King Willem-Alexander will cease his role as co-pilot of the Dutch government aircraft once he completes his transition to Airbus certification, ending a long-standing tradition of flying the state’s Boeing 737-700.

The Government Information Service (RVD) confirmed the decision to the ANP, noting that the King’s final flight as a guest pilot on a KLM Boeing 737 took place on March 11. This shift is driven by KLM’s fleet modernization, as the airline phases out its older Boeing models in favor of the more efficient Airbus A321neo. Because the King is retraining specifically for this new Airbus family, his qualifications will no longer cover the Boeing-built government jet, registered as the PH-GOV.

To maintain his commercial pilot’s license, the King must log a specific number of flight hours annually, a requirement he has fulfilled for decades by serving as a guest pilot for KLM. Historically, this expertise allowed him to sit in the cockpit during state visits and official foreign missions. However, the technical differences between Boeing and Airbus flight systems—often referred to as different “type ratings”—mean that once his retraining is finalized later this year, he will be legally restricted to Airbus flight decks.

“The King has flown the Boeing 737 for many years with great pleasure,” a spokesperson for the RVD noted, emphasizing that the transition ensures he remains current with the modern standards of the Dutch national carrier’s fleet.

Looking ahead, the King is expected to complete his conversion training by the end of 2026. While he will no longer assist in piloting the PH-GOV, his move to the A321neo ensures that the Dutch monarch remains one of the few heads of state in the world with the active qualifications to fly modern commercial jetliners.

The transition marks the end of an era for the Boeing 737-700 government plane, which has seen the monarch in its cockpit for numerous international journeys. As the King focuses on mastering Airbus technology, his role will shift exclusively to the KLM commercial network for his required flight hours.

Source: Aviation News