Impressive Wingroll Salute // Last 747 & Retirementflight @ Captain Jan Bons

Captain Jan Bons made his last 747 flight and retirementflight together at one retourflight to Curacao.

In view of the 90% decline in flights and anticipated future capacity, KLM previously decided in early March that it would phase out

its remaining Boeing 747s in April 2020,instead of in the summer of 2021.

Actually Jan would retire in September 2020………….but now he was able to celebrate his retirementflight on his beloved B747 ,

however during weird circumstances.

Flight KL129-Heavy ( KL735 ) heading to CUR and operated with the B747-Fullpax reg PH-BFN.

Togehter with his ‘wingman’ and first officer Karel Jansson, second officer Mats Smulders and senior purser Pieter Oostrom.

Captain Jan supplied us with a phenomenal and exciting ‘Wingrol Salute’ and let us in awe………….

Right now and after Jan got his retirementflight, he might get another finishing touch at his 747 career………………

The loss of around 90% of flights between Europe and Asia has resulted in a major shortage of cargo capacity. Meanwhile, the corona crisis has prompted an enormous need for the rapid

transportation of medical equipment and other supplies between the United States, Europe and China.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has now joined hands with Royal Philips and the Dutch government to create a special cargo air bridge between the Netherlands and China.

In addition to these parties, many others are seeking additional capacity. The air bridge to Asia will be launched on 13 April.

To maintain this vital cargo air bridge for the coming six to eight weeks, KLM will specially redeploy Boeing 747 Combi equipment for the service between the Netherlands and China.

This air bridge will ensure continuous availability of special cargo capacity, with two weekly flights to Beijing and three weekly flights to Shanghai.

This will ensure around 250 tonnes of extra cargo capacity each way per week.

The flights will supplement the current “skeleton schedule” that took effect on 29 March, with two weekly flights to Beijing and two weekly flights to Shanghai, operated with Boeing 787s and 777s.

The KLM/Martinair Full Freighters will continue to be deployed on North Atlantic routes, which Philips will use as an air bridge between Amsterdam and distribution points in the United States.

The Full Freighters will also continue to operate on South Atlantic routes and to destinations in Africa.

It might be Jan will get a call for a 747 flight to Beijng-PEK or Shanghai-PVG……………