KL 744 Phase out News and Discussion Thread

itisi · Sun Jun 04, 2017 11:59 pm

We still get them here in Hong Kong... this is China

Iemand91 wrote:
At this moment; flight KL897 is on route to Beijing from Amsterdam. It's been operated by PH-BFV "City of Vancouver".
It's estimated arrival will be 08:25 local time. At 10:55 it will turn back to Amsterdam where it will arrive at 15:10.
https://www.flightradar24.com/flight/kl897

For the time being; this will be the last (ever?) KLM 747 flight to Mainland China. From tomorrow on this flight will be flown with 777-200ER's which are already operating 4 out of 7 weekly flights.
From July 30 on; this route will be solely flown with 787-9's.

KLM started the Amsterdam - Beijing route on June 27, 1996 with the 747-400. This was KLM's first route to China.
After the formal inaugural flight on June 30 (the 2nd flight to Beijing) - with KLM President Pieter Bouw and the Dutch Minister Jorritsma of Ministry of Transport on board - the vice minister of the Civil Aviation General Administration of China and Pieter Bouw unveiled the name "City of Beijing" on the aircraft at Beijing Airport. (see picture below).

This however was not PH-BFU that is wearing that name now since that particular aircraft was delivered more than a year later in 1997.
This may have been PH-BFL "City of Lima' with this temporary name stuck on.

Iemand91 · Sun Jun 11, 2017 9:59 pm

PH-BFE "City of Melbourne" goes into her last night at home. Tomorrow she will leave Amsterdam for good at around 11:55.
Here final resting place will be Orlando Melbourne International Airport, Florida.
She's the 7th KLM 747-400 to be retired.

Here two photos at Amsterdam taken since she flew her last commercial flight; the 2nd taken 2 days ago (obviously, both not taken by myself)

Source.

Source

Iemand91 · Mon Jun 12, 2017 10:40 am

And she's gone: https://www.flightradar24.com/KLM9865/db4814b

beefstew25 · Mon Jun 12, 2017 8:54 pm

Saw her come in. Did a loop off the coast and did the base leg over Palm Bay. Right before she landed an MD-11 overflew MLB from the south headed to COF.

The 744 is sitting on the northwest side of MLB. Past all the Embraer buildings.

Still one Transaero 744 on the SE side. I can't get a reg.

Iemand91 · Mon Jun 12, 2017 9:35 pm

Departure from Amsterdam:

2 endangered species together:

Arrival at Melbourne:

All from: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FarewellKLMBoeing747/
I don't have the exact number; but apparently she has clocked more than 137.000 flying hours.

conflats · Mon Jun 12, 2017 10:12 pm

Is their a clock in the cockpit to record the hours like a odometer in your car? Or is it through a flight log book system?

n471wn · Tue Jun 13, 2017 1:36 am

Why on earth did she go to Melbourne? It is not a scrap yard like Sanford

beefstew25 · Tue Jun 13, 2017 2:41 am

Couple of the Transaero 744's were scrapped here. And a joint stars 707 awhile back.

HeeseokKoo · Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:36 am

n471wn wrote:
Why on earth did she go to Melbourne? It is not a scrap yard like Sanford

Because of her name, "City of Melbourne"?

KrustyTheKlown · Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:53 am

But somehow I have a feeling it was named after some other Melbourne.. :smile:

It's like scraping "City of Vancouver" in Vancouver, Washington (well.. in PDX but Vancouver, Wa is just across the Columbia river)

NearMiss · Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:53 am

So, I assume the A330 will be doing the SXM run once the 747s are gone for good.

It's the end of an era for sure :worried:

747classic · Wed Jun 14, 2017 8:40 am

Iemand91 wrote:

KLM started the Amsterdam - Beijing route on June 27, 1996 with the 747-400. This was KLM's first route to China.
After the formal inaugural flight on June 30 (the 2nd flight to Beijing) - with KLM President Pieter Bouw and the Dutch Minister Jorritsma of Ministry of Transport on board - the vice minister of the Civil Aviation General Administration of China and Pieter Bouw unveiled the name "City of Beijing" on the aircraft at Beijing Airport.

The first arrival of a KLM 747 at Beijng was at 18 October 1980. The aircraft involved was PH-BUD, one of the PW powered KLM 747-206B aircraft.
This flight was a route-proving charter AMS-AMM-DXB-PEK with callsign KL8007.
I happened to be the most junior flight crew member at that flight.
Our flight crew, destined to operate the stretches DXB-PEK-DXB was briefed (a day before departure ex AMS !) about the special procedures when entering chinese airpace, abnormal procedures (comm failure), alternate destinations etc.
After an extra day at Beijing, staying at a rebuilt hospital (very few hotels were available at that time),a city tour (only a few VIP cars, but thousands of bikes with people in Mao suits), incl. a formal diner with the Dutch embassy staff, a visit to the forbidden city, we departed for the return flight to DXB.

