KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Celebrate Delivery of Airline's First 787 Dreamliner

EVERETT, Wash /PRNewswire/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA) and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines are celebrating the delivery of the airline’s first 787-9 Dreamliner. Over the coming years the 787 will play a key role in the Dutch flag carrier’s fleet renewal and expansion. KLM acquired this airplane through leasing company AerCap.

“We are very proud to welcome our first Boeing 787 Dreamliner today,” said Pieter Elbers, KLM President & CEO. “This aircraft symbolizes a new phase in the future of KLM. Investment in our customers is one of our priorities. This efficient aircraft is part of that investment. It’s testimony to the great work of 33,000 KLM employees, who are committed to giving their best for our customers every day.”

In addition to today’s delivery, the Air France-KLM Group has 19 787-9s and six 787-10s on order and will lease 12 787s through AerCap. KLM will operate its first 787-9 on its Amsterdam – Abu Dhabi – Bahrain service.

The 787-9 complements and extends the 787 family. With the fuselage stretched by 6 meters (20 feet) over the 787-8, the 787-9 can fly up to 20 percent more passengers and 23 percent more cargo farther yet with the same exceptional environmental performance – 20 percent less fuel use and 20 percent fewer emissions than the airplanes they replace.

KLM was founded in 1919, and is the oldest airline still operating under its original name. Based at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, KLM is part of the Air France-KLM Group and serves 135 destinations worldwide. Over the past half century KLM has taken delivery of more than 200 Boeing airplanes.

Source Boeing / Edited By Airline Adviser 11/15/15