields
Pieter Elbers - KLM President & CEO
said, “The Boeing 787-9 enables KLM to offer passengers even more comfort and privacy. KLM has chosen to add specific improvements to this special aircraft, which make it unique among other 787s. All these details add up to ensure our passengers can experience a new way to fly.” Overall, the interior of the new 787-9 Dreamliner appears attractive and practical. KLM’s signature blues and greys give a traditional feel to the cabin, and the fully-flat seats that offer direct aisle access are a much appreciated innovation. Larger windows, a higher cabin pressure and special LED-lighting will also add to the experience for passengers. KLM’s new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner’s maiden flight is scheduled for October 25 from Amsterdam to Abu Dhabi and onto Bahrain. Routes to Cairo, Xiamen, Rio de Janeiro, Chengdu, Tokyo and Shanghai are expected to follow.
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