Dutch flag carrier KLM has commenced its first long-haul Airbus A350-900 service, operating the state-of-the-art aircraft to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). The airline will initially fly the route up to five times weekly, with plans to increase the rotation to a daily service starting next March.
Toronto serves as the first of many new destinations for the SkyTeam partner to be served by the A350. The airline has outlined future plans to introduce the aircraft to Montreal and multiple locations across Africa. This launch marks a significant milestone in KLM’s history, which spans more than 75 years of service to Canada and 52 years of direct flights to Toronto since the route began on April 29, 1974.
KLM A350 service details and schedule
The inaugural flight, designated KL691, departed Amsterdam just after lunch today for an over eight-hour journey across the North Atlantic. The aircraft is scheduled to arrive in Toronto in the late afternoon. The return service, KL692, departs Toronto just before 7:00 PM and operates overnight, arriving back in Europe in the early morning.
Toronto is the largest city in Canada, with a metropolitan population exceeding six million. Pearson International Airport serves the greater Southern Ontario region and is one of the few airports globally with operations to all six inhabited continents. It welcomes a large number of European operators, making it a critical node in KLM’s network.
Fleet renewal and aircraft specifications
The aircraft used for this historic flight, registered as PH-ZNA, was delivered to KLM on October 2. It had previously been used for crew training and testing, including multiple round-trip flights to Stavanger, Norway. The jet, nicknamed De Nachtwacht or The Night Watch, was fabricated by Airbus and took its first test flight under French registration F-WZMM on September 4, 2026.
KLM has a total of 22 Airbus A350-900s set to be delivered over the next few years. These new jets are central to the airline’s widebody fleet renewal program, designed to replace aging Boeing 777-200ERs and remaining A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft. This transition is crucial for protecting KLM’s Schiphol hub operations.
The A350-900 is configured with 331 seats across three classes. This includes 34 World Business seats, 26 Premium Comfort seats, and 271 Economy seats. The cabin is equipped with 4K Panasonic Astrova screens, high-speed Wi-Fi via Viasat, and built-in Bluetooth audio.
Following the Toronto launch, KLM will expand its A350 network. The next destination will be Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL), where the aircraft will operate three times a week. Africa is also on the radar, with the carrier adding a triangle service from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro (JRO) and Dar Es Salaam (DAR). Service to Nairobi (NBO) is scheduled to begin on January 5.
Source: Simple Flying
