Boeing announced on Monday that KLM will receive two more 777-300ER aircraft soon. The order was already on the manufacturer’s backlog, however, as an unidentified customer.
With the two new widebodies, the Dutch airline will have 30 777 in its fleet, 16 of which the long-range variant -300ER – capable of carrying 396 passengers in a two-class cabin.
“KLM is one of the world’s leading network carriers and pioneer aviation and we are delighted the airline has once again selected the Boeing 777-300ER to strengthen its long-haul fleet for the future,” said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Commercial Sales & Marketing for The Boeing Company. “KLM’s continuing interest in the 777-300ERs shows the enduring appeal and value of the 777, thanks to its outstanding operating economics, superior performance and popularity among passengers.”
The option for the 777-300ER reinforces the Air France-KLM group’s strategic decision to concentrate Boeing’s long-range jets in KLM’s fleet while Air France is expected to receive aircraft from Airbus.
The company recently confirmed that the ordered A350 will all be received by Air France while KLM will have part of the 787 scheduled, including all larger 787-10 models. KLM currently operates in addition to the 777, 14 787, 13 747-400 and 13 other A330s. The airline, the world’s oldest airline still operating under its original name, is celebrating 100 years in 2019.
777X
In 2019, Boeing received 32 orders from the 777, 18 of them from the new 777X family ordered by British Airways. In addition to the two KLM 777-300ER, the manufacturer sold 12 units of the 777F cargo version.
