KLM's long-awaited Airbus A350-900s finally have a schedule. The Dutch carrier will launch the type on October 30 — about a week later than originally planned — flying from Amsterdam Schiphol to Toronto Pearson five times a week, stepping up to daily service on March 3. A month later, on November 30, Montréal–Trudeau joins the list at three flights a week.
Africa gets a share too, and in a slightly unusual way. From December 1, the A350 will run twice weekly on a triangular routing: Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro, onward to Dar es Salaam, then nonstop home to Schiphol. From December 6, a second triangle adds Zanzibar — Amsterdam to Zanzibar, back via Dar es Salaam — running weekly at first and twice weekly from January 8 to February 19. For anyone flying to Tanzania's main tourist gateways, that means the newest jet in KLM's fleet could be the one taking you there.
It has been a bumpy road to this point. The first A350 entered final assembly in Toulouse in April, was unveiled in June, and made its first flight only this month. One quirk worth knowing: regulatory issues mean the jet will initially enter service with its business class cabin sealed off, so early passengers will effectively be flying a two-class aircraft.
On board, the A350-900 seats 331 passengers across three cabins. Business class has 34 flatbeds in a 1-2-1 layout, so every seat has direct aisle access. Premium economy offers 26 recliners in a 2-4-2 configuration with extra pitch and width plus 16-inch screens — a sensible middle option on nine-hour transatlantic legs. Economy holds 271 seats with 13.3-inch screens, 33 of them branded Economy Comfort with more legroom.
Why should a traveller care? The A350 is quieter, cleaner and more fuel-efficient than much of the current widebody fleet, which usually translates into a calmer cabin, better air quality and lower humidity-related fatigue on long flights. If you're booking Amsterdam to Toronto, Montréal, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam this winter, a quick check of the aircraft type could get you on KLM's newest plane. Early Toronto flights in particular may offer a rare chance to try a brand-new aircraft type on its very first weeks of service — just don't expect the business class flatbeds to be usable at launch.
