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.

CHINA: China Southern,Air France-KLM And Martin Air Sign Cargo Deal

China Southern Airlines
Type Scheduled Carrier
Base Guangzhou
Aircraft 516
Destinations 208
Routes 867
Daily Flights 1732

The cargo division of China Southern Airlines (CZ, Guangzhou), China Southern Cargo and Air France-KLM cargo (which includes cargo operations of Air France (AF, Paris CDG), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL, Amsterdam) and Martinair (MP, Amsterdam)) have entered into a strategic network partnership agreement, the two parties have announced on September 19.

China Southern will offer its European partners cargo services to Australia and Vietnam via Guangzhou while Air France, KLM and Martinair will provide capacity to China Southern Cargo from Paris CDG and Amsterdam to the Ameriecas and Africa.

In addition, the Skyteam alliance partners also agreed to provide each other with ground handling services in France, the Netherlands and China. They also plan to "intensify their cooperation on the Express and Mail premium products in response to the substantial increase in e-commerce trade between Asia and Europe, and beyond."