KLM’s first Airbus A350 flight to Toronto

KLM’s first Airbus A350-900 departed Schiphol for Toronto today. Flight KL0691 marks the aircraft’s first flight with passengers and eight metric tons of cargo on board. The aircraft is named De Nachtwacht (“The Night Watch”).

Among the passengers were enthusiastic aviation fans who had booked tickets especially for the inaugural flight. Rien and Bob were among them. For the occasion, they had T-shirts printed with the text “1st commercial flight A350-900 AMS-YYZ.”

This was the fifth time Rien had attended a first or last flight. He had previously been there for the final flights of the MD-11 and Fokker aircraft, and the first flights of the Dreamliner and the A321neo. Bob joined him for those occasions. “I was also at the first A321neo flight. It still smelled brand-new then, and I expect it will again this time. As a Platinum for Life member, I really wanted to experience this. It’s a special moment, and KLM can be proud of this important milestone. I hope I’ll get to experience just how much quieter this aircraft really is.”

Father and son Ethan and Derrick also traveled all the way from New York to Amsterdam for the occasion. They landed at Schiphol this morning and, after Toronto, will continue on to New York.

The arrival of the A350 marks an important step in KLM’s major fleet renewal program, which aims to make flying cleaner, quieter and more fuel-efficient. After Toronto, the aircraft will serve Montreal, Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Nairobi and Zanzibar.

Photos: Arnoud Raeven