The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
The Schiphol Noise Cap Forced KLM Back To The Airbus Widebody It Once Refused
Amsterdam slot limits and rising fuel costs push KLM to swap older 777s for A350s that promise lower noise and higher per-flight yield.
The Schiphol Noise Cap Forced KLM Back To The Airbus Widebody It Once Refused
Seven years ago, Air France-KLM reallocated the Airbus A350 from KLM to Air France, moving seven A350-900s and shifting six Boeing 787s in the opposite direction to concentrate Dreamliners at Amsterdam Schiphol. This strategy marked a significant shift in the group’s widebody allocation.
Recent developments show a reversal of that earlier plan. Air France-KLM ordered 50 A350-900s and A350-1000s in 2023, with 40 additional purchase rights, and KLM is now preparing to operate 22 A350-900s of its own.
Amsterdam slot limits and rising fuel costs are cited as factors influencing the fleet reshuffle. The carrier is swapping older 777s for A350s, which are expected to offer lower noise levels and higher per-flight yields.
The outcome is that KLM is moving back toward Airbus widebodies after previously being redirected away from the type, aligning with the group’s broader order and capacity strategy.