Inside KLM’s new Airbus A350-900: New suites, premium economy and faster WiFi
March 30, 2026
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has provided a sneak peek of what its passengers can expect when flying on the Airbus A350-900, which will enter the airline’s fleet this year.
Although the airline has not issued a formal announcement of the new aircraft’s cabin, the location of passenger accommodation (LOPA) seat map has already been published on aeroLOPA.com, including full details of the cabin products installed.
KLM’s first A350s will seat 331 passengers across four cabins, combining new seating products with upgraded in-flight technology.
KLM A350 will feature a four-class cabin designed around premium demand
According to aeroLOPA, the KLM Airbus A350-900 aircraft will feature:
- 34 World Business Class seats
- 26 Premium Comfort seats
- 271 Economy seats (with 33 Economy Comfort seats)
The airline is balancing demand by diversifying its premium seating footprint while maintaining a large economy cabin.
KLM A350 World Business Class introduces Safran (Stelia) Opera suites
In business class, KLM has selected the Opera suite from Safran Seats (formerly Stelia Aerospace). These are the same business class suites that KLM partner Air France selected for its Airbus A350s.
The seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, ensuring direct aisle access for every passenger.
Key features include:
- 21” seat width with 42” row pitch
- Sliding privacy doors
- Storage space for personal items
- A 6′-7″ fully flat bed
- 19-inch 4K in-flight entertainment screen
- 110V universal AC and USB-C power sockets
The new suite design is a departure from KLM’s traditional business class cabins, favouring greater privacy. The airline’s newly redesigned 777-200LRs, equipped with Jamco Venture seats, offer a sliding privacy screen.
Premium Comfort: Collins Aerospace MiQ seats
KLM’s premium-economy cabin—marketed as Premium Comfort—will use the MiQ seat from Collins Aerospace, which the airline has also installed in its premium economy cabins on other widebody aircraft.
The seats will be arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration and offer 38” seat pitch, providing significantly more legroom than economy.
Other Premium Comfort features on the A350 include:
- 19”-wide seats with 8” recline
- A winged headrest for privacy
- Adjustable leg rest and pedal-style foot rest
- 16″ 4K UHD touchscreen in-flight entertainment display
- 110V universal AC and USB-C power sockets
KLM first introduced its Premium Comfort class in 2022, as a central part of the airline’s premium strategy. The premium economy product is installed across the airline’s long-haul fleet, except on its Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft.
Economy and Economy Comfort: Recaro R3 seating
In economy class, the airline has selected the RECARO Aircraft Seating R3 long-haul seat. The R3 is designed as a lightweight, next-generation economy seat with improved ergonomics and integrated in-flight entertainment options.
The seats will be installed in a 3-3-3 layout, a typical seat arrangement for the Airbus A350.
Features Include:
- 18” seat width with 4”-5” recline
- 30”-33” pitch
- A six-way adjustable headrest
- 13.3″ 4K UHD touch screen display for in-flight entertainment
- USB-C power sockets
Passengers seated in Economy Comfort, located toward the front of the economy cabin, will benefit from 4” extra legroom and 2” additional recline compared with the minimum in standard economy.
New in-flight entertainment and connectivity
Beyond seating, the A350 will introduce upgraded passenger technology throughout the cabin.
Each seat will feature Panasonic’s newest Astrova in-flight entertainment system, and high-speed WiFi enabled by Viasat satellites, an improvement over the Gogo 2Ku-band satellite service currently offered on many of the airline’s widebody planes.
These technology upgrades will boost the digital passenger experience on KLM’s newest long-haul aircraft.
A cornerstone of KLM’s fleet renewal
The Airbus A350 plays a central role in the airline’s fleet modernisation programme. KLM will take delivery of 22 A350-900 aircraft, as part of a group order from Air France-KLM with combined options for 40 more. These new aeroplanes will gradually replace the airline’s older Airbus A330 aircraft and some Boeing 777 variants.
According to reporting by Airways Magazine from a KLM media briefing at Airbus’ facility in Toulouse, the airline plans to debut the Airbus A350-900 on Amsterdam–Toronto and Amsterdam–Dar es Salaam routes.
As KLM’s first A350 nears delivery, the combination of the Airspace by Airbus cabin, new seating products, upgraded entertainment systems and modern connectivity suggests the aircraft will offer one of the airline’s best passenger experiences on long-haul flights.
Featured Image: KLM
