KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has contracted Japan’s JAMCO Group to supply new World Business Class seats for eight Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft, to be delivered starting next year.
The Dutch carrier is the first customer to order JAMCO’s new ‘Venture’ seats. The next-generation design is lighter than its predecessors, helping to reduce fuel consumption, while their fishbone configuration ensures more effective utilisation of the available space.
“KLM is delighted to be working with JAMCO on this brand new 787-10 World Business Class seat programme. Together, we are striving to create the best possible seating, sleeping comfort and travel environment for our business class customers,” said Boet Kreiken, EVP customer experience.
KLM is the first European airline that will fly the new Boeing 787-10. The first aircraft is due to be delivered in June 2019.
JAMCO’s Venture seats are able to recline fully flat and have an 18.5-inch entertainment screen. Another feature is the ‘Do not disturb’ button on the armrest, which passengers can turn on and off at will. The middle seats in KLM’s World Business Class have a movable partition, allowing passengers to opt for maximum privacy or for an optimum shared travel experience.
There will be 38 of these seats on board each new aircraft; all will offer direct access to the aisle. The new seats will be KLM-branded, based on a design created in co-operation with renowned Dutch designer Hella Jongerius.
In a separate announcement, AFI KLM E&M and AerCap inked an agreement covering modifications to three Boeing 777-300s, prior to their transfer to another airline. The two groups are thus further cementing an established relationship after several similar large-scale projects.
The programmes involve cabin reconfiguring and refitting, and retrofitting Zodiac Aerospace’s RAVE IFE system – a global first on 777 family aircraft. AFI KLM E&M has already carried out more than 100 cabin modification programmes on this aircraft type.
In the framework of the AerCap contract, AFI KLM E&M has developed a dedicated supply chain for business class seating that will considerably shorten project launches and TAT. The first modification programme is scheduled to begin in October.
