KLM’s first Airbus A350-900 arrives in Amsterdam as long-haul fleet renewal advances

KLM’s first Airbus A350-900 arrived at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) on October 2, 2026, formally joining the airline’s fleet. Registered PH-ZNA, the aircraft departed Toulouse, France, on its delivery flight and landed at Schiphol at approximately 4:10 p.m. local time, marking an important milestone in KLM’s introduction of the A350 family.

PH-ZNA is named after The Night Watch (De Nachtwacht), the famous painting by Dutch artist Rembrandt. KLM previously announced that its A350 fleet would be named after well-known Dutch works of art. The first aircraft carries the name The Night Watch, and subsequent deliveries will follow the same theme.

The aircraft departed the Airbus delivery centre at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) using the commemorative delivery flight number KL350. On arrival at Schiphol, it landed on the Buitenveldertbaan runway before being escorted by airport vehicles to the KLM hangar.

KLM’s A350-900 has a three-class cabin with 331 seats: 34 in World Business Class, 26 in Premium Comfort and 271 in economy class. Air France-KLM said the A350 forms part of the group’s ongoing renewal of its long-haul fleet. Compared with older-generation widebody aircraft currently operated by KLM, the new type can reduce fuel consumption and noise. KLM said that, compared with the Boeing 777-200ER, the A350 can use approximately 25% less fuel and reduce its noise footprint by around 40%.

KLM plans to use the A350 to gradually renew its long-haul widebody fleet, initially replacing the Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 and later some Boeing 777-200ERs. The airline has planned to introduce 22 A350-900s, drawn from the Air France-KLM group’s A350 orders with Airbus.

The first A350 is expected to enter commercial passenger service in late October, initially flying between Amsterdam and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). KLM also plans to deploy the A350 on long-haul routes to Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL), Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam (DAR), Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi (NBO), and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar (ZNZ).

With PH-ZNA’s arrival in the Netherlands, KLM formally becomes an Airbus A350 operator. Air France, its fellow group airline, has operated the A350 since 2019. KLM’s introduction of the same type further expands the A350’s role in Air France-KLM’s long-haul fleet renewal and fleet commonality.