Martinair Phases Out MD-11(F) Fleet

Dutch cargo carrier Martinair will put to an end its MD-11(F) operations next July, with the retirement of its last two aircraft of the type.

The Amsterdam-based airline took delivery of its first MD-11 (PH-MCP • MSN 48616 • 577) on December 2, 1994, and it will be the last to leave the fleet next July 8. In total, Martinair operated seven MD-11s, four of which served to transport passengers to charter destinations. The airline ceased its passenger operations in October 2011.

Martinair is part of the Air France-KLM Group, which has been undergoing through a major restructuring of its cargo business due to cost-saving reasons. The retirement of the MD-11(F) will cause the loss of 300+ staff positions.

After the departure of the trijets, Martinair will have an all-Boeing 747-400 freighter fleet, while the world’s operators of the type will be down to approximately a dozen operators, with U.S.-based FedEx and UPS leading the list with 58 and 28 aircraft, respectively. Meanwhile, the largest European MD-11(F) operator is Lufthansa Cargo with a dozen aircraft in service.