Aeroflot considers removing MD-11F's from service

This was in the news a few days ago, sad news for us DAC lovers if it materializes!

 

Michael Carter - APF Editor

Russia’s Aeroflot will ground its three Boeing MD-11 freighters, although the decision has not yet been officially announced. It is becoming uneconomic for specialist cargo aircraft to fly due to the availability of underfloor capacity in rapidly expanding passenger airlines.

According to industry experts, the share of the three MD-11Fs in Aeroflot’s cargo business is 38% in volume and generates 40%-45% in revenue. The airline has not announced if it plans to replace the freighters with the more efficient cargo aircraft or stop flying cargo aircraft altogether.

The carrier is renovating its fleet with Boeing 777s it ordered in 2011 to put more cargo into the aircraft belly. However, the aircraft operate on routes with the greatest passenger demand, which doesn’t necessarily mean cargo volumes are also significant at these destinations.

Last year, Aeroflot carried 193,948 tonnes of cargo, up 20.8% year-over-year. It is the second largest Russian cargo carrier after AirBridgeCargo.

(Polina Borodina - ATWOnline News)