King Willem Alexander completed his final flight as a pilot in a KLM Boeing 737, marking the end of an era before transitioning to training on a new aircraft type.
The Dutch monarch is well known for his long-standing passion for aviation. Over the years, King Willem-Alexander has regularly flown aircraft himself, including Fokker 70 and Fokker 100 planes, particularly during royal visits in the Caribbean where he sometimes personally piloted the aircraft.
Certified KLM Pilot Since 2017
Since 2017, King Willem-Alexander has been certified to fly KLM Boeing 737 aircraft. From time to time, he has operated scheduled KLM flights, often without passengers realizing that the Dutch king was sitting in the cockpit.
His involvement in aviation has always been described as a personal passion alongside his royal duties.
Transition to Airbus A320neo
KLM is currently in the process of phasing out its Boeing 737 fleet and replacing those aircraft with the Airbus A320neo.
Because of this transition, King Willem-Alexander will also undergo retraining to operate the Airbus aircraft. His recent flight therefore officially marked his final time flying the Boeing 737.
Soon, the Dutch king is expected to begin flying the Airbus A320neo for KLM after completing the required training.
Reflection on Years Flying the Boeing 737
Reflecting on his experience, King Willem-Alexander shared that the aircraft has been part of many memorable journeys.
“Over the years we transported so many passengers from A to B with the Boeing 737. The mix of people and moments made flying special,” the king said.
He mentioned that the aircraft carried many different groups of passengers, including football fans traveling to European matches, families flying to Lapland to meet Santa Claus, and holiday travelers heading to destinations like Ibiza and Málaga.
The king added that he hopes to welcome the same colorful group of passengers on board the Airbus aircraft in the future.
Royal Visit to Aruba
King Willem-Alexander is currently scheduled to be in Aruba this Sunday to participate in celebrations marking 50 years of Aruba’s Flag and Anthem and 40 years of Status Aparte.
The visit forms part of the official commemorations taking place across the island.
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