thanks for asking.
Hello MarkD,
We have 12 Boeing 767-300ER at KLM. The first is leaving the fleet around April, 2005. This one is being replaced by a Boeing 777-200ER (which has already arrived at Schiphol). Starting in August 2005 the Airbus A330-200 will be joining our fleet (had a sim session yesterday, and saw the new Airbus simulator being assembled). We have six firm orders for these Airbuses, and 18 options (some of these will be exercised but not all, is the latest). As the Airbuses come they will replace the Boeing 767’s. This means the second one will leave in August, 2005. The third Boeing 767 will head for the exit in December, 2005. In 2006 we will see 4 machines leave. And in the period January-April, 2007 the last will leave. The last Boeing 767 will be replaced by a mix of Airbuses and Boeing 777-200ER.
Thank you for asking what my next aircraft will be. I expect to leave the Boeing 767-300ER around the last quarter of 2006. It will be a close call whether my seniority will carry me into either the Boeing 747-400 or Boeing 777-200ER fleet (with any growth it should). Pay wise these aircraft are the same within our company. My personal preference goes to the Boeing 777-200ER. Either would be fine, I have close to 10,000 hours on the Boeing 747-300 (as a co-pilot), so the transition would be easy for either. If my seniority comes up just shy, the company can assign me to the Airbus A330-200, they can do this according to our contract for a period of two years before I can bid off the Airbus again. Wouldn’t mind the Airbus, pay is pretty close to the really big fleet, the only thing that I don’t like about our A330’s is the fact that it will not have any crew berths (beds), and some of the sectors are damn long. I am only forty so these are all luxurious problems to have.
Kind regards, O.