This is the place where you will find the latest news and rumours on the MD-11. If you have any news, comments, corrections or additional information please mail them to me!
Latest news and rumours
14th of December
Varig added another ex. Garuda MD-11 in early December. The aircraft is registered PP-VQK.
Other news and rumours
4th of November
Emery has extended their lease from World Airways of an MD-11F.
4th of November
Gemini Air Cargo bought two MD-11s from Varig to be converted to freighters for the American company. They are estimated to be online with Gemini Air Cargo during Spring 2000.
25th of July
World Airways will operate one weekly MD-11 flight from Houston to Luanda (Angola) for Sokolair. Sokolair is the airline of a major Angolan oil company and the purpose with the route is to transport oil workers from USA to Angola.
25th of April
Korean Air lost an MD-11F on the 15th of April when HL7373 (msn 48409/490) crashed shortly after take-off from Shanghai. One possible cause is engine explosion. I will get back with more information on the crash later!
25th of April
The FAA ordered airlines to inspect wires in cargoholds on MD-11 aircraft after burned isolation was found on a MD-11 during routine maintenance. FAA announce, however, that the burned isolation is not related to the Swissair MD-11 that crashed in September 1998.
31st of January
On Thursday the 28th of January, FAA ordered inspection wiring and insulation in the cockpit and in the cabin of all US-registered MD-11s.
5th of January
Finally a some good news about the MD-11; KLM announce that the airline will skip their plans for Airbus A340s and is now seeking second-hand MD-11s to increase capacity.
21st of December
Updating news published on the 6th of November, the two MD-11s in questions are msn 48497 and 48498. The airline, China Cargo Airlines, is a joint-venture of China Eastern and China Ocean Shipping.
22nd of November
World Airways has signed a deal with Avianca of Colombia to operate a daily nonstop route from New York to Bogota for the Colombian airlines until January 17 1999.
15th of November
Aer Lingus has signed a new deal with World Airways and the Irish airline will lease a MD-11 from World Airways for the summer months 1999, exactly as they did the past summer.
6th of November
Boeing has recieved a contract to convert two MD-11s into freighters for China Cargo Airlines. Conversion is estimated to start in September 1999.
27th of September
KLM announced that they have sold it's nine MD-11s to FedEx. Delivery will start year 2004.
20th of September
Lufthansa Cargo reports to have signed an order with Boeing for six additional MD-11Fs.
20th of September
Varig has agreed to lease four additional ex. Garuda Indonesia MD-11s, including one MD-11ER. Aircraft's involved are 48502, 48503, 48504 and 48753. Three will undergo a C-check prior to delivery while the fourth aircraft has been delivered and will enter service as PP-VQI. Varig already have three ex. Garuda MD-11s in their fleet.
12th of September
Around 0130 UTC on September 3, Swissair MD-11 HB-IWF (msn 48448) crashed into the sea outside the coast of Nova Scotia operating flight SR111 from New York (JFK) to Geneva killing all 215 passengers and 14 crew members. At this point very few things are known about the cause of the crash. Some more information is available on my "MD-11 Crashes and Accidents page" and fresh and updated information is also available from Swissair's webpage at "http://www.swissair.com".
6th of June
Very sad MD-11 news! On the 3rd of June Boeing Co. announced that they will end MD-11 production in the year 2000 due to insufficient demand for the triple engine widebody jet. The decision will affect over 3700 employees, the majority of them at the Long Beach facility in California. However, Boeing also say that they will continue to use the Long Beach plant in the future.
24th of May
World Airways signed a deal with Brazilian MD-11 operator VASP to lease one MD-11 in passenger configuration to VASP from June 15 to December 1998 with a second MD-11 optioned.
13th of May
Varig will base one MD-11 (PP-VPP) and one Boeing 737 in Paris as from next month. Both aircraft will be used rotated for flights through France for the football matches in the World Cup 98, which will take place in France. Both aircraft wears a very attractive special World Cup 98 colour scheme.
13th of May
Monarch Airlines will lease a MD-11 from World Airways to operate long-haul charter flights from Manchester. The aircraft involved (N273WA) will operate five times weekly from Manchester to Orlando and ones weekly from Manchester to Las Vegas. The lease will begin 21st of May and continue through the whole summer until 1st of November.
9th of May
Garuda Indonesia will return six MD-11s to the lessor to cut costs. At the same time, the airline also decided not to sell off the five DC-10-30s in their fleet, but use them to fill the gap for the MD-11s.
7th of May
Sabena's third and last MD-11 was delivered on the 18th of April and ferried to Zurich for interior work. The aircraft arrived in Brussels on the 30th of April and entered service on the 4th of May with a Brussels-Montreal flight. The aircraft is registered OO-CTC (msn 48780) and wears full Sabena colours.
7th of May
Air India is evaluating the MD-11, the Boeing 777 and the Airbus A340. Decision on the 10 aircraft order is expected before or during Summer 1998.
3rd of May
Mexican freighter airline STAF may consider to lease a MD-11CF in freighter configuration from mid-May and for up to three years. The aircraft would be used for flights from Miami to points in the South America.
23rd of April
FedEx recently announced that they are to buy 20 used MD-11s from Flightlease Ltd (part of the Swissair Group). The aircraft will undergo a passenger to freighter conversion prior to entering service with FedEx. Delivery is scheduled to begin August 2002 and end December 2006.
