KLM Celebrates 107th Anniversary With New Delft House and Airline Updates

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines celebrated its 107th anniversary on Oct. 7. At this year's celebration, the airline unveiled a new Delft miniature house.

KLM has given Delft houses to passengers flying business class on long-haul flights since the 1950s. This year's Delft house is number 107. It is modeled after the Wijnhoeve De Kleine Schorre winery in Dreischor, Zeeland.

The final choice of each year's Delft house is made by two people, including the airline's CEO. According to NerdWallet, KLM President and CEO Marjan Rintel spoke with the site about the choice of the winery.

Delft houses are filled with Bols Genever, a Dutch gin. On flights to dry destinations, where alcohol is not allowed, the houses are hollow. Nearly a million Delft houses are produced and given to passengers each year.

Some Delft houses can be found in antique stores and on online sites such as eBay. Madurodam, a park in The Hague, displays replicas of several Delft houses. The KLM Houses app lists each house with its location and history. Mark Zegeling wrote the book 'Little Kingdom by the Sea' about the Delft house collection.

KLM expects to roll out free Starlink Wi-Fi on intercontinental flights by the middle of 2027. The airline expects all long-haul flights to offer free Starlink Wi-Fi by mid-2028.

KLM also took delivery of its first Airbus A350 aircraft earlier this month. The airline will begin retiring its A330 aircraft in the coming years as more A350s come online.

Starting in early 2027, KLM will offer a new business class amenity kit from the Dutch brand Marie-Stella-Maris. The airline will also replace tray meal service in World Business Class with individually served plates and glasses on tablecloths on long-haul flights. KLM will stop offering dine-on-demand business class meal service.

Flying Blue, the airline's loyalty program, puts World Business Class mileage redemptions on sale as part of its monthly Promo Rewards.