Chartered KLM aircraft to arrive in Auckland tomorrow
Thanks to a tip off by a friendly member of the ground crew at Auckland Airport today, I was notified about a KLM charter to Auckland. He said that he would not mention the person on board, which I believe to be respectful enough, however the aircraft would be scheduled to land between 11 and 12 the next day.
Sure enough, upon returning home and looking on the Auckland Airport flight board (which can be quite handy for unlisted flights) I found an apparent 'KL9931' from Jakarta. After FlightAware and Flightradar searches of the route and number proved unsuccessful, a search of various KLM aircraft would lead me to find PH-BVK, a 777-300ER, departing for Jakarta from Malaysia. Although a scheduled flight, the 777 appears to be the only KLM aircraft heading to Jakarta with sufficient time to depart for Auckland. A friend of mine with Flightradar premium also assisted in figuring out there were no other KLM aircraft on the ground in Jakarta.
Later I was tipped off once again in the Auckland Airport Facebook group that the aircraft would be a 737-700, which immediately got me searching again, without luck, however it soon occurred to me that the aircraft could very well be a BBJ (Boeing Business Jet), of which with a quick search, sure enough, the Dutch government 737BBJ registered PH-GOV popped up.
Armed with knowledge of a Dutch Prime Minister visit (thanks to a friend), I am almost certain this is the aircraft of question, backed by the fact the registration is blocked from radar like most private aircraft.
It's also notable that on the date of writing (October 7th, 2019) KLM celebrates 100 years of service, good on them!
Sure enough, upon returning home and looking on the Auckland Airport flight board (which can be quite handy for unlisted flights) I found an apparent 'KL9931' from Jakarta. After FlightAware and Flightradar searches of the route and number proved unsuccessful, a search of various KLM aircraft would lead me to find PH-BVK, a 777-300ER, departing for Jakarta from Malaysia. Although a scheduled flight, the 777 appears to be the only KLM aircraft heading to Jakarta with sufficient time to depart for Auckland. A friend of mine with Flightradar premium also assisted in figuring out there were no other KLM aircraft on the ground in Jakarta.
Later I was tipped off once again in the Auckland Airport Facebook group that the aircraft would be a 737-700, which immediately got me searching again, without luck, however it soon occurred to me that the aircraft could very well be a BBJ (Boeing Business Jet), of which with a quick search, sure enough, the Dutch government 737BBJ registered PH-GOV popped up.
Armed with knowledge of a Dutch Prime Minister visit (thanks to a friend), I am almost certain this is the aircraft of question, backed by the fact the registration is blocked from radar like most private aircraft.
It's also notable that on the date of writing (October 7th, 2019) KLM celebrates 100 years of service, good on them!
What we know:
- The arrival is scheduled for 12:05PM tomorrow (October the 8th).
- The flight number is KL9931/KLM9931, flying from Jakarta (airport not specified) to Auckland.
- The flight is most likely a result of a private or government charter.
- The Dutch Prime Minister is due to visit Auckland.
- The more likely candidate for what the aircraft is would be a 737-700BBJ registered PH-GOV, the air transport for the Dutch head of state.
- A much less likely candidate for the aircraft is a 777-306(ER) registered PH-BVK.
- At least according to the Auckland Airport flight board, the departure will not be anytime during daylight tomorrow.
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| PH-BVK at Osaka Kansai in 2015 (Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons) |
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