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Dutch flag carrier KLM has elected to retire the first Boeing 737-800 that was ever introduced to the fleet, an aircraft bearing registration PH-BXK. After dropping off its final passengers at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), the aircraft was flown on a short positioning flight to Twente Airport (ENS), where it was handed to specialist aircraft dismantling company AELS for teardown and subsequent recycling.
KLM’s Engineering & Maintenance team removed the aircraft’s engines and auxiliary power unit (APU) for reuse elsewhere in the airline’s fleet, and all remaining parts will be reused by other operators or subsequently recycled. The farewell also signals that KLM’s wider narrowbody transition is occurring. The carrier is getting ready to replace all Boeing 737s in service on European routes with the Airbus A321neo as part of an $8.15 billion fleet-renewal push.
An Exciting Announcement Made With An Eye Towards The Future
According to commentary from the airline’s media team on December 5, 2025, airframe PH-BXK has now officially completed its final flight and has been moved to Twente airport for subsequent dismantling. This retirement process is designed to recover overall economic value for the carrier. KLM’s maintenance team has removed all components that can be put back into use internally, and AELS will either find second-life use for the jet’s components with other airlines or recycle what cannot be used.
KLM has framed the move as a first step in a phased drawdown of the 
Boeing 737-800 subfleet, alongside another of the same model, which is expected to follow. That airframe will be retired at Twente in January 2026. Strategically, KLM links the existing to a broader program. On European routes, the airline’s broader commercial strategy is to replace aging Boeing 737 models with highly efficient Airbus A321neo jets, citing lower noise and overall carbon footprints. In a statement, the carrier had the following words to share about its fleet growth:
“KLM is investing heavily in fleet modernization: on European routes, A320neo and A321neo aircraft will replace the Boeing 737. At KLM Cityhopper, new E195-E2 models are replacing older Embraer 190s.”
Operational Changes Made With The Future In Mind
KLM plans to swap for the Airbus A321neo, as this modernizes the airline’s short-haul network. The airline points to a few key headline improvements that this product offers. This includes reduced noise and lower carbon emissions over the Boeing 737 that it replaces. This offers the aircraft a practical advantage at slot-constrained, community-sensitive airports like Schiphol.
For KLM, the transition also helps simplify planning for the future, as a new-generation narrowbody fleet typically brings along better fuel efficiency and more predictable maintenance profiles than aircraft approaching the later stages of overall economic life. The Airbus A321neo’s larger gauge can also support capacity growth where demand is the strongest, lowering individual per-passenger costs.
From a different perspective, PH-BXK’s retirement is not just a sentimental milestone but rather a visible market of KLM shifting its European flying towards newly-built aircraft that are ultimately designed for tighter environmental constraints. Currently, unit efficiency is the name of the game for KLM.
KLM To Serve Record 18 UK Airports With Up To 71 Daily Flights
It has never flown to more than 17 UK airports before.
A Full-Funded Renewal Effort
KLM certainly has the financial strength needed to undertake this massive fleet renewal effort. The airline explicitly places this retirement within a larger package of retirements and new fleet investments that are worth around $8.15 billion.
Beyond the Airbus A321neo, which will be deployed on a number of European routes, KLM says that the Airbus A320neo will also replace aging Boeing 737 models, while Cityhopper, the airline’s regional subsidiary, is going to be moving from Embraer E190s to more efficient E195s. This highlights that the airline’s broader renewal efforts are not just limited to its short-haul fleet.
Long-haul fleet renewal is also well underway. The airline has taken delivery of four Boeing 787-10s, with all expected to enter service in early 2026. Airbus A350-900 models will arrive next year and replace older Boeing 777s and Airbus A330s. The airline also plans to use new Airbus A350F freighters to replace its aging fleet of Boeing 747 cargo aircraft.
