08/12/2025
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Dutch King Flew Regional Flights for KLM in Secret for Over 20 Years
For decades, passengers boarding KLM Royal Dutch Airlines had no idea just how royal their flight truly was. Behind the cockpit door on select regional routes, the Netherlands’ own King Willem-Alexander was quietly clocking in as a commercial co-pilot, flying passengers in complete secrecy.
Long before ascending the throne in 2013, the king earned his pilot’s license in the 1980s and continued flying regularly even after becoming head of state. He primarily served as a co-pilot aboard the Fokker 70 for KLM Cityhopper, the airline’s regional subsidiary, operating short-haul European flights.
For years, travelers were unaware that one of the men guiding their aircraft through the skies was also the sitting monarch of the Netherlands. He introduced himself simply as “Willem-Alexander” and worked under the same strict training, safety, and certification requirements as every other KLM pilot.
To maintain his commercial license, the king typically flew around two flights per month, fitting the role quietly into his packed royal schedule. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he maintained his currency by transitioning to Boeing 737 simulator training, ensuring he remained professionally qualified even as commercial operations slowed worldwide.
In 2023, the king officially stepped away from flying revenue passengers after KLM retired its Fokker 70 fleet. Since then, he has frequently served as co-pilot aboard the PH-GOV, the Boeing 737 VIP jet used to transport the royal family, politicians, and foreign dignitaries.
Despite now reaching the mandatory retirement age of 58 for KLM pilots, King Willem-Alexander is not leaving aviation behind. According to the Government Information Service, confirmed to De Telegraaf, the monarch is now retraining from the Boeing 737 to the Airbus A321neo in order to continue flying with Royal Dutch Airlines in a non-commercial capacity.
The king has now been a pilot for four decades, having previously flown the royal Fokker 70 PH-KBX and later moving onto the Boeing 737. While he is no longer expected to operate scheduled passenger flights after reaching retirement age, sources say he will continue flying as a hobby, provided KLM can accommodate the additional training at a time when the airline is facing pilot training shortages.
Aviation has remained one of King Willem-Alexander’s lifelong passions. His hidden career as a working airline pilot has become one of the most unusual and admired examples of a modern monarch maintaining a normal profession alongside royal responsibilities.
The revelation continues to symbolize the Dutch royal family’s reputation for humility, approachability, and strong ties to everyday life.
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