KLM Boeing 747 fleet history
KLM flew 52 passenger 747s from 1971 to 2021, became the first airline to order a CF6-powered 747, and still operates 747-400 freighter versions.
KLM was a pioneer of the 747 in Europe and the most dedicated buyer of the 747-400M Combi. Its 52 passenger 747s flew from 1971 to 2021, after which the passenger fleet retired but cargo versions remained in service.
KLM took its first 747-206B in 1971 and ordered the 747-200M Combi so it could carry cargo on the main deck behind the passenger cabin, a configuration it favoured more than any other airline.
In October 1975 KLM ordered the first CF6-powered 747 — a 747-200M Combi fitted with General Electric engines — breaking the JT9D monopoly that had existed since the first 747 deliveries.
| Model | Notes |
|---|---|
| 747-206B | Passenger workhorse, delivered from 1971 |
| 747-206B/M and SUD | Standard-upper-deck and stretched-upper-deck Combis |
| 747-300M | Stretched upper deck Combi |
| 747-400 and 747-400M | Passenger and Combi versions from 1989 |
| 747-400ERF / 747-400BCF | Freighter versions still flying |
KLM retired its last passenger 747 in the pandemic and today keeps 747-400 freighter versions for cargo flying. The preserved PH-BUK “Louis Blériot” (a 747-206B) is on display at the Aviodrome museum in the Netherlands.
Sources
- KLM fleet history — Wikipedia
- List of Boeing 747 operators — Wikipedia
- Boeing 747 collection aircraft — Aviodrome
Sources
Facts on this page are checked against the primary and institutional references below.
- KLM fleet history — Wikipedia
- List of Boeing 747 operators — Wikipedia
- Boeing 747 collection aircraft — Aviodrome
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