The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is a long-haul, wide-body, twin-engine commercial aircraft designed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is part of the Boeing 787 family, which includes various models designed to offer improved fuel efficiency, passenger comfort, and operational flexibility.
Kenya Airways - Africa’s 5th largest airline - offers a modern fleet and a competitive onboard product. The carrier calls its Business Class ‘Premier World’ and offers this product on its flights to Europe, Asia, and the USA (all of them being operated by B787s).
Fleet data indicates Kenya Airways has nine Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with the series averaging 10.5 years of age. All aircraft are for the smallest 787-8 variant. Data shows that 5Y-KZA, the first 787 delivered to the airline and named ‘The Great Rift Valley,’ has been parked in Nairobi. Kenya Airways is being forced to ground these planes as they succumb to ongoing maintenance woes and an inability to secure spare engines to ensure continued operation.
According to the airline’s CEO, these Boeing 787s have been incapable of operating across the network since February. With April rapidly approaching, the jets remain parked, and no resolution has been found. Kenya Airways’ biggest priority is to fly the planes on time for the peak season. Unfortunately, however, the ability to get the planes back into service is not down to the airline but rather key suppliers and engine manufacturers. Therefore, the airline must remain patient and keep an open dialogue with these companies to ensure it has all the required information on when fixes will be conducted and when there’s a chance these planes could return to service.
Passenger Comfort and Cabin Features
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is known for its passenger comfort and advanced cabin features:
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- Cabin Pressurization and Humidity: The 787-8 has a lower cabin altitude and higher humidity levels compared to older aircraft.
- Enhanced Lighting: The cabin lighting in the 787-8 can be adjusted to simulate different times of day.
- Ergonomic Seating: Kenya Airways is dedicated to ensuring a superior travel experience for its passengers, and this commitment extends to the seating and comfort options available on its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.
Kenya Airways B787 Business Class
Kenya Airways’ Boeing 787 Dreamliner features 30 Business Class seats which are spread over two cabins: the main Business Class cabin has 3 rows of 18 seats, while a second mini cabin right behind has 2 rows of 12 seats. The flat bed seats are arranged in a traditional 2-2-2 configuration.
The 2-2-2 Business Class layout does not make the cabin very attractive for solo travelers, since you will always end up sitting next to a stranger. The seats lack privacy, as there is no divider between paired seats (although that is only a problem when you are traveling solo). Since the seats are paired, there is also no direct aisle access for passengers seated in one of the window seats.
The Kenya Airways B787 Business Class seat has a pitch of 78 inch (195 cm), which is defined as the space between one point on a seat and the same point on the seat in front. The seat width - defined as the space between the armrests - is 31 inches (78 cm), which makes it one of the wider and more comfortable Business Class seats in the industry.
Each seat features its own 15,4 inch HD TV, which can be controlled by either a handset in the center armrest or by directly touching the screen. Below the TV monitor is an ottoman or footrest which becomes part of the flatbed once the seat is fully reclined. The seat goes fully flat (180 degrees recline) and the bed itself is very comfortable since the bed has an ‘open’ ottoman, contrary to many other Business Class products these days that require you to place your feet in a tight footwell. That said, during this flight, my seat was broke and did not fully recline (160 instead of 180 degrees).
The entertainment controls, power outlets and headphone jacks are located underneath the center armrest and are somewhat difficult to reach. The center armrest’s surface features a panel with seat controls, which are easy to use.
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Each Business Class seat is equipped with a 15,4 inch HD TV and also comes with noise-cancelling headphones to enhance the onboard entertainment experience. The entertainment selection itself can be navigated by using a handheld remote or by directly touching the screen.
An amenity kit, which comes under the form of a black pouch with a red ribbon. The kit contains travel essentials such as earplugs, eyeshades, a pen, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a comb (no toiletries).
#CREW: The cabin crew members onboard this flight were super-friendly, enthusiastic, and genuinely warm, and great ambassadors of African hospitality.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol - Crown Lounge
The Crown lounge reopened in December 2018, following an extensive renovation of the previous lounge space. The lounge boasts a surface area of 6,800 m2 (37,194 f2) and offers around 1,500 seats (more than twice the number of seats before the renovation). The massive lounge is spread over two floors and divided into different zones for working, relaxing, entertainment and dining.
The lower floor is demarcated into several different zones with names like the “City” (where the food and drinks are offered) and “Sea” (with daybeds and shower facilities). The most beautiful zone is an area called “Dutch Mountain”, which is a multi-level platform offering various places to linger around in a decor of colorful sofas, wooden walls, and Dutch design fixtures.
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Most space of the lounge’s lower floor is occupied though by the “Polder” zone, which contains dozens of seating areas with different set-ups, such as rows of armchairs facing one another, swivel chairs along the windows, seats around small dining tables, and long communal tables. The Polder zone features large floor-to-ceiling windows on one side, which let in a lot of daylight and offer a good view of the apron.
The main buffet station is located at the lower floor’s far end (“City” zone) with an excellent selection of beautifully presented food and beverages. Cold dishes include a variety of breads, cheese, cold meats, and fresh fruits, while the hot dishes - offered in an open kitchen - include vegetable soup, grilled chicken, rice, and pasta. An impressive salad bar is present as well, with several salads to choose from, including snow pea and edamame salad. Snacks are offered as well and include biscuits, peppermint, licorice, waffles and crackers.
The lounge’s upper floor houses Blue, an à la carte fine dining restaurant led by Michelin-starred Chef Joris Bijdendijk. This stylish venue serves “new Dutch cuisine” crafted with primarily seasonal products from Dutch soil. A table here needs to be booked online in advance and private dining rooms are available for a more intimate get-together or business meeting. Guests of the restaurant are charged for meals & drinks (good to know: you can also pay with KLM Flying Blue miles or miles & cash).
In front of Blue restaurant is the Blue bar, an elegant space which is a fusion of a coffee lounge and cocktail bar. A beautiful bar counter offering more than 300 local and international spirits is at the center of the space, with several high-top tables as well as some more intimate seating niches on the side. Next to the bar is a small buffet, which offers the same selection of food as served in the main dining area one floor below.
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