SAN FRANCISCO -- KLM is now flying its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners to the United States.
The Dutch carrier made its inaugural Dreamliner flight to the USA on Wednesday, with service between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS). The inaugural 787 departure for Amsterdam left after a short gate-side celebration marked with cupcakes, balloons, commemorative T-shirts and a ribbon-cutting with KLM executives.
"We are excited to inaugurate KLM’s first North American Dreamliner in San Francisco to support growing West Coast demand,” Eric Caron, Air France-KLM general manager for the U.S., told passengers waiting to board the Amsterdam flight.
Through the summer season, passengers flying on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines between San Francisco and Amsterdam will fly on either KLM's 747-400 or on its Boeing 787-9 "Dreamlimer." KLM's twice-weekly 787-9 Dreamliner flights -- on Wednesdays and Sundays through October -- will be in addition to daily Boeing 747-400 service between the cities. At the end of the summer season, KLM’s service between SFO and AMS will switch exclusively to the Dreamliner.
"On this Dreamliner there is a reduction in noise and a different cabin pressure so you will feel less tired when you arrive in Amsterdam,” said Caron, “You’ll have Wi-Fi on board, the latest generation of our seats and more than 200 movies on your screen. It is part of our investment in providing the best quality, the best comfort and the best crew.”
KLM is currently the only carrier offering direct flights between San Francisco and Amsterdam.
Passengers on the inaugural flight were given commemorative T-shirts at check-in. That's how the one family heading home to Delft after a California vacation, learned they were flying on the Dreamliner and not on a 747. And they were thrilled.
"If we'd known it was possible to fly on a Dreamliner we would have chosen it, so this is a nice surprise," said Judith Rietveld, whose son, Max Van Doorn, was proudly wearing his new Dreamliner T-shirt,
The family has been following news about the Dreamliner on TV.
“We are aware that the plane has added comfort, less noise, saves fuel and is better for the environment,” said Rietveld, “Everyone has to do their part and this is a great way to do it.”
KLM’s 787-9 Dreamliner features the airline’s full-flat World Business Class seats, each with a 16-inch TV screen and direct-aisle access. Economy class seats on this Dreamliner recline “40% more than previous models,” according to KLM, and all have power sockets, 11-inch screens and the option to communicate via Seat Chat with passengers seated elsewhere on the plane.
Harriet Baskas is a Seattle-based airports and aviation writer and USA TODAY Travel's "At the Airport" columnist. She occasionally contributes to Ben Mutzabaugh's Today in the Sky blog. Follow her at twitter.com/hbaskas.
IN PHOTOS: KLM gives sneak-peek of its Boeing 787 'Dreamliner' (July 2015)