23rd of August
Separately from the purchase of the 20 ex. Swissair aircraft reported above, FedEx signed a contract with Boeing to purchase three new MD-11Fs, scheduled for delivery from March to June 1999.
12th of April
Sabena of Belgium took delivery of the second MD-11 ordered by City Bird late in March 1998. The aircraft has been in Zürich at the Swissair facilities for cabin modifications. The aircraft was to enter service with Sabena on the 15th of April, but was damaged by a scissors lift. The registration is OO-CTS and it wears full Sabena colours. The third MD-11 (OO-CTC) is due to arrive before end of April.
29th of March
Not yet confirmed information says that Lufthansa has ordered three more MD-11Fs, previously optioned.
3rd of February
World Airways has signed a deal with Garuda Indonesia for the upcoming Hadj-season. Garuda will lease six MD-11s from March till early May.
26th of January
It is rumoured that Romanian airline Tarom has signed a LOI for three MD-11C (Combi) for delivery 1999.
18th of January
Sabena has bought a 12% stake in CityBird and starting 1st of May 1998 the two airlines will code-share on new routes to Montreal (four times weekly) and Sao Paulo (two times weekly). City Birds current routes to New York (EWR), Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orlando, Las Vegas and Mexico City will continue unchanged, or even get increased frequency. In the long term, CityBird will operate three MD-11s and two of which will fly in Sabena colours and by Sabena pilots. The airline also has two Boeing 767-300s on order.
16th of January
It's rumoured that Lufthansa Cargo is considering converting their seven options for the MD-11 into firm orders.
14th fo January
El Al has announced that they will lease a MD-11 from World Airways for the summer season 1998. The MD-11 will be used on routes to the US and was selected in favour of the Airbus A340.
10th of January
Swissair will replace it's eight A310s, five Boeing 747-300 and 20 MD-11s (the four ones from LTU included) with Airbus A330 and Airbus A340 equipment from 1998 through 2008. The 747s and the MD-11s will go to a "major American airline" and according to unconfirmed sources that airline may be FedEx.
4th of January
Chilean airline National Airlines (currently Boeing 737 and Boeing 727 operator) is looking to buy or lease two MD-11s or DC-10-30s for services to the US.
4th of January
It's rumoured that FedEx is seeking eight firm orders and seven options for MD-11Fs before year 2000
30th of December
Aer Lingus of Ireland has decided they will lease a MD-11 for the 1998 summer service Ireland-US. The airline recently announced that the aircraft will be leased from World Airways and the lease will be from May through October 1998. The last two years Aer Lingus has wet-leased an L-1011 from Caledonian Airways for the New York (Newark) summer service.
30th of December
Dutch charter operator Martinair, celebrating its 40th anniversary, will apply a special sticker on one of their MD-11s (PH-MCR). Martinair reports they intend to paint their whole fleet in the same way in the future.
23rd of December
Saudi Arabian Airlines finally got delivery of their first MD-11F on the 22nd of December after several months' delay due to financing problems.
23rd of December
Garuda Indonesia has agreed to lease six MD-11s from World Airways to operate next year's busy Hadj season from March to May 1998.
13th of December
Finnair reports they are considering ordering a fifth MD-11 passenger version.
24th of November
The four MD-11s that will be disposed of LTU's fleet has been bought by the Swissair Group. After a couple of weeks of speculations about their future (whether they were to be operated by Swissair or leased to another operator) Swissair finally decided to use the four MD-11s. They will be transferred to Swissair in the autumn 1998, converted to Swissair standards (with PW4462 engines and the AH-package) and enter service in spring 1999. That will bring the Swissair MD-11 fleet up to 20 aircraft.
3rd of November
One World Airways MD-11F experienced a hard landing at Montevideo, Uruguay on Friday 31st of October. The aircraft will be out of service for 60 days.
3rd of November
China Airlines will replace their current fleet of five MD-11 and B747SPs with either B777-200X or A340-500 equipment.
EVA Air of Taiwan ordered two more MD-11Fs to join their previously two MD-11Fs on order. EVA Air already operates a six aircraft strong fleet of MD-11s, whereof three in pax configuration. When will we see the next passenger MD-11 order?
City Bird of Belgium announced that they have placed an order for two MD-11Fs. City Bird is currently operating all freighter flights for SwissCargo and use leased DC-10-30Fs from Gemini Aircargo. The MD-11Fs is meant to replace the leased DC-10s.
Philippine Airlines currently operates four MD-11s on lease from World Airways. Now it seems to be some problems with the leasing agreement and the lease will probably discontinue. Some rumours are talking about that two of the four MD-11s will go to VASP of Brazil instead!
On the 31st of July Federal Express MD-11F, N611FE, crashed on landing at New York's Newark airport. Although the aircraft caught fire the crew was able to rescue themselves through the cockpit windows. This was the first MD-11 write off. More information can be found on my MD-11 Crashes and accidents
Major German charter airline LTU has announced that they are to sell their four MD-11s currently in service. The reason is that the airline want to cut costs and by replacing the MD-11s with two Boeing 757s and one B767-300ER they will reduce their maintenance costs. LTU will drop the routes to Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Andres and Acapulco.
