KLM Royal Dutch Airlines takes delivery of its first Airbus A350-900

Dutch national carrier KLM, member of the Air France-KLM Group, has taken delivery of its first A350-900. The milestone marks the introduction of the latest generation widebody for long-haul operations as part of the airline’s ongoing fleet renewal. KLM currently operates an Airbus fleet of ten A330 Family aircraft and seventeen A321neos. The A350 will be operated on long-haul routes from its home base in Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to destinations like Toronto, strengthening the airline’s global network. The newly delivered A350 for KLM seats 331 passengers in a three-class layout, featuring 34 Business Class suites with direct aisle access, 26 Premium Comfort seats, and 271 Economy seats. The aircraft is equipped with a comfortable and spacious Airspace cabin, designed to improve the long-haul experience for both passengers and crew through enhanced ergonomics and greater comfort, offering larger luggage capacity, advanced ambient lighting, and high-speed satellite connectivity. The A350 is the world’s most modern widebody aircraft, designed to fly up to 9,700 nautical miles / 18,000 kilometres non-stop, setting new standards for intercontinental travel. The aircraft includes state-of-the-art technologies and aerodynamics delivering unmatched standards of efficiency and comfort. Its latest generation Rolls-Royce engines and use of lightweight materials bring a 25 per cent advantage in fuel burn, operating costs and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, compared to previous generation competitor aircraft. At the end of August 2026, the A350 Family had won over 1,620 orders from 69 customers worldwide. Airbus delivers first batch of next-gen satellites for OneWeb constellation   (PHOTO: Airbus) Airbus Defence and Space has delivered 32 latest-generation OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites to Eutelsat. The satellites are currently being prepared for shipment from Airbus’ constellation satellite production facility in Toulouse, France, ahead of an upcoming launch in the USA. This marks a major milestone in Eutelsat’s programme to renew and enhance the OneWeb constellation. These satellites form the first wave of Eutelsat’s fleet of 669 next-generation OneWeb satellites. As the new spacecraft progressively replace those nearing the end of their operational lives, they will ensure uninterrupted service for customers while boosting overall network capabilities. The programme enables Eutelsat to continue delivering secure, resilient LEO connectivity to businesses, governments, and institutions worldwide. “This is an exciting moment for Eutelsat as our first new OneWeb satellites leave the production line and head for launch. For our customers, it demonstrates our commitment to keep delivering the connectivity they rely on as we renew the network. For Europe, it demonstrates our ability to build and sustain a global LEO capability,” said Jean-François Fallacher, Chief Executive Officer of Eutelsat. “This moment holds dual importance for us: it symbolises our industrial relocalisation and confirms our capability to deliver satellites at high-volume and cadence. It reinforces our credibility in empowering our customers within the increasingly critical constellation market,” said Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus Defence and Space. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]