A few weeks after this event, the Dutch government decided to sell two submarines to Taiwan, as a consequence the Dutch embassy was closed and the next flight to mainland China took place in 1996, after the relations had been normalised again.

Note : after the inaugural flight with the 747-400 (Public Relations), the AMS-PEK was operated for many years by the 747-300, later the 747-400 was used again.

Kronesian · Thu Jun 15, 2017 2:34 am

Quality is kind of bad, but here is PH-BFE's final moments in the air over Melbourne.

ryanflyer · Sat Jun 17, 2017 7:01 pm

Anyone know which bird is next to go from the KLM 747 fleet?

Iemand91 · Sat Jun 17, 2017 7:34 pm

ryanflyer wrote:
Anyone know which bird is next to go from the KLM 747 fleet?

PH-BFF "City of Freetown" and PH-BFR "Rio de Janeiro" are both scheduled to retire at November 1st, 2017. PH-BFC "City of Calgary" follows on December 4th.
All 3 are Combi's. KLM will only have 12 747's left at the end of this year; 6 full pax and 6 combi.
One of those full pax (PH-BFY) will leave at the end of November for a D-check; for all we know the last ever D-check for a KLM (passenger) 747.

Iemand91 · Fri Jul 14, 2017 2:36 pm

Some positive news:

BOEING 747'S KLM CARGO GAAN NOG ZEKER VIJFTIEN JAAR MEE

SCHIPHOL - De drie Boeing 747-400F vrachtvliegtuigen van KLM Cargo kunnen nog zeker vijftien jaar worden gebruikt. Dat zegt vrachtdirecteur Marcel de Nooijer tegen Luchtvaartnieuws.nl. Ook van de Boeing 747-400BCF in Martinair-kleuren wordt nog lang geen afscheid genomen.

KLM is al wel begonnen met het uitfaseren van de verouderde passagiersvariant van de Boeing 747-400. Die werd in 1989 in gebruik genomen. Van de laatste “Queen of the Skies” wordt naar verwachting in 2020 afscheid genomen.

De KLM-blauwe Boeing 747-400’s in vrachtuitvoering zijn een stuk jonger: gemiddeld veertien jaar. "Die toestellen kunnen dus met gemak nog vijftien jaar mee”, aldus De Nooijer. "En onze vierde 'full freighter', de PH-MPS met Martinair-livery, is pas terug van een grote onderhoudsbeurt in China en kan er weer vijf jaar tegenaan.”

Basically; the three 747-400F freighters (PH-CKA, -CKB and -CKC) will have another 15 years in them.
The fourth freigher; the 747-400BCF PH-MPS with Martinair livery just came back from a D-check in Xiamen 3 weeks ago.

Doesn't mean AF/KLM will definitely keep those 3 freighters for 15 years but at least it looks like they don't have immediate plans to phase out those too yet.

Themack · Fri Jul 14, 2017 3:02 pm

Good news, makes it feel more at home at AMS, to see those 747's...will feel different not seeing them anymore....

jbs2886 · Fri Jul 14, 2017 3:17 pm

Iemand91 wrote:
Some positive news:

BOEING 747'S KLM CARGO GAAN NOG ZEKER VIJFTIEN JAAR MEE

SCHIPHOL - De drie Boeing 747-400F vrachtvliegtuigen van KLM Cargo kunnen nog zeker vijftien jaar worden gebruikt. Dat zegt vrachtdirecteur Marcel de Nooijer tegen Luchtvaartnieuws.nl. Ook van de Boeing 747-400BCF in Martinair-kleuren wordt nog lang geen afscheid genomen.

KLM is al wel begonnen met het uitfaseren van de verouderde passagiersvariant van de Boeing 747-400. Die werd in 1989 in gebruik genomen. Van de laatste “Queen of the Skies” wordt naar verwachting in 2020 afscheid genomen.

De KLM-blauwe Boeing 747-400’s in vrachtuitvoering zijn een stuk jonger: gemiddeld veertien jaar. "Die toestellen kunnen dus met gemak nog vijftien jaar mee”, aldus De Nooijer. "En onze vierde 'full freighter', de PH-MPS met Martinair-livery, is pas terug van een grote onderhoudsbeurt in China en kan er weer vijf jaar tegenaan.”

