KLM moves ahead with World Class Business fleet refurbishing

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is moving ahead with its fleet refurbishing program, particularly its World Business Class. The airline has recently launched one of its newly revamped Boeing 747-200 aircrafts into the Vancouver market. The aircraft offers enhanced comfort features to premium customers. The Dutch carrier’s move is aimed at making a major dent in the business class market and garner big revenues.

Media reports said that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines organized a gala ceremony in Vancouver to showcase the upgraded Boeing 747-200 aircraft. The revamp of the Boeing fleet is being undertaken in five stages. The unveiling of the new aircraft is said to be a second part of the five-stage revamp. The airline prominently showcased the new World Business Class features, which mesmerized all those attending the launch function, which included media-persons.

During the first stage, the airline’s Boeing 747-400 aircrafts fleet was upgraded. The business class cabin has been configured with 2-by-2 seating. The current second stage involved the revamp of Boeing 747-200 aircrafts fleet, which offers 2-by-2-by-2 business class seating. The airline has also equipped its Boeing 777-200 aircrafts with 34 seats in World Business Class and 282 seats in Economy Class.

A spokesperson of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines said that the third stage of the revamp is now underway. During this stage, the revamp of Boeing 777-300 aircrafts fleet would take place, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. The business class cabins on the aircrafts would be configured two-by-two-by-two.

However, during the fourth stage the revamp of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircrafts would be undertaken. The World Business Class on the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircrafts would be configured with a 1-by-2-by-1 seating plan. During the fifth and concluding stage of the refurbishing exercise the airline’s Airbus A330 aircrafts would be retrofitted in 2017. The airline is yet to reveal its business class configuration on Airbus A330 aircrafts. It may be noted that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines launched the revamp of its World Business Class in 2013.