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LUFTHANSA CARGO INTRODUCES MD-11F

Lufthansa Cargo has put the Boeing MD-11-Freighter into service. However, its production will soon come to an end and the Jumbo freighter fleet is now faced with the problem of finding a suitable successor.

The Boeing team which had travelled to Frankfurt faced some heavy criticism. Despite the fact that Lufthansa Cargo CEO Wilhelm Althen praised the Boeing MD-11F, which had recently been taken into service, as the "most economical and environmentally friendly freighter", he was not very happy. Mr. Althen expressed his indignation about the fact that the US aircraft manufacturer had decided to halt construction of the entire MD-11-Series and with it freighter production in 2000. He stated that Boeing was already monopolist in the upper market segment. "I hope that another competitor will soon offer large freighters", he added. These words during the handover celebrations were indeed a slap in the face for the Boeing managers. The gathered press was quite surprised on hearing this.

Lufthansa's cargo subsidiary had started the program to extend its fleet with an old model. In June, the first two MD-11F touched down in Frankfurt. The next three units will follow in autumn with three more at the end of next year. There are also options on another three planes and according to Althen these options will become firm orders in October. The newcomers are intended to fly on long and thin routes - across the Northern Atlantic, to India, South Africa and South East Asia. With a freight capacity of up to 93 tons, "the new aircraft complements the bigger Boeing 747-200F ideally", Mr. Althen said.

However, even the Jumbo-freighter is an old model. The fleet consisting of 11 aircraft will be taken out of service in 2003. The model with which to replace them is uncertain at the moment. All that remains in the upper market segment is the Boeing 747-400. But cccording to Mr. Althen, the -400 is "not an ideal freighter".

Sources close to Lufthansa Cargo say the airline has been installing close links with Airbus Industrie. A freighter version of the A3XX or a cargo version of the A330 is of special interest, an insider says.

There is even talk of introducing a third partial fleet below the MD-11F, i.e. the Russian variation. LH Cargo is looking at the Tupolew Tu-204 equipped with Rolls-Royce engines. Insiders are convinced that this aircraft, which already had been in Frankfurt for testing of loading procedures, is the best alternative for the Boeing 737 Quick Change, which in LH service transports passengers by day and cargo by night. However, besides problems arising with the plane's certification, the Tu-204 would have to be improved. It is still too heavy and cannot hold enough cargo, Mr. Althen says. But: "The Tu-204 fills me with a lot of hope." Another point in its favour: compared to a western-built freighter, the aircraft costs 40 per cent less.

From page 40 of FLUG REVUE 9/98