KLM
Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij

(Netherlands)

Among the pioneer airlines, one of the best known names is KLM, the airline of The Netherlands. This airline, which was founded in 1919, has the destinction being the oldest still existing. Since ever, KLM was ahead of its time in introducing modern aircraft types being launch costumer or European launch costumer for many aircraft types and variants, including the DC-2, DC-3, DC-8, 747-200, 747-400 Combi, F100 and many more.
The long relationship between Douglas and began with the DC-2, one of the first full metal aircraft to be built. This was even fortified after the success of a KLM DC-2, the "Uiver" won the transport section in the famous McRobertson aircraft race from England to Australia. In fact, KLM was the only airline to operate all DC-aircraft from the DC-2 to the DC-10.
As a logical step, KLM was also among the first airlines to order the TriJet from Mc Donnell-Douglas. The joint order from the KSSU group (KLM, SAS, Swissair, UTA) for 23 aircraft (+12 options) was placed on June 7th 1969 and was not only the first order from an overseas carrier, but also the first for the passenger version of the DC-10-30, which became the most successful DC-10 variant.
The KLM part of this order was for 6 aircraft and 6 options of which the first (#60) was delivered in a joint ceremony with Swissair's #57 on November 21st 1972. The order included also the DC-10-30 prototype, #46, which was delivered after some flight tests in 1974. On December 3rd 1972, this aircraft arrived in Amsterdam for crew and technical training. Only short after Swissair, on December 19th, (#60) made the first KLM DC-10 service on the route between Amsterdam and Jakarta. Like many other airlines, KLM used the DC-10 on long range routes where the 747 was far too large, but also on some high density routes like Amsterdam - New York. From the six options, all but one were taken up, although most of them were often leased out to airlines in which KLM had close affiliations, like VIASA and Philippine Airlines.
KLM built up a strong overseas network in the 1980s which resulted in a need for more capacity. More 747s were needed on the routes and for many of the new low-density routes, only the range of the 747 was adequate. New 747-300 aircraft were ordered and the -200s were upgraded with a stretched upper deck. Many DC-10s left the fleet and the fleet shrinked to four aircraft in 1990. The last three served well until 1994, when the first MD-11 arrived. This ended also the 60-year-old era of DC-aircraft which made KLM what it is now: One of the most respected airlines over the world.


Photos:
Upper right: KLM DC-10-30 PH-DTA, early 1990s in Frankfurt - BY FRANK SCHAEFER
Left: KLM DC-10 stickers, around 1980
Lower right: KLM DC-10-30 PH-DTL, early 1990s in Amsterdam - BY FRANK SCHAEFER


Following aircraft were operated by or for KLM:

RegistrationAircraftFleetnr./NameOperated from - toWhere is it now?
PH-DTA46550/ 46Johann S. Bach15.03.1974 - 12.06.1994 and
19.06.1994 - 15.07.1994
SCRAPPED
PH-DTB46551/ 60Ludwig v. Beethoven03.12.1972 - 06.12.1994-stored-
PH-DTC46552/ 71Frederik Chopin06.02.1973 - 10.1973,
21.03.1975 - 03.05.1975 and
16.11.1975 - 17.12.1994
SCRAPPED
PH-DTD46553/ 82Maurice Ravel28.02.1973 - 31.07.1994-stored-
PH-DTE46554/ 84W. Amadeus Mozart19.02.1973 - 21.12.1984SCRAPPED
PH-DTF46555/ 9113.04.1973 - 01.04.1977SCRAPPED
PH-DTG46556/ 14603.04.1974 only
(Immediately leased to VIASA)
-stored-
PH-DTH46557/ 19715.04.1975 - 25.04.1975 and
01.04.1979 - 26.07.1980
SCRAPPED
PH-DTI46933/ 15927.06.1974 - 11.04.1974SCRAPPED
PH-DTK46914/ 19527.03.1975 - 04.1975 and
02.1985 - 02.04.1985
SCRAPPED
PH-DTL46952/ 18526.02.1975 - 03.03.1975,
02.04.1976 - 18.04.1976,
13.03.1977 - 17.04.1991 and
15.11.1992 - 28.12.1992
SCRAPPED
PH-MBT46985/ 26417.10.1989 - 03.10.1992Royal Netherlands
Air Force


Previous airline: JAT - Yugoslav Airlines Next airline: Korean Air Lines

Back to the list