KLM names first Airbus A350 after Rembrandt’s ‘The Night Watch’
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has announced that the newest addition to its fleet, an Airbus A350-900, will be named ‘The Night Watch’ after the famous painting created by the renowned Dutch artist Rembrandt.
The aircraft, which is due to be delivered to the carrier in August this year, introduces a new name theme for its incoming Airbus A350 fleet, inspired by Dutch works of art.
KLM names its first A350 after a famous Rembrandt painting
On 15 June, the airline posted photos of its latest addition in the paint hangar at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) in France, where the aircraft is undergoing final preparations before its delivery.
The aircraft, to be registered PH-ZNA, will be the first of 22 of the type to be delivered to the carrier over the next few years. The type will be used to replace older Airbus A330s and Boeing 777s in the carrier’s long-haul fleet.
Setting a new theme of Dutch masterpieces for its A350 fleet, the first aircraft has been named ‘De Nachtwacht’ / ’The Night Watch’ after the painting created by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn in 1642.
The painting, also known by its full title of ‘Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq’, is one of the most famous paintings by the Dutch artist and is world-renowned as representing the height of the Dutch Golden Age of baroque art during the 17th-century Dutch artistic boom.
“For the Airbus A350 fleet, KLM has chosen to name its aircraft after iconic Dutch artworks,” KLM said in a statement. “The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn is one of the Netherlands’ most celebrated paintings and is arguably the country’s best-known work of art.
Visitors from around the world travel to the Rijksmuseum to see it. The first aircraft, therefore, carries a name that is deeply rooted in Dutch culture and instantly recognisable around the globe,” the statement added.
The tradition of naming aircraft after designated themes has long been a rich part of both aviation culture as well as part of KLM.
While its growing fleet of Airbus A321s is named after birds and butterflies, other themes used over the years have included Dutch art (Airbus A310s), bridges (Boeing 767s), mountains (Boeing 777s) and famous individuals from aviation history (Boeing 747s).
Seating certification delays will affect the first two KLM A350s
The Airbus A350 is part of KLM’s ongoing fleet renewal, with the first widebody scheduled to join the carrier in late August 2026. The airline also has six A350F on order as part of a joint order for the type with Air France.
The aircraft is scheduled to operate its first passenger flight in September 2026, with Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) in Canada as its inaugural destination. The aircraft is expected to replace the current A330 on the Amsterdam to Toronto route, likely operating flights KL695/696, according to industry sources.
KLM’s new A350-900s will feature a total of 331 seats in total across three cabins. This will include 34 seats in business class, 26 seats in premium economy, and 271 seats in economy class.
However, also on 15 June, the carrier warned that due to a revised interpretation of regulatory requirements by the Dutch aviation authorities, certification of the aircraft’s World Business Class seats had not yet been completed.
As a result, KLM said that these seats will not be fitted to the first two A350 aircraft upon service entry. The airline advised that the seat manufacturer was “working hard to complete the certification process as quickly as possible and make this cabin class available to customers at the earliest opportunity.”
Premium Comfort (the airline’s premium economy product) will be available from day one, added the airline.
A350s form part of a wider fleet modernisation plan
KLM’s relationship with the A350 is rather complicated because there have been two separate orders placed with Airbus as part of an amalgamated Air France-KLM Group transaction.
Originally, the Group placed orders for 25 A350-900s in June 2013, with KLM slated to receive its initial aircraft as part of this order. However, some of these slots were transferred back to Air France as KLM’s strategy at the time was to focus on expanding its operations with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
However, in 2023, Air France–KLM signed a further agreement with Airbus for 50 more Airbus A350s, consisting of both A350-900s and the larger A350-1000s, plus options for 40 more airframes.
From this order, KLM was allocated 22 A350-900s, with deliveries due to begin in summer 2026.
Over the coming years, KLM is investing $8 billion in its fleet renewal programme. In addition to the introduction of the Airbus A350 and the Airbus A350F, the investment includes new Embraer 195-E2 aircraft for KLM Cityhopper, more Airbus A321neos for European routes (of which KLM currently operates sixteen), as well as more Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft for intercontinental services.
Featured image: KLM
