First Airbus A321neo for KLM: milestone in cleaner, quieter and more fuel-efficient flying

KLM took delivery of the first Airbus A321neo at Schiphol Airport on Tuesday, August 27. The arrival of this new aircraft is an important step in the large-scale fleet renewal with which KLM is giving new impetus to cleaner, quieter and more economical flying. The A321neo will fly to a number of European destinations starting in mid-September.

New engine option

The ‘neo’ stands for ‘new engine option’: the aircrafts are equipped with new engines that emit less CO2 than their predecessors. Per passenger kilometer, the A321neo is about 21% more fuel-efficient than the Boeing 737 aircraft it replaces. In addition, the aircraft creates less noise pollution, with a noise footprint that is 50% smaller, reducing disturbance to local residents.

Greater comfort and convenience

Passengers on the A321neo experience greater comfort thanks to wider seats, larger tables and spacious overhead bins. Each seat is equipped with a USB-C port and a holder for mobile or tablet. The aircraft also offers more convenience for the crew, including a wider aisle and easy-to-open luggage bins. The interior is designed to enhance the KLM experience, with more recognizable details and “mood lighting” that adjusts lighting to each stage of the journey.

Butterfly names

The A321neo will start flying to Copenhagen, Berlin and Stockholm from mid-September, followed by Paris, Prague and Vienna. KLM is adding three more new A321neo aircraft to its fleet this year. With this new series of aircraft, KLM continues its tradition of giving aircraft unique names. Over the past 104 years, various themes have passed by, from names of members of the Royal House to bridges, aviation pioneers and national parks. Marjan Rintel: “This time, KLM employees were allowed to choose the theme. The winning theme became butterflies, which ties in nicely with the transformation we are initiating with the new fleet. The names of the first four A321neo aircraft are Queen butterfly, Bramble butterfly, Lemon butterfly and Porcelain butterfly.”

Fleet renewal

KLM is investing seven billion in fleet renewal over the next few years, a substantial share of its total investment portfolio. On European routes, KLM is replacing older 737s with A320neo and A321neo aircrafts. At KLM Cityhopper, new E2 models will replace the Embraer 175 and 190. For intercontinental flights, KLM is adding five new Boeing 787-10s, followed by the Airbus A350 that replaces the older 777s and A330s. Finally, KLM has ordered four A350Fs for its cargo division to replace the 747 freighters.