Finnair retires its last MD11

[sn26567]

New era starts as Finnair retires its last Boeing MD11

After almost 20 years of service with Finnair, the Boeing MD11 fleet enters history on February 22 when the last flight using this aircraft type - flight AY022 from Delhi to Helsinki - takes to the air. After this date, all Finnair long haul flights will be operated using state-of-the-art, fuel-efficient Airbus A340 and A330 aircraft, 'cousins' of the Airbus A320 planes that comprise the European fleet. This will also mean that Finnair flies one of the world's youngest aircraft fleets, with an average age of under six years.

Finnair's fleet renewal programme passes a significant milestone with the withdrawal from service of the last Boeing MD11 aircraft next week. The change represents significant improvements in profitability and environmental sustainability. The new Airbus aircraft serving Finnair's intercontinental routes consume 20 per cent less fuel than their predecessors.

The first of four MD-11 passenger aircraft ordered by Finnair arrived in Helsinki on 7 December 1990 and began flying five times per week to the Canary Islands. The first flight, to Tenerife, was on 20 December 1990. An MD-11 service to New York began on 9 May 1992.

Meanwhile, the sixth new Airbus A330-300 aircraft arrived in Finland last Thursday, departing for its inaugural flight to Bangkok on February 18. This is the second A330 in the fleet to have been fitted with the new lie-flat - 100 per cent flat - seating in Business Class. This aircraft and the next two planes to arrive will have a Business Class cabin containing 32 seats and 265 seats in Economy, a more spacious configuration than the previous five aircraft to have been delivered. The next deliveries will be at the end of March and in November.

Source: Finnair News

[regi]

I remember a Swissair MD-11 flight where the big screen showed that our speed was going over 1000 km/h.

[Stij]

I remember a Swissair MD-11 flight where the big screen showed that our speed was going over 1000 km/h.

Sabena's A342 did that often...across the Atlantic when the jetstream was fast!

My personal record as a passenger: Boston to Brussles in 5:45 (runway to runway of course)! Pretty turbulent flight though...

Cheers,

Stij

[TexasGuy]

Interesting......

Finnair is retiring its last MD 11 in February. The last MD 11 delivered was in February 2001. End of an era

[regi]

Interesting......

Finnair is retiring its last MD 11 in February. The last MD 11 delivered was in February 2001. End of an era

and start of a cargo carreer for another 20 years ?

[YYZ727]

MD11's are going fast now. Does this make KL the last european major flying them in pax service? Anybody knows when they are getting phased out ?

[cnc]

yes KLM is the last in europe right now and they are going to be phased out by the end of 2012
too bad they'll go out so soon. lovely plane with a great new cabin interior

[TexasGuy]

Interesting......

Finnair is retiring its last MD 11 in February. The last MD 11 delivered was in February 2001. End of an era

and start of a cargo carreer for another 20 years ?

Very true! Wont be the end of the bird altogether We see both passenger and cargo service here in Houston from World Airways and FedEx

[LAGPanoramic]

Didn't Finnair take over the Belgian operated City Bird MD11's, or am I wrong? And if it's correct, is it already known what those birds will become?

[LAGPanoramic]

yes KLM is the last in europe right now and they are going to be phased out by the end of 2012
too bad they'll go out so soon. lovely plane with a great new cabin interior

I would so much like to fly in a MD11... Although I'm afraid this won't be for this year anymore, on wich destinations does KLM use them?

Thanks in advance!

[regi]

yes KLM is the last in europe right now and they are going to be phased out by the end of 2012
too bad they'll go out so soon. lovely plane with a great new cabin interior

I would so much like to fly in a MD11... Although I'm afraid this won't be for this year anymore, on wich destinations does KLM use them?

Thanks in advance!

Never underestimate Biman ! They love Tri jets. OK, they are starting their first B777 flights - with leased airplanes. And they have paid a bit of money for new Boeings. But in the longer term they will have to fork out real big money. And after all the years of mismanagment, it is quite possible that they come to the point that there is no more money - except for some old birds.
Really, I wouldn't be surprised to hear in the near future that Biman starts to operate MD-11.