Amsterdam-based KLM is known for its iconic blue livery. With its fleet of over 100 aircraft, the Dutch flag carrier flies to destinations around the world, flying millions of passengers each year. Here are the oldest aircraft in KLM’s fleet.
A special mention: the 747 Combis
PH-BFT is a well-known aircraft for many avgeeks. The plane is a Boeing 747 Combi that is 23-years-old. While this plane is still flying for KLM, unfortunately, it is only temporarily conducting cargo-only flights. Soon enough, this aircraft will join the other Boeing 747-400s in retirement.
Alongside PH-BFT fly 21-year-old BH-BFV and 20-year-old PH-BFW. These two are also Combi aircraft.
The oldest passenger planes
As for passenger aircraft, KLM’s oldest planes are Boeing 737-800s. Four of the airline’s 737-800s are 21-years-old:
Another nine are 20-years-old:
- PH-BXE
- PH-BXF
- PH-BXG
- PH-BXH
- PH-BXI
- PH-BXK
- PH-BXL
- PH-BXM
- PH-BXN
The 737s are KLM’s main narrowbody fleet. These jets fly to destinations across Europe, including Stockholm, Glasgow, London, Paris, Alicante, Athens, Bucharest, Madrid, Helsinki, and more from the airline’s hub in Amsterdam. While KLM’s 737-800s are the oldest in the airline’s fleet, the airline did take delivery just last year of the last Boeing 737 Next Generation ever produced. That plane is PH-BCL and is only a few months old. The 737-800s seat a maximum of 186 passengers.
KLM also has four 19-year-old Boeing 737-900s:
The airline’s fifth and final 737-900 is 16-year-old PH-BXT. The 737-900s seat a maximum of 188 passengers. All of KLM’s 737s are named after birds. These include names like Swan, Grouse, Goose, Herring Gull, Nightingale, Plover, and more.
Next up are the airline’s four 16-year-old Boeing 777-200ERs. These are:
These 777s are the oldest widebodies that fly passengers in the airline’s fleet. These planes can be found in destinations like Houston, Curaçao, Dar-Es-Salaam, Dubai, Seoul, Shanghai, Sao Paulo, and more. Amidst the current crisis, the 777-200ER even made a special appearance Down Under in Sydney. The -200ERs seat 34 passengers in World Business Class, 40 in Economy Comfort (extra-legroom economy), and 242 in regular economy class. These planes are named after world heritage sites like Machu Picchu, Darjeeling Railway, Galapagos Islands, Chichen-Itza, and more.
KLM also flies 14 Boeing 777-300ERs. These planes, however, did not start coming to the airline until 2008 and are named after national parks like Tierra del Fuego National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Gunung Mulu National Park, and more.
Future simplifications
KLM is looking to streamline its fleet by flying only Boeing aircraft. The airline also operates 13 Airbus A330s. In the coming years, the A330s will be phased out in favor of the 787s.
The oldest Airbus A330s are the -200s. KLM has three 15-year-old A330-200s: PH-AOB, PH-AOA, and PH-AOC. Another three are 14-years-old: PH-AOD, PH-AOE, and PH-AOF. Two more A330-200s joined the fleet in 2010 and 2013, respectively. And, the five A330-300s entered KLM’s fleet between 2012 and 2014. The A330s are named after famous squares around the world like Times Square, Piazza Navona, and Dam square, among others.
What is the oldest KLM plane that you have flown on? Let us know in the comments!
