Editing KLM (section)

===1960s-1970s: Jet age===

In March 1960, the airline introduced the first [[Douglas DC-8]] jet into its fleet.<ref name=KLMHistory /> In 1961, KLM reported its first year of losses.<ref name=KLMHistoryFU /> In 1961, the airline's president Fons Aler was succeeded by [[Ernst van der Beugel]]. However, This leadership change did not lead to a reversal of KLM's financial difficulties.<ref name=KLMHistoryFU /> Van der Beugel resigned as president in 1963 for health reasons.<ref>{{cite journal |title=KLM Directors Resign |journal=Flight International |date=10 January 1963 |volume=83 |issue=2809 |page=45 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1963/1963%20-%200045.html |access-date=17 February 2013 |archive-date=22 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522042310/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1963/1963%20-%200045.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Horatius Albarda was appointed to succeed Ernst van der Beugel as president of KLM in 1963.<ref>{{cite journal |title=KLM's New President |journal=Flight International |date=27 June 1963 |volume=83 |issue=2833 |page=1010 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1963/1963%20-%201041.html |access-date=17 February 2013 |archive-date=22 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522054143/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1963/1963%20-%201041.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Albarda initiated a reorganization of the company, which led to the reduction of staff and air services.<ref name=KLMHistoryFU /> In 1965, Albarda died in an air crash and was succeeded as president by Dr. Gerrit van der Wal.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Death of KLM President|journal=Flight International|date=27 May 1965|volume=87|issue=2933|page=820|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1965/1965%20-%201472.html|access-date=17 February 2013|archive-date=22 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522032422/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1965/1965%20-%201472.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=New KLM President|journal=Flight International|date=24 June 1965|volume=87|issue=2937|page=1010|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1965/1965%20-%201900.html|access-date=17 February 2013|archive-date=22 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522045602/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1965/1965%20-%201900.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Van der Wal forged an agreement with the Dutch government that KLM would be once again run as a private company. By 1966, the stake of the Dutch government in KLM was reduced to a minority stake of 49.5%.<ref name=KLMHistoryFU /> In 1966, KLM introduced the [[Douglas DC-9]] on European and Middle East routes.

[[File:Lockheed 188 Electra PH-LLD KLM 07.65.jpg|thumb|KLM [[Lockheed L-188 Electra]] turboprop airliner in 1965]]
The new terminal buildings at [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol]] opened in April 1967, and in 1968 the stretched [[Douglas DC-8-63]] ("Super DC-8") entered service.<ref name=KLMHistory /> With 244 seats, the Super DC-8 was the largest airliner in scheduled passenger service at the time, although its size was surpassed by that of the [[Boeing 747]] first flown in 1969. On 6 March 1967,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://active.boeing.com/commercial/orders/displaystandardreport.cfm?cboCurrentModel=747&optReportType=AllModels&cboAllModel=747&ViewReportF=View+Report|title=747 Model Summary|publisher=Boeing|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008190936/http://active.boeing.com/commercial/orders/displaystandardreport.cfm?cboCurrentModel=747&optReportType=AllModels&cboAllModel=747&ViewReportF=View+Report|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-10-08|access-date=June 26, 2023}}</ref> KLM ordered the 747 as its first [[Boeing]] aircraft, which marked the beginning of its use of widebody aircraft and an improved relationship between the airline and Boeing since the 1939 crash of a [[Boeing 307 Stratoliner#Accidents and incidents|Boeing 307 Stratoliner]] carrying KLM representatives on a demonstration flight.<ref>{{cite book|last=Serling|first= Robert J.|date=1992|title=Legend & Legacy: The Story of Boeing and Its People|location=New York|publisher=St. Martin's Press|page=156|isbn=031205890X}}</ref> To negotiate for lower unit prices and form a maintenance pool for its 747 fleet, KLM formed the KSS maintenance consortium in 1969 with [[Scandinavian Airlines]] and [[Swissair]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/aero_01/textonly/a01txt.html|title=SAS : The United Nations of the Air|publisher=Boeing|access-date=June 26, 2023|archive-date=26 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626094512/https://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/aero_01/textonly/a01txt.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.key.aero/article/rise-and-fall-swissair|title=The rise and fall of Swissair|author=Otto, K.|publisher=Key.Aero|date=10 July 2022|access-date=26 June 2023|archive-date=26 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626094512/https://www.key.aero/article/rise-and-fall-swissair|url-status=live}} {{subscription required}}</ref><ref name="KLM742">{{Cite web|url=https://www.key.aero/article/klms-dutch-queens-sky|title=KLM's Dutch Queens of the Skies|author=Cross, L.|publisher=Key.Aero|date=7 April 2021|access-date=16 February 2024|archive-date=16 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216111215/https://www.key.aero/article/klms-dutch-queens-sky|url-status=live}} {{subscription required}}</ref> Despite showing initial interest in the prototype [[Boeing 747#747-100|747-100]] variant, KLM instead acquired the higher-gross-weight [[Boeing 747#747-200|747-200B]] powered by [[Pratt & Whitney JT9D]] engines, becoming the first airline to put the type into service on 14 February 1971.<ref name=KLMHistory /><ref name="KLM742"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Aircraft owner's and operator's guide: 747-200/-300 |url=https://www.aircraft-commerce.com/sample_article_folder/owners_guide.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009004335/http://www.aircraft-commerce.com/sample_articles/sample_articles/owners_guide.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2011 |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Aircraft Commerce |publisher=}}</ref> In March 1971, KLM opened its current headquarters in [[Amstelveen]].<ref name=KLMHistory /> In 1972, it purchased the first of several [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10]] aircraft—McDonnell Douglas's response to the 747.<ref name=KLMHistoryFU />

[[File:KLM Boeing 747-206 Volpati-1.jpg|thumb|KLM [[Boeing 747-200|Boeing 747-206B]] in 1971]]

In 1973, Sergio Orlandini was appointed to succeed Gerrit van der Wal as president of KLM.<ref name=KLMHistoryFU /><ref>{{cite web |last=Vischer |first=Freddy |title=The years 1969 – 1978 |url=http://www.tca.viscal.net/klm/history/histo-1969-1978.htm |publisher=Tradewind Caribbean Airlines |access-date=17 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705020245/http://www.tca.viscal.net/klm/history/histo-1969-1978.htm |archive-date=5 July 2013 }}</ref> At the time, KLM, as well as other airlines, had to deal with overcapacity. Orlandini proposed to convert KLM 747s to "combis" that could carry a combination of passengers and freight in a mixed configuration on the main deck of the aircraft.<ref name=KLMHistoryFU /> In November 1975, the first of these seven [[Boeing 747#747-200|Boeing 747-200BM]] [[Combi aircraft]] were added to the KLM fleet.<ref name=KLMHistory /> The airline previously operated DC-8 passenger and freight combi aircraft as well and later operated [[Boeing 747-400]] combi aircraft.

The [[1973 oil crisis]], which caused difficult economic conditions, led KLM to seek government assistance in arranging debt refinancing. The airline issued additional shares of stock to the government in return for its money. In the late 1970s, the government's stake had again increased to a majority of 78%, effectively re-nationalizing it.<ref name=KLMHistoryFU /> The company management remained under the control of private stakeholders.<ref name=KLMHistory />