KLM retires its 1st-ever Boeing 737-800 as €7 billion fleet renewal kicks off
December 5, 2025
KLM has taken another major step in its €7 billion fleet renewal programme, retiring its first Boeing 737-800 after more than two decades of service on European routes. The aircraft, registered PH-BXK, completed its final passenger flight at Amsterdam Schiphol before being ferried to Twente Airport for dismantling and recycling.
The retirement marks the beginning of the gradual phase-out of KLM’s 737-800 fleet as the airline transitions to quieter, more fuel-efficient aircraft across its European and intercontinental networks.
A final flight and a new purpose for the KLM 737-800
After disembarking its last passengers at Schiphol, PH-BXK was flown on a short positioning leg to Twente Airport, where the aircraft was handed over to AELS (Aircraft End-of-Life Solutions), a Dutch company specialising in sustainable aircraft dismantling and materials recovery.
“The process is actually quite straightforward,” said AELS CEO Johan Vlastuin in the KLM YouTube video bidding farewell to the aircraft. “The aircraft arrives on our runway, which can accommodate all types of aircraft. Then it’s parked in front of our hangar and, in this case, first, the engines are removed, along with the APU.”
Up to 1,000 Boeing 737-800 parts removed and repurposed
KLM Engineering & Maintenance removed the engines and the auxiliary power unit (APU) for reuse within KLM’s operational fleet. Hundreds of additional components will follow.
“We remove around 800 to 1,000 parts from the aircraft. These are then re-certified and eventually returned to aviation, including KLM,” said Roel Toering, Project Manager Phase-out & Lease-In for KLM.
Once the reusable components are harvested, the airline’s visual identity is stripped from the fuselage.
“We remove the KLM logos, the name and everything on the exterior,” Toering said. “We aim to recycle as much as possible, so we separate everything carefully. Once the aircraft is empty, we take out the interior insulation blankets and try to find the best way to reuse them. Everything gets a proper place.”
The final stage is structural recycling.
“Finally, the fuselage is cut up and sorted as much as possible,” Vlastuin added. “The aluminium is recycled.”
Recycling end-of-service aircraft aligns closely with KLM’s own sustainability roadmap.
“Our company’s aim is to return as much as possible back into aviation, and we do that in close cooperation with airlines,” Vlastuin said. “In this case, we’ve worked with KLM and purchased their aircraft. But the goal is also to return these parts to KLM so they can maintain their current fleet.”
Vlastuin said ALS expects to help dismantle and recycle other KLM Boeing 737-800s in the coming months, with more retirements expected as deliveries of the A321neo continue. “The second one will be delivered to us in early January,” he said.
Out with the Boeing 737, in with the Airbus A321neo
The retirement of PH-BXK is part of KLM’s broader fleet modernisation effort. The airline’s European fleet of Boeing 737-700s and 737-800s will gradually be replaced by Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft.
“The 737 is being replaced by the new Airbus A320 and soon the A321,” Toering said. “So, out with the old fleet, in with the new for Europe.”
The shift brings major environmental and operational improvements.
“The new A321neos we’re getting are much quieter compared to the 737, far more fuel-efficient, so it’s a huge step forward,” Toering noted. “They can also carry a few more passengers, which is great for our network. And passenger comfort will be noticeably better, too.”
KLM fleet renewal programme across the network
KLM’s fleet transformation spans all business units:
- European Fleet:
A320neo and A321neo replacing Boeing 737s - Cityhopper:
E195-E2 replacing older Embraer 190s - Intercontinental:
Four Boeing 787-10s recently delivered; final arrival expected early 2026
Airbus A350-900 to join next year, replacing Boeing 777-200ERs and A330s - Cargo Fleet:
Three Airbus A350Fs ordered to replace Boeing 747-400 freighters
The airline says the modernisation will reduce noise, cut CO₂ emissions, and improve passenger comfort across its network.
The retirement of PH-BXK is more than the end of a long service life for a single aircraft. It represents the start of a new, more sustainable fleet for KLM. With more 737s slated for retirement and the first A321neos entering service, the transformation of KLM’s short- and medium-haul fleet is underway.
