KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has announced its new World Business Class cabin interior, featuring the new full-flat seat.

Responding to its customers’ needs and wishes, KLM aims to accentuate the at-home feeling for Business Class customers with its new cabin interior.

“I am convinced that the comfort of our new lie flat seat and this contemporary design will be greatly appreciated by our most valued customers.

“Even in times of financial difficulty, KLM continues to invest in customer comfort. I am proud of this superb and unique result: an entire World Business Class cabin created by leading Dutch designers giving our passengers that warm, at-home feeling.

“It is crucial to answer passengers’ demand and that they can get the best on board experience on our extensive long haul network,” said Henri Hourcade, general manager Air France KLM UK & Ireland.

Cabin Interior

KLM has teamed up with leading Dutch designer Hella Jongerius to introduce a brand-new atmosphere, furnishings and style in World Business Class.

In addition to the new full-flat seats, the interior features new carpeting, panel decorations, curtains, lighting, blankets, cushions and upholstery.

First up for redecoration are KLM’s fleet of 22 Boeing 747-400s.

In doing so, KLM will be changing all of WBC in the height of Dutch design, thereby combining its Dutch roots with international allure.

“It is truly remarkable that KLM is open to this kind of approach for its interior. Aircraft interiors have to meet an unbelievable range of technical requirements.

“We achieved this by simplifying the new seat, changing its colour and upholstering it with high-quality textile,” said Jongerius.

Full-Flat Seat

The new full-flat seat offers customers optimum comfort. It can be reclined horizontally so the passenger can lie fully flat.

The seat position in the cabin and the partition between television screens ensure greater privacy for passengers.

There are also storage compartments in the seats beside the passengers and under the television screens.

The number of seats in World Business Class will be reduced from 42 to 35 aboard the Boeing 747-400.

KLM has chosen the Diamond Seat manufactured by B/E Aerospace.

Innovative

Sustainability is another point of focus for KLM in all new developments.

The new design therefore had to be innovative as well as sustainable. In meeting this requirement, Hella Jongerius sought new solutions within the existing options available to the airline industry.

The carpeting, for instance, was manufactured partly of discarded KLM ladies’ uniforms.

KLM recycles all of its discarded carpets in collaboration with carpet manufacturer Desso based on the cradle-to-cradle principle.

This is in line with the CSR policy KLM has pursued for years.

July 2013 will see the inaugural flight of the first KLM aircraft with the new interior including the new seat.

KLM’s Boeing 747-400 fleet, consisting of 22 aircraft, will be redecorated first.

Work on KLM’s 15 Boeing 777-200s will follow.