Air France-KLM to retire 747 combis by 2021, freighters to remain

[caption id="attachment_287795" align="alignright" width="300"] Air France KLM Martinair Cargo says the size of its six-strong freighter fleet will remain stable for at least a few more years.[/caption] Air France-KLM will withdraw from service the remainder of its 747 passenger and combi fleet, comprising five 747-400Ms and five 747-400s, by 2021, the carrier recently announced. No immediate changes , meanwhile, are planned for the group’s six-strong freighter fleet. A formal retirement schedule for the 747s will ultimately depend on the rate at which the group’s backlog of 787-10s and A350-900s are delivered. A senior executive at the carrier’s cargo arm told Cargo Facts on the sidelines of Air