The first Airbus A350-900 aircraft scheduled for delivery to Dutch flag carrier KLM completed its maiden flight on September 4, 2026. Bearing the provisional registration F-WZNM, the widebody jet departed from France's Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) and returned to land at the same airport 1 hour and 34 minutes later, after executing a routine test flight circuit over southern France prior to its official customer delivery.
Named 'The Night Watch' after Rembrandt's iconic masterpiece, the widebody airliner is the first of 22 A350 aircraft that KLM is set to receive. The aircraft are part of a broader order for 50 aircraft, accompanied by 40 options, placed by the Air France-KLM Group in 2023. This delivery marks a significant milestone in KLM's fleet renewal, as the Dutch carrier undergoes a major transition toward Airbus after operating primarily Boeing aircraft for many decades. The airline's shift to Airbus began in January 2024 when it took delivery of its first A320neo.
'The Night Watch' is scheduled to enter commercial passenger service on October 23, 2026, representing a brief postponement from KLM's original target date of October 9, 2026. The new aircraft will make its commercial debut on the route connecting Amsterdam-Schiphol (AMS) Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). Operating under flight numbers KL691 and KL692, this transatlantic service is currently performed using Boeing 787 aircraft.
KLM's A350 configuration is designed to accommodate a total of 332 passengers, featuring 34 seats in business class, 26 in premium economy, and 271 in economy class. However, regulatory delays in seat certification mean that the Dutch airline may be required to operate its initial A350 commercial flights with an empty business class cabin until official certification approval is finalized.
