KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has begun retiring its Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
This is part of a 7 billion euro investment in fleet renewal. The Boeing 737 fleet will be replaced by Airbus A320neo or Airbus A321neo aircraft, and the Embraer E190 aircraft will be replaced by Embraer A195-E2 aircraft. On intercontinental routes, the remaining Boeing 787-10 aircraft will be delivered by early 2026. In 2026, KLM will also receive Airbus A350-900 aircraft, which will replace its Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 aircraft.
After completing its commercial flights, the first aircraft to retire (registration: PH-BXK) flew from Amsterdam to Twente and was handed over to AELS, a company specializing in aircraft dismantling and recycling. KLM Engineering & Maintenance removed the engines and auxiliary power unit (APU), which will be reused within KLM’s own fleet. The remaining parts will either be reused by other companies or recycled.
The second aircraft is expected to head to Twente as early as January 2026.
