High noon for Lufthansa Cargo’s last MD-11F
18 / 10 / 2021
Source: Lufthansa Cargo
Lufthansa Cargo has operated its last MD-11F flight after 23 years of operating the type.
The carrier first began flying the tri-jet freighter in 1998 with its fleet of MD-11Fs eventually numbering 19 of the model.
The model has been replaced by a fleet of more efficient B777Fs.
Lufthansa’s last MD-11F, which is also the last of the model registered in Europe, touched down in Frankfurt from New York JFK just after 12pm on October 17.
The aircraft will be sold to an American Cargo airline, Lufthansa said.
Dorothea von Boxberg, chairman of the executive board and chief executive of Lufthansa Cargo, said: “We are very grateful to our MD-11F fleet for over two decades of loyal service. We know that this particular aircraft has an incredible number of fans, throughout our colleagues at Lufthansa as well as among aviation enthusiasts worldwide.
“The decisive factor for the introduction of the MD-11F at Lufthansa Cargo in the late nineties was its significantly better fuel efficiency compared to the widebody freighter previously used. In the future, we will rely on the twin-engine Boeing 777F for the same reason.”
Lufthansa Cargo took delivery of its first two 94.7 ton capacity MD-11 freighters in June 1998, followed by the third aircraft in August of the same year.
In total, Lufthansa Cargo operated 19 MD-11F, including the last ever manufactured, delivered January 25 2001 and the last ever delivered, February 22 2001.
Lufthansa’s freighter fleet now stands at 15 aircraft: 11 operated B777Fs and four B777Fs operated by its DHL AeroLogic joint venture.
The carrier took delivery of its latest B777Fs in late September.
Credit: Marius Gerlich Source: Lufthansa Cargo
Source: Lufthansa Cargo
