The new Premium Comfort Class follows the standard format of a 38-inch seat pitch with a separate cabin of 21 to 28 seats depending on aircraft type. Layout on the Boeing 777 will be 2-4-2.

Premium Comfort will offer wider seats, a larger TV screen and a footrest. Seats also have greater recline than economy.

Boet Kreiken, executive KLM Customer Experience vice-president, said: “We have great expectations for this new Premium Comfort Class, based on extensive market research. 

“It also reaffirms our partnership with Delta Air Lines, Air France and Virgin Atlantic on North Atlantic routes, where we can now combine all products on all routes.”

The first aircraft equipped with Premium Comfort Class will operate on routes to North America. KLM said it was anticipated passengers will be able to book Premium Comfort “to a growing range of destinations from the end of the July 2022”.

The cabin will also have upgraded catering, with one or two hot meals served on long-haul routes. After the main course, passengers will be offered coffee, tea, liqueur and ice cream. A variety of snacks and cocktails will also be served between meals, which the airline said “will be largely selected from those that were previously popular in World Business Class”.