Aviation References - D

Approaching Giant - KLM Boeing 747-400(M) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport (AMS) on a gloriously cloudy Saturday morning 2019. Of note, the average KLM fleet age is just under 12 years, although the average KLM 747 clocks in at over 22 years (this 747 is about 17 years mature), something important to note when observing fleets with such iconic (but old) aircraft. Significantly, KLM's fleet of ten 747s has been equally split between the passenger only variant (747-400) and the passengers/freight variant (or "combi" 747-400(M)), and KLM Cargo furthermore operates an additional 3 Boeing 747-Fs. Along with many other airlines, the Dutch flag carrier has plans for an intended retirement of their "Super Jumbo" 747s by 2021, to be replaced by 787 aircraft. However, there is no doubt that the 747-400s, once retired, including this plane, will continue their life in the freight-only business, a testament to the jetliner's incredible longevity. KLM's overall fleet operates 119 commercial passenger planes: 13 Airbus A330s (to be retired by 2025), 16 aircraft of the 787 family (split between 13 of the 787-9 model and three 787-10), 29 aircraft of the Boeing 777 family (15 777-200ER variants and fourteen 777-300ER), with many other short-haul aircraft (such as a whopping 51 Boeing 737s). As a new focus to operate exclusively Boeing, the only new orders to be added to their fleet are of the American giant, with the 787-10 (12 orders, deliveries through 2023) and the Boeing 777 (an additional 2 of the 777-300ER). Indeed, the fleet modernization of KLM is one of much excitement and will certainly prove to be quite fun to observe in the future, when the overhaul is expected to be completed. From such an iconic airline and fleet, Enjoy!