Lufthansa Cargo has confirmed that it will retire two MD-11 freighters in 2019, as part of a long term strategy to modernise its all-cargo aircraft fleet.
A spokesperson for the German carrier said that MD-11F disposal will take place “in the second half of 2019,” adding: “And we will offer them to the market.”
Lufthansa Cargo stated that it will use the soon to be delivered two B777Fs as additional capacity, the airline’s Chief Executive, Peter Gerber told earlier this month.
“We are delighted to be in a position to put four brand-new freighters [its joint venture airline AeroLogic will also receive two B777Fs this year] into operation this year. This will effectively modernise our own fleet at our Frankfurt Airport base and further boost our efficiency and reliability.”
In the same interview, Gerber Gerber mentioned that the two new aircraft will eventually act as replacements for its older MD-11s.
“We know that in the end we only want to have B777, and the MD-11 is out, but we will continue to fly it as long as business opportunities are there,” Gerber said.
The two Boeing freighters for AeroLogic, a 50/50 joint venture between Lufthansa and DHL Express, will deliver in February and September 2019, respectively.
Lufthansa Cargo will take delivery of two B777-Fs in February and March 2019, while a further two units of the type will be delivered this year to Lufthansa Group joint venture AeroLogic (3S, Leipzig/Halle) for the exclusive use of Lufthansa Cargo, Chief Commercial Officer Dorothea von Boxberg told Air Transport World.
The new deliveries will allow Lufthansa Cargo to retire two MD-11(F). Von Boxberg said that while the carrier was planning to replace the remaining MD-11(F)s, it had not yet set a fixed date for the complete phase-out of the type. She added Lufthansa Cargo was currently in talks within the group regarding its future fleet strategy.
Lufthansa Cargo will use the new Boeing freighters to replace the older generation aircraft on its México City Int’l and Campinas Viracopos routes and to add extra frequencies to Osaka Kansai, Chennai, Hyderabad Int’l, Delhi Int’l, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson, and Chicago O’Hare.
The cargo unit of Lufthansa currently operates twelve MD-11(F)s, including one which has been undergoing maintenance at Singapore Changi since December 26, 2018. The airline also operates five B-777(F)s.
For its part, AeroLogic currently operates ten B-777(F)s.
Source: Lufthansa Cargo
