KLM Boeing 787 Fleet Guide: 787-9 vs 787-10 (2026)
KLM operates two versions of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner across its long-haul network — the 787-9 and the larger 787-10. The cabins look similar at a glance, but the two aircraft have different business products, different row layouts, and a few seat-level quirks that don't carry across.
This page covers the differences and how to tell the two apart. For row-by-row detail on either aircraft, head to the dedicated guides:
At-a-Glance Comparison
| 787-9 | 787-10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fleet size | 12 aircraft | 25 aircraft |
| Equipment code | 789 | 781 |
| Total seats | 275 | 318 |
| Configuration | 30J / 21W / 224M | 38J / 28W / 252M |
| Business rows | 1–8 (8 rows) | 1–10 (10 rows) |
| Business product | Safran Cirrus NG | Jamco America Venture (newer) |
| Business pitch | 44" | 46" |
| Premium Comfort rows | 11–14 (three active) | 11–15 (four active) |
| Economy Comfort seats | 48 | 39 |
| Economy rows | 17–45 | 17–47 |
| Layout | 1-2-1 / 2-3-2 / 3-3-3 | 1-2-1 / 2-3-2 / 3-3-3 |
The 787-10 is KLM's most-numerous widebody — more 787-10s than 777s or 787-9s — and carries the airline's newest business product. The 787-9 is the older, smaller variant.
How to Tell Which One You're Flying
The quickest checks, in order:
- Boarding pass / KLM app equipment code. "789" = 787-9. "781" = 787-10. This is the definitive answer.
- Count the business rows. Eight rows of business class means you're on the 787-9. Ten rows means the 787-10.
- Look for row 10 in business. The 787-10 has a "throne" row 10 with only A and K seats (no centre pair). The 787-9's business cabin ends at row 8.
- Count the Premium Comfort rows. Three rows of 2-3-2 (11, 12, 14) = 787-9. Four rows (11, 12, 14, 15) = 787-10. Both skip row 13.
KLM occasionally swaps aircraft types last-minute, so it's worth re-checking 24 hours before departure if seat selection matters.
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What's Different About Each Aircraft
Business class
The 787-10 carries the newer Jamco America Venture seat — a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone product like the older Safran Cirrus NG on the 787-9, but with 46" pitch (versus 44") and a more enclosed shell. Neither aircraft has privacy doors. The 787-10's business cabin is also two rows longer (10 vs 8), giving more booking flexibility and a quieter feel at cruise.
Premium Comfort
Same Collins Aerospace MiQ seat on both aircraft, in 2-3-2 at 38" pitch. The 787-10 has one extra row of seats (15 instead of 14 as the back row), so the cabin is slightly larger and a little quieter.
Economy Comfort
Counter-intuitively, the smaller 787-9 has more Economy Comfort seats than the 787-10 (48 vs 39). The 787-9 designates rows 17–21 plus row 22 D/E/G as Economy Comfort. The 787-10 designates only rows 17–20 plus row 21 D/E/G. If extra-legroom availability matters more to you than aircraft choice, the 787-9 is the stronger draw.
Standard economy
Identical product on both aircraft — Recaro CL3710 in 3-3-3, 31" pitch, same IFE. The seat-by-seat differences are where it gets interesting (see the quirks table below).
Quirks Worth Knowing Before You Book
These are the row-level oddities that distinguish each aircraft. They aren't shown on the standard KLM seat map.
| 787-9 | 787-10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Partial rows | Row 1 (A and K only — front galley occupies centre); rows 44 and 45 narrow at the rear | Row 10 (A and K only — throne); row 27 (no centre triple — mid-cabin lav cluster); row 47 narrow at rear |
| No-window seats | None | 41A and 41K — the seat is positioned where the fuselage has no window cutout. Stare at a wall for 10 hours. |
| Exit row catch | 30A and 30K lose 75–85% of seat width to the exit door structure ahead — avoid | 30A and 30K are uncompromised — the standout Economy Comfort seats on the aircraft |
| No overhead bins | Above 42–45 D/E/G (crew rest above) | Above 45–47 D/E/G (crew rest above) |
| Plugged window | None | 10A — a single plugged window nearby reduces the view |
Typical Routes
KLM rotates aircraft to fit demand, range and slot constraints, so allocations shift week to week. Typical patterns:
- 787-9: North America (mid-haul long-haul), parts of Africa, and select Middle East routes
- 787-10: Asia, US West Coast, and KLM's highest-demand long-haul rotations — the larger fleet absorbs peak traffic
For any specific flight, the equipment shown at booking is the authority.
Which Should You Pick?
If both aircraft are scheduled on your route and you have a choice:
- For business class — pick the 787-10. Newer Jamco Venture seat, two extra inches of pitch, more enclosing shell, larger cabin, better last-row throne option (10K) for solo travellers.
- For Premium Comfort — slight edge to the 787-10: one extra row, marginally quieter cabin. The seat product itself is identical.
- For Economy Comfort availability — slight edge to the 787-9, which has nine more EC seats absolute.
- For standard economy — toss-up on product, but avoid 787-10 row 41 and 787-9 row 30 regardless of which aircraft you end up on.
- For families with infants — both aircraft have bulkhead bassinet positions in row 11 (Premium Comfort). Equivalent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the cabins identical?
No. Both aircraft have World Business Class, Premium Comfort, and Economy Comfort/Economy, but the business product differs (Jamco Venture on the 787-10 vs Safran Cirrus NG on the 787-9), and row counts differ across all cabins. Premium Comfort and Economy share the same seat models.
Why does the smaller 787-9 have more Economy Comfort seats?
KLM's allocation choice. The 787-9 sells rows 17–21 plus row 22 D/E/G as Economy Comfort (48 seats). The 787-10 sells only rows 17–20 plus row 21 D/E/G (39 seats). Same hard product, different EC zone size.
Is one of them quieter than the other?
The 787-10 is generally quieter at cruise — bigger fuselage, more distance from the engines, newer business cabin acoustics. The margin is small but consistent.
Do both have lie-flat business class?
Yes. Both use 1-2-1 reverse herringbone seats that convert to a fully flat bed at 6'7" length. Neither product has privacy doors.
How can I tell which aircraft my flight is using?
Equipment code 789 = 787-9; 781 = 787-10. KLM's app and seat map show this directly. KLM does swap aircraft types last-minute, so re-check the day before if it matters.
Does KLM operate any other widebodies?
Yes — the 777-200ER (with both an older 2024 cabin and a newer 2026 retrofit in service) and the 777-300ER. The A330 fleet is being retired.
Comparable Guides
KLM Boeing 787-9 Seat Map & Best Seats (2026) — full row-by-row detail on the smaller Dreamliner
KLM Boeing 787-10 Seat Map & Best Seats (2026) — full row-by-row detail on the larger Dreamliner with the newer Jamco Venture business product
KLM Boeing 777-300ER Seat Map & Best Seats (2026)
KLM Boeing 777-200ER Seat Map & Best Seats (2026) — two cabin iterations
KLM Airbus A330-300 Seat Map & Best Seats (2026)