Basically; the three 747-400F freighters (PH-CKA, -CKB and -CKC) will have another 15 years in them.
The fourth freigher; the 747-400BCF PH-MPS with Martinair livery just came back from a D-check in Xiamen 3 weeks ago.

Doesn't mean AF/KLM will definitely keep those 3 freighters for 15 years but at least it looks like they don't have immediate plans to phase out those too yet.

That would also be quite the turn from the AF-KLM dedicated Freighter operation. Here's to hoping they stick around.

747classic · Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:34 am

Why would you want to operate a fleet of only 3 747-400ERF's for 15 more years +1 oddbal 747-400BCF (only aircraft in the fleet with PW4000 engines installed) for another 5 years .
After 2020-2021 all the remaining KLM 747-406 pax/combi aircraft have been withdrawn.

According KLM fleet development the minimum fleet size of one aircraft type is around 10 aircraft (spare parts -simulator etc.), so operation of 747-400ERF's beyond 2021 with a fleet of only 3 aircraft seems unprofitable.

Iemand91 · Sun Jul 23, 2017 5:55 pm

Just an update where things are now:

- KLM has 15 747-400's left; 9 combi's and 6 full-pax.
- 7 have left; 1 full pax and 6 combi's.

The state of those 7:
- PH-BFA: stored at Teruel. Several parts missing.
- PH-BFD: stored at MHV Mojave. Several parts missing.
- PH-BFE: stored at Melbourne, Florida. After arrival on June 12th, 2017; she was being dismantled. I do know know if she's (being) scrapped or stored at this moment.
- PH-BFK: stored at MHV Mojave. Several parts missing.
- PH-BFM: scrapped at Teruel. Only pieces are left all over LETL; including the rear part of the upper deck and the cockpit/nose section. Sad sight. :cry:

- PH-BFO: being scrapped at Teruel or already completely scrapped. (most likely the latter). Together with a British Airways 747-400 (most likely G-BNLF)
- PH-BFP: stored at Teruel. Will be moved in front of the hangar to be scrapped following -BFO, along side a white A340. (don't know which particular aircraft)

There are also two 747-400BCF stored at Teruel since August 2013. These two freighters (PH-MPP and -MPQ; -MPP was the first 747 to arrive at LETL; also one of the very first aircraft)
will both be scrapped too. -MPQ has been towed inside the hangar for dismantling.

By the way; at MHV are also two of KLM's MD-11's (PH-KCD and -KCE) with the Blue MD-11 part of the "Douglas Aviation History sticker" still on the fuselage; sad to see the aircraft I took my first flight on (the 2nd of the 3 farewell flights) in this shape.
Also at MHV are 4 of the 7 Martinair's MD-11F's (PH-MCY, -MCP, -MCR and -MCW); all four are stripped of parts but still there.

Iemand91 · Fri Aug 18, 2017 8:26 pm

Since I'm feeding this thread with all kinds of KLM 747 news; KLM has bought their sole 747-400BCF from Aircastle.
PH-MPS is the only plane left flying with the Martinair colors.

The lease was set to expire in 2018. Apparently Aircastle wanted to reduce their portolio of freighters and Martinair needed at least 4 aircraft to operate profitably.
Martinair also needs at least one aircraft to keep their Air Operators Certificate (AOC).

Just so you know; PH-MPS came back from a D-check in Xiamen some months ago.
KLM has bought another 2 747-400BCF's in 2016 (PH-MPP and MPQ) that had been stored at Teruel, Spain since August 2013.
Their are to be scrapped.

Iemand91 · Fri Sep 08, 2017 7:45 pm

I just had to share this one with you guys:

Taken last Tuesday morning.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Farewel ... 894042324/

Flanker7 · Fri Sep 08, 2017 9:16 pm

At least I got to fly BFC and BFT last week to Chicago and back. Still a great aircraft to travel on despite its age.

325i · Wed Sep 13, 2017 10:42 pm

Hey lemand91, were there 3 746's parked as one drives up to the KLM Terminal? Saw this colourful sight 2 weeks ago on my way to LHR.

Iemand91 · Thu Sep 14, 2017 11:19 am

325i wrote:
Hey lemand91, were there 3 746's parked as one drives up to the KLM Terminal? Saw this colourful sight 2 weeks ago on my way to LHR.

You mean here or here?
Could be, those are parking spots used for parking aircraft.

Iemand91 · Fri Sep 15, 2017 10:06 pm

The state of the stored 747's at Teruel.
I'm not sure how recent these pictures are; but as you can see; PH-BFM has been scrapped (parts of her can be seen in the center of the image) and PH-BFO is being scrapped.
This could be a dated picture, because it others sources claimed -BFO was being scrapped around June, so she may as well be gone by now.
PH-BFA and -BFP can be seen on the left.

Source: https://twitter.com/aeropuerteruel/stat ... 5102229505

Iemand91 · Sat Sep 16, 2017 8:01 pm

The 747-400 Combi is showing her capabilities. PH-BFT has been flown to Curacao and then on to Sint Maarten.
Now it's at Aruba and it will fly several times between SXM and AUA. It will return to Amsterdam on Tuesday.
Voluntary cockpit- and cabincrew.

Video of landing at SXM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PGvz4y2jwM

Aircellist · Sun Sep 17, 2017 2:05 am

That deserted airport is a sad sight

Iemand91 · Sun Sep 17, 2017 8:17 pm

PH-BFA stored at Teruel, Spain. Picture taken a week ago.
KLM's first 747-400 and the first/only retired full pax 747-400 so far.

Source: http://www.planepictures.net/v3/show_en.php?id=1473714

A388 · Sun Sep 17, 2017 8:40 pm

Iemand91 you're absolutely right. I took pictures of PH-BFT here in Curacao when it left for St. Maarten. I have photos on Facebook and in the screening queue on this website.

A388

Iemand91 · Mon Sep 25, 2017 2:50 pm

Dear KLM - A Plea from Calgary Plane Spotters

Thanks for watching this video! On behalf of all Calgary plane spotters, I have a special favor to ask of you. KLM's 747-400 PH-BFC is named after my home city of Calgary, Canada, and unfortunately, as many already know, 747-400s are rapidly being retired from service by several airlines. PH-BFC herself is already 28 years old and won't be flying for much longer. What I, or rather, we, are trying to do is get KLM to fly the "City of Calgary" to Calgary at least one time before she's retired from service. Whether this is on her retirement flight or an equipment swap on the regular Amsterdam flight, it would be an occasion to remember. KLM is such a plane spotter-friendly airline, and this seems like something that they could do.

I believe we can make this happen, but I need your help! Share this video with KLM using the hashtag #klm747yyc, tag KLM in your posts, and if you or someone you know works for KLM, please pass it along! Bring "Calgary" home!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMeGhxSQ1R8

Flanker7 · Mon Sep 25, 2017 3:44 pm

Well what a nice video and I'll ask my partner to share this at work and who knows. Would be a nice thing to do, Calgary in Calgary.

A388 · Mon Sep 25, 2017 4:07 pm

Iemand91, here are the photos I took of PH-BFT in CUR on a huminatarian aid flight to SXM:

A388

Iemand91 · Mon Sep 25, 2017 6:26 pm

Flanker7 wrote:
Well what a nice video and I'll ask my partner to share this at work and who knows. Would be a nice thing to do, Calgary in Calgary.

They better hurry; she's scheduled to retire in exactly 10 weeks time.

A388 wrote:
Iemand91, here are the photos I took of PH-BFT in CUR on a huminatarian aid flight to SXM:

A388

Didn't know you had photo's on this site. Some of my favorites too.

Iemand91 · Sat Oct 14, 2017 7:20 pm

PH-BFY is now at Paramaribo-Zanderij International Airport in Suriname.
It will fly back to Amsterdam in about 2 hours.

4 hours after arrival she will fly to Soekarno–Hatta International Airport in Indonesia as flight KL9865.
There she will get a D-check; most likely the very last D-check for any KLM 747.

PH-BFY was delivered as a 747-400 Combi to KLM (delivered on April 10, 2002), but has been reconfigured to a full-pax aircraft years ago.
It's also the last 747 left with the KLM Asia livery; after the D-check she will likely come back in the new livery, without Asia titles.

DutchA350XWB · Sat Oct 14, 2017 7:24 pm

When she is back, there will be no KLM Asia Boeing 744 anymore.

socko · Sat Oct 14, 2017 10:06 pm

I flew BH-BFF about 3 weeks ago AMS-LAX. Loved it!!! Sad to see them go.

jmscsc · Sat Oct 14, 2017 11:16 pm

I just booked a February flight to Nairobi for an African Safari. The AMS - NBO leg is on a KLM 747-400. I’ll seize any opportunity to fly the “Queen of the Skies” while it’s possible.

Iemand91 · Thu Oct 19, 2017 5:03 pm

Delta Airlines has retired N662US when it flew to Marana on October 15.
This means KLM is now flying the two oldest 747-400's around; PH-BFB (full pax) and PH-BFC (combi), delivered to KLM in June and September 1989.
Unfortunately not for long; -BFC is scheduled to retire in the beginning of December while -BFB will soldier on for another year.

A388 · Thu Oct 19, 2017 5:09 pm

Iemand91 wrote:
Flanker7 wrote:
Well what a nice video and I'll ask my partner to share this at work and who knows. Would be a nice thing to do, Calgary in Calgary.

They better hurry; she's scheduled to retire in exactly 10 weeks time.

A388 wrote:
Iemand91, here are the photos I took of PH-BFT in CUR on a huminatarian aid flight to SXM:

A388

Didn't know you had photo's on this site. Some of my favorites too.

Hahaha okay, now you know. I heard KL will be keeping their 747's for longer now but for how long? When will they be phased out completely?

A388

Iemand91 · Thu Oct 19, 2017 5:23 pm

A388 wrote:
Hahaha okay, now you know. I heard KL will be keeping their 747's for longer now but for how long? When will they be phased out completely?

A388

End of 2020/beginning of 2021.

The remaining 4 747-freighters longer, but no word out for how *much* longer.

Iemand91 · Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:55 am

It looks like last Saturday was not only the end of the Fokker F70's at KLM, but also yet another 747.
PH-BFR "Rio de Janeiro" - build in 1993/1994 - has made her last commercial flight for KLM.
On Friday she left Amsterdam for Mexico-City as flight KL685 and came back home on Saturday afternoon at 14:27 p.m.; just 6 hours before the last Fokker arrival from London Heathrow.
Now there are only 14 747-400 left at KLM.

Her last departure from the Polderbaan, last Friday:

PH-BFR 171027 EHAM by Rien Jansens, on Flickr

Last arrival at Schiphol, Saturday afternoon:

Source

A388 · Mon Oct 30, 2017 12:39 pm

With all Fokkers gone now and the 747 fleet gradually shrinking, we are increasingly witnessing the new era in the aviation industry, 777's, 787's, A350's and E190's, E175's that are replacing these Fokker aircraft and 747 aircraft. I know KL has extended the lease on part of their A330 fleet, for how long will they keep their current A330 fleet?

Talking about KL's Fokker fleet, one of the Insel Air Fokker 70's will return to its owner and has been re-registered (back) to PH-KZH. This was an ex-KL bird so one will be coming back to the Netherlands I'd would but who's the owner and where will it go to?

A388

Iemand91 · Fri Nov 03, 2017 12:59 pm

PH-BFR's very last flight won't be long; she will be dismantled at Enschede Airport Twente; about 140 kilometers East of Schiphol.
It's the 2nd large aircraft to be scrapped by AELS at the airport, afther the Swiss A340 HB-JMK.
(Topic about that here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1360849)

Iemand91 · Mon Nov 13, 2017 10:15 pm

Parts of the KLM 747-400 will find their way back to The Netherlands.

Parts of PH-BFM have been used in a multifunctional room at MBO College Airport in Hoofddorp. Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the official opening.

Parts from PH-BFO will be used in a simular setup at a college (Lanstede) in Zwolle.
A student has made a vlog about the dismantling of the 747: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7iVzS6cFx4

Iemand91 · Mon Nov 20, 2017 8:01 pm

Recent picture of Teruel, Spain. (Source: https://twitter.com/aeropuerteruel/stat ... 5755152384)

The wings of PH-BFO are being chopped up. So she'll be gone soon I guess :cry:

...

Iemand91 · Sat Nov 25, 2017 8:45 pm

PH-BFR "Rio de Janeiro" waiting at Schiphol for her final flight to Enschede Airport Twente. She was scheduled to go on Monday, but it's postponed due weather, now probably on Wednesday.

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/8764561

Narfish641 · Sun Nov 26, 2017 12:07 am

These aircraft are being pulled from the sky like limited addition Crystal Pepsi drinks. I hope to fly on one of these old birds before they are gone.

DTWLAX · Sun Nov 26, 2017 2:08 am

Iemand91 wrote:
This means KLM is now flying the two oldest 747-400's around; PH-BFB (full pax) and PH-BFC (combi), delivered to KLM in June and September 1989.

I had the pleasure of flying PH-BFB City of Bangkok 3 weeks ago from LAX to AMS. This was my third trip on PH-BFB.
This bird has a plaque inside on the side of the stairs going up to the upper deck given by the Thai government. A nice touch.

boeing767300 · Sun Nov 26, 2017 5:59 pm

Has a retirement date been set for PH-BFC?

Who is online

Popular Searches On Airliners.net