AY ceases MD 11 operations

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Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 7,536

Legendary Boeing MD-11 bids farewell to Finnair's passenger traffic.

Flight AY022 from Delhi to Helsinki on Monday, 22 February is the final
passenger flight in scheduled traffic of Finnair's MD-11 aircraft. Finnair
began its successful conquest of Asia with the wide-bodied MD-11 at the turn of
the millennium, and this type of aircraft has been in the company's service for
nearly 20 years.

To date Finnair's MD-11 fleet has behind it around 400,000 flying hours and
more than 50,000 landings. Overall, Finnair's MD-11s have carried around 14
million passengers.

"In 1990 Finnair introduced the MD-11 on a flight from Helsinki to Las Palmas,
becoming the first airline in the world to operate the aircraft. In its time
the aircraft, which is excellent in terms of its performance, represented
state-of-the-art technology," says MD-11 Fleet Chief Rabbe-Holger Wrede.

"Over the years Finnair has been one of the pioneers in the use of the best
modern technology and now it's the right time to move on to new, more
environmentally friendly aircraft. Our long-haul fleet now consists of Airbus
A330 and A340 aircraft. In 2014 our fleet will be further supplemented by
totally new Airbus A350 aircraft," explains Finnair's SVP Communications
Christer Haglund.

The company's long-haul fleet will now consist only of A340 and A330 aircraft,
which will harmonise the long-haul fleet with the European fleet and its A320
series aircraft. The fleet modernisation significantly improves both
profitability and environmental efficiency. The new Airbus long-haul aircraft
consume 20 per cent less fuel per passenger than the MD-11 they replace.

Of all the world's network airlines, Finnair now flies its scheduled flights
with the most modern fleet. The average age of Finnair's aircraft is under six
years.

The two MD-11 owned by Finnair are on sale. The possibility of continuing to
use them in Finnair's cargo traffic is also being assessed.

Finnair Plc
Communications
19.2.2010

Original post

Member for

18 years 11 months

Posts: 8,847

Love that thread title KT, but it should probably read 'AY ceases MD 11 operations'.:D:)

Member for

18 years 7 months

Posts: 5,530

Is there such a thing as a Boeing MD-11? I thought they were all made before Boeing took McDD over?

Paul

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,886

Not in my book! The MD11 has been and always will be a product from McDonnell Douglas and has nothing to do with Boeing, except spares support these days I suppose. I once had a trip on a Finnair MD11 some years ago and before that a DC10 of the same carrier. On both trips the aircraft and crews were great. A shame to see both types pass into Finnair's history

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 7,536

Newforest: Thanks for pointing that out. It was quite late in the night. :D

Member for

19 years 11 months

Posts: 10,160

PMN - That's nothing.

I have seen references to "Boeing DC-3s"!!! :eek:

Member for

20 years 5 months

Posts: 10,625

I don't like how everything once made by Douglas, then McDonnell-Douglas is now referred to as Boeing - *
It sounds crap and spits on the heritage.

Back on topic: I'm surprised the MD-11 was ever profitable for Finnair. But, I guess even a broken clock shows the right time twice a day.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 7,536

I did my DEL-OSL trips via HEL mostly. The MD 11 flights were awesome, roomy and very comfortable.

The big bird shall be missed.

Here is the pic of the last MD 11 service into DEL...

http://i48.tinypic.com/23ky9sz.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/10h7er4.jpg

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 4,333

I flew this beauty only once ! (CDG-LAX) with DL 10 years ago.
My all time favorite. So long MD11, fortunately a lot of freighters are still flying.

Does KLM still operate it?

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,886

I don't like how everything once made by Douglas, then McDonnell-Douglas is now referred to as Boeing - *
It sounds crap and spits on the heritage.

I could not have put it better myself, though I have to admit to preferring the DC10 ;)

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 7,536

I flew this beauty only once ! (CDG-LAX) with DL 10 years ago.
My all time favorite. So long MD11, fortunately a lot of freighters are still flying.

Does KLM still operate it?

Yes KLM will operate the MD 11 through 2010.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 7,536

Couple of more pics from the last MD 11 departure at HEL...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4386426682_5ea66661d1_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2741/4385662133_6c73963bc6_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4386427218_4f2b7879ea_o.jpg