Livery of the Week: KLM’s Swooped A321neo Design

The airline goes for a refreshed design on its soon-to-be-delivered A321neo.

A rendering of KLM’s A321neo (Photo: KLM)

[ Livery of the Week ]February 16, 2024 10:21 am ET

By Ryan Ewing

Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks is excited to launch our ‘Livery of the Week’ series. Every Friday, a team member will share an airline livery, which can be from the past, present, or even a special scheme. Some airline liveries are works of art. The complexity associated with painting around critical flight components and the added weight requires outside-the-box thinking from designers. The average airliner can cost upwards of $200,000 to repaint, creating a separate aircraft repainting industry as a result.

Have an idea for a livery that we should highlight? Drop us a line.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has revealed details about the livery and interior design of its upcoming Airbus A321neo fleet, set to be delivered in the coming months. The airline will begin operating the first of these new aircraft this summer, with Copenhagen, Berlin, and Stockholm among the initial destinations.

A Bold New Look

The A321neo sports a fresh livery that is both stylish and practical. The signature blue and white colors remain, but the dividing line now dips lower, completely covering the nose cone in blue, and creating a ‘swoop’ across the fuselage.

This design not only creates a striking new appearance but also facilitates easier nose cone replacements without affecting the iconic blue markings. Additionally, the cockpit windows boast a new black outline.

Enhanced Passenger Comfort

Passengers onboard the A321neo can expect wider seats, larger tray tables, and spacious overhead bins that offer increased legroom and storage space. Each seat is equipped with a tablet holder and a USB port for personal entertainment and device charging. Multi-colored mood lighting throughout the cabin adjusts to different stages of the flight.

“The arrival of the A321neo marks a major upgrade of our European fleet. It is 50% quieter and generates 15% fewer carbon emissions than the aircraft it is replacing, making this an important step towards cleaner, quieter and more fuel-efficient aviation,” said Marjan Rintel, KLM’s CEO, in a press release.

The carrier plans to receive its first A321neo in August 2024. As of now, it has approximately 30 A321neo aircraft planned.

Looking for a new airplane model? Head over to our friends at the Midwest Model Store for a wide selection of airlines and liveries.

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Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

Follow Ryan

Author

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

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