Air TransportKLM’s first Airbus A321neo completed its first test flight on July 31.
The aircraft, provisionally registered D-AXXQ, took off from the planemaker’s facility in Hamburg, Germany, and flew for approximately 30 minutes.
KLM plans to take delivery of its first A321neo, registered PH-AXA, on August 27. The maiden revenue flight is scheduled for September from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.
The jet will be configured with a high-density cabin with 227 seats and marks a strategic shift for the Dutch carrier, which has always been a traditional customer of the Boeing 737.
There are currently 42 of these aircraft in the 737-700, 737-800 and 737-900 variants, the latter with 189 seats.
The A321neo will therefore increase flight capacity by at least 38 seats.
About 30 A321neos
In addition to being quieter and emitting 21% fewer pollutants per passenger kilometer, the Airbus aircraft consumes much less fuel, which will be a significant financial gain.
As part of a broader agreement reached by the Air France-KLM group, the Dutch airline is expected to receive around 30 A321neos.
The aircraft are, in principle, of the A321-252NX variant, equipped with CFM Leap-1A turbofans, which have proven to be more available than the PW1100G supplied by Pratt & Whitney to other A320neo family customers.
