Contributor - Europe

Cathy Buyck

KLM will introduce its first Boeing 787-10 on Tuesday on services from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Kilimanjaro and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Powered by General Electric GEnx engines, the aircraft&nbsp;carries registration PH-BKA (msn 42485) and&nbsp;features a special livery to mark KLM’s centenary—though it missed the opening ceremony of the Dutch flag carrier's 100th-year celebrations on Saturday as it arrived one day late due to an unspecified documentation/ certification issue. KLM already operates 13 smaller 787-9s.

 


KLM becomes the first airline in Europe and the sixth operator in the world to receive the largest variant of the 787, after launch customer Singapore Airlines, Etihad Airways, United Airlines, All Nippon Airways, and EVA Air. Singapore accepted its first 787-10 in March 2018 and now flies 12.

 


The Dutch carrier plans to receive 15 of the largest Dreamliner, up from an initial eight, following a top-up order announced during the Paris Air Show for one unit on lease from Air Lease Corp and an order exchange with its French counterpart, Air France. Under the order swap, announced by Air France-KLM Group late last week, KLM will transfer the totality of its Airbus order for seven A350-900s to Air France, while Air France transfers outstanding orders for six 787s to KLM.&nbsp;The swap applies to deliveries scheduled between 2021 and 2023 and aims to “realize fleet efficiencies through harmonization and accelerated growth of similar aircraft at both airlines,” the Franco-Dutch group explained.

 


Currently, Air France operates nine 787-9s and expects one more aircraft to arrive in May 2020, resulting in a fleet of ten 787-9s for the French flag carrier next year. Air France will receive its first Airbus A350-900 in September. It holds an additional 20 on firm order, to which will join another seven A350-900s initially intended for KLM, for a total of 28 aircraft. KLM will fly an equal number of 787s—thirteen 787-9s and fifteen 787s—noted KLM president and CEO Pieter Elbers, who stressed&nbsp;that his airline is “happy to be able to expand the 787 fleet” via the order swap. “Both the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A350 are excellent aircraft,” he said. “From a fleet management perspective, optimizing the number of different aircraft types KLM operates is very important for our operational efficiency and productivity.” KLM’s widebody fleet includes A330-200/300s, Boeing 777-200ER/300ERs and 747s.&nbsp;

 


Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith characterized the 787/A350 swap as the “first step towards harmonizing and simplifying the Air France-KLM Group fleet at its two major airlines.” He did not disclose details, but the company said in a statement that “options for further fleet development at Air France within the Air France-KLM group is currently under study, in consultancy with all stakeholders.”

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

KLM to Deploy Its First Boeing 787-10 to East Africa

The Dutch airline plans to have 15 of the type in its fleet following an order swap with Air France.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charlotte Bailey

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Expanded facility at Cotswold Airport precedes final mass-production location 

Vertical Expands UK eVTOL Aircraft Manufacturing Site

Hanneke Weitering

Conforming prototype flew for about five minutes near Denver

Bye’s eFlyer 2 Electric Trainer Makes First Flight

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Company says F-104 Starfighter jets offer a “wind tunnel in the sky”

Starfighters Space Sells Mach 2 Testing by the Sortie

Charles Alcock

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

Fleet now includes MQ-4C Triton, MC-55A Peregrine and the P-8A Poseidon 

Australia Boosts Capability With Trio of ISR Platforms

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Aircraft entered service in 2015

Textron Aviation Marks Rollout of 500th Latitude

More than 270 Avanti variants have been delivered across four decades 

Piaggio Marks Avanti’s Ruby Anniversary, 40+ Evo Sales

News and information about crew, passenger, aircraft and airport security issues.

More In Aircraft

Vertical Expands UK eVTOL Aircraft Manufacturing Site

Expanded facility at Cotswold Airport precedes final mass-production location

Bye’s eFlyer 2 Electric Trainer Makes First Flight

Conforming prototype flew for about five minutes near Denver

Starfighters Space Sells Mach 2 Testing by the Sortie

Company says F-104 Starfighter jets offer a “wind tunnel in the sky”

Australia Boosts Capability With Trio of ISR Platforms

Fleet now includes MQ-4C Triton, MC-55A Peregrine and the P-8A Poseidon

Textron Aviation Marks Rollout of 500th Latitude

Aircraft entered service in 2015

Piaggio Marks Avanti’s Ruby Anniversary, 40+ Evo Sales

More than 270 Avanti variants have been delivered across four decades

F-35 Buy Approved As Saudis Struggle to Counter Houthi Threat

Trump administration says $24.3 billion deal will bolster Saudi Arabia's self-defense capability

Boeing Freighter Saga Raises Doubts Over Radia’s WindRunner

U.S. start-up sees commercial and military use cases for its clean-sheet cargo lifter design

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN