Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM), has started operating on a daily basis, its Boeing 777-200, between Accra and Amsterdam, with a fully renovated cabin interior in both World Business Class and Economy Class.
The in-flight entertainment system has also been fully renewed.
Mr. Axel Metselaar, KLM Regional Manager for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, said this at a press briefing in Accra.
He said the new flight operation, which begun on August 14, 2015, came with a new economy class seats, which offered travellers more leg room and a whole new in-flight entertainment system, featuring a larger nine inch HD-quality touch screen, interactive 3D cards, and a ‘seat chat’ app, which allowed travellers to communicate with passengers, seated elsewhere in the cabin.
Touching further on the new development, Mr. Metselaar said apart from extra leg room being created for passengers in the new Economy Class seats, “the ergonomically optimized head rests, offer improved neck support.”
He said specially designed cushions and durable high density material and a power outlet, added to passenger comfort and control.
“The new inflight entertainment system offers access to more than 150 movies and 200 TV shows in many languages, including many local movies,” said Mr. Metselaar.
He said the design of the new World Business Class on the Boeing 777-200, revolved around the new full flat seat, which was 2.07 meters long, the positioning of which ensured maximum privacy, adding, “bigger soft cushions combined with luxurious new blankets, ensure a warm and friendly atmosphere in the new World Business Class.”
Mr. Metselaar added, that the 17 inch screen, operated with a touch screen hand set, added to the Business Class experience, and gave passengers a dual screen option, that allowed them to watch a movie and simultaneously play a game or chat.
A release from the airline, said in March 2013, KLM introduced this new World Business Class Interior, aboard its Boeing 777.
“Today, 10 out of fifteen aircraft of this type in KLM’s fleet, have been refurbished,” the release said.
It said the Amsterdam-Accra-Amsterdam route, had been specially selected to have “this new refitted product on a daily basis from August 17 onwards.”
The release said the 15 Boeing 777-200, would all be equipped with new cabins by the end of 2015.
“KLM’s top management has determined, to schedule this new on-board product on a daily basis, for the Accra route, from August 17h,” said Mr. Metselaar.
“We already introduced the Boeing 777-200 on our Accra services, since April 2015; however, aircraft with the new interior was only available three times a week till now.”
Mr. Metselaar said as two thirds of KLM’s Boeing 777-200 fleet had been refurbished, the airline could offer a consistent upgraded product on a daily basis.
“This underlines the importance of Ghana in KLM’s wider net-work,” he said.