KLM Names First Airbus A350 The Night Watch as Dutch Masterpieces Take Flight

(NEWS) AMSTELVEEN, the Netherlands, 2026-Jun-15 — /Travel PR News/ — KLM is bringing Dutch cultural identity into its next phase of fleet renewal, naming its first Airbus A350 after Rembrandt’s The Night Watch as the airline prepares to introduce the aircraft into passenger service later this year.

According to a press release published by KLM, the name marks the start of a new naming theme for the airline’s Airbus A350 fleet, with future aircraft to be named after famous Dutch works of art. The first A350 is expected to arrive at the end of August, with its first commercial passenger flight scheduled for September to Toronto.

The choice of The Night Watch gives the aircraft a name closely tied to Dutch national heritage. Painted by Rembrandt van Rijn and displayed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the work is one of the Netherlands’ most recognisable cultural symbols and attracts visitors from around the world.

The Airbus A350 forms part of KLM’s wider fleet renewal programme, which includes a planned €7 billion investment in new aircraft. The airline says the A350 will be quieter and more fuel-efficient than the older-generation aircraft it is replacing.

The aircraft will be configured with 331 seats, including 34 in World Business Class, 26 in Premium Comfort and 271 in Economy Class. However, the World Business Class cabin will not be available when the first two A350 aircraft enter service because certification of the seats has not yet been completed following a revised interpretation of regulatory requirements. Premium Comfort and Economy Class will be available from the start.

KLM’s fleet renewal also includes Airbus A350F aircraft, Embraer 195-E2 aircraft for KLM Cityhopper, Airbus A321neo aircraft for European routes and new Boeing 787 aircraft for intercontinental services.