Retired Boeing 747 crosses major highway in Netherlands on journey to become hotel attraction

By Emily Dixon, CNN
3 minute read
Updated 6:24 AM EST, Wed February 13, 2019
<strong>Final journey: </strong>This airplane is a decommissioned Boeing 747-400 that's been acquired by Corendon Hotels & Resorts. It recently made its final trip from Amsterdam's Schipol Airport to Badhoevedorp's Corendon Village Hotel -- via road.
Final journey: This airplane is a decommissioned Boeing 747-400 that's been acquired by Corendon Hotels & Resorts. It recently made its final trip from Amsterdam's Schipol Airport to Badhoevedorp's Corendon Village Hotel -- via road.
LEX VAN LIESHOUT/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Flying days:</strong> Back in its flying days, the Boeing was known as the "City of Bangkok," a passenger jet flown commercially by Dutch airline KLM.
Flying days: Back in its flying days, the Boeing was known as the "City of Bangkok," a passenger jet flown commercially by Dutch airline KLM.
Corendon
<strong>On the road:</strong> The airplane was transported by road for almost eight miles (12.5 kilometers) -- on purpose-built roads and even crossed the highway.
On the road: The airplane was transported by road for almost eight miles (12.5 kilometers) -- on purpose-built roads and even crossed the highway.
LEX VAN LIESHOUT/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Historic moment:</strong> Almost 9,000 people applied to win tickets to watch the plane's journey in person -- with 6,000 successful. The rest watched via livestream.
Historic moment: Almost 9,000 people applied to win tickets to watch the plane's journey in person -- with 6,000 successful. The rest watched via livestream.
Corendon
<strong>New life: </strong>Here's the airplane before its journey began, repainted in Corendon colors.
New life: Here's the airplane before its journey began, repainted in Corendon colors.
Corendon
Photos show Boeing 747's unusual final journey across a major highway
CNN  — 

Why did the Boeing 747 cross the road? To start a new life as a hotel attraction in the Netherlands of course.

The decommissioned 747-400 created a bizarre sight as it rumbled across a major highway that had been closed to traffic to allow the huge airplane to make its eight-mile (12.5 kilometers) final journey by road from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airpor.

Once flown commercially by Dutch airline KLM, the aircraft formerly known as the “City of Bangkok,” has been Acquired by Corendon Hotels & Resorts,

It’s set to become a visitor attraction, known as the Corendon Boeing 747 Experience in the garden of the Corendon Village Hotel in Badhoevedorp.

“Huge attraction”

Before the Boeing's journey began, it was repainted in Corendon colors.
Before the Boeing's journey began, it was repainted in Corendon colors.
Corendon

While the hotel chain is keeping specifics under wraps, spokeswoman Daisy Homoet-Mijnals told CNN that it will be a “huge attraction for everybody who wants to experience the sensation of flying.”

The installation will incorporate aviation history and art, as well as “3D, 4D and 5D” elements. Visitors will have access to the plane’s cockpit, and will be also be able to walk over its wings.

Corendon Hotels & Resorts obtained the Boeing after its last commercial flight in November 2018, when it traveled from Los Angeles to Amsterdam. It was subsequently flown to Rome, to be stripped of its KLM colors and repainted in Corendon’s corporate red and white livery.

On its return to the Netherlands, all reusable components were removed by aircraft recycling company AELS.

Why did the historic Boeing 747 cross the road?

Watching online

The jet pictured on the road.
The jet pictured on the road.
LEX VAN LIESHOUT/AFP/Getty Images

Almost 9,000 people applied to win tickets to watch the plane’s journey to Badhoevedorp in person, according to Corendon. Only 6,000 were successful, but the hotel chain set up a livestream for undeterred enthusiasts to watch from home. You can still watch the video here, if you missed the live updates.

“For a lot of people this is a historical moment, because they have a special connection with the 747, the biggest invention of Boeing,” Homoet-Mijnals said.

The first stage of the journey began at night on February 5, when the jet, propped on a self- propelling trailer from transport company Mammoet, left Schiphol Airport. The plane was first moved towards a provincial road, crossing over fields and bridges on the way.

Boeing's first autonomous air taxi flight ends in fewer than 60 seconds

Crossing the highway

<strong>Aircraft revitalized</strong>: What happens to an aircraft when it retires from service? From hotels to furniture to a second life in Australia, there are a surprising number of options.
Aircraft revitalized: What happens to an aircraft when it retires from service? From hotels to furniture to a second life in Australia, there are a surprising number of options.
Courtesy Air Salvage
<strong>Plane sailing:</strong> Air Salvage International is an aviation services firm based at the UK's Cotswolds Airport, where aircraft are dismantled for parts following their retirement.
Plane sailing: Air Salvage International is an aviation services firm based at the UK's Cotswolds Airport, where aircraft are dismantled for parts following their retirement.
Courtesy Air Salvage
<strong>Dismantling planes</strong>: Air Salvage International has dismantled some 730 commercial aircraft: "The average age of the aircraft we scrap is 18 years," managing director Mark Gregory tells CNN Travel.
Dismantling planes: Air Salvage International has dismantled some 730 commercial aircraft: "The average age of the aircraft we scrap is 18 years," managing director Mark Gregory tells CNN Travel.
Courtesy Air Salvage
<strong>Waste and recycle:</strong> Once an aircraft has been de-registered, it technically becomes waste and has to be processed accordingly. The individual metals, plastics and fluids have to be separated and recycled.
Waste and recycle: Once an aircraft has been de-registered, it technically becomes waste and has to be processed accordingly. The individual metals, plastics and fluids have to be separated and recycled.
Courtesy Air Salvage
<strong>Restoring the old</strong>: The French company Tarmac Aerosave is a prominent airplane recycling firm, where planes head to be dismantled and often reinvented.
Restoring the old: The French company Tarmac Aerosave is a prominent airplane recycling firm, where planes head to be dismantled and often reinvented.
CNN/Ayesha Durgahee
<strong>Skeletons</strong>: Tarmac Aerosave keep the skeletons of the aircraft at their facilities at Tarbes and Francazal in southern France and Teruel in eastern Spain.
Skeletons: Tarmac Aerosave keep the skeletons of the aircraft at their facilities at Tarbes and Francazal in southern France and Teruel in eastern Spain.
CNN/Ayesha Durgahee
<strong>Future considered</strong>: Tarmac sometimes picks planes apart or simply stores them while their future is decided.
Future considered: Tarmac sometimes picks planes apart or simply stores them while their future is decided.
courtesy Airbus SAS
<strong>Active market</strong>: Tarmac engineers removed the engines from this aircraft. "Most of the value is in the engines, but there is an active market for all sort of used parts and spares," says David Treitel, a former executive at Apollo Aviation Group, a Miami-based financial services firm.
Active market: Tarmac engineers removed the engines from this aircraft. "Most of the value is in the engines, but there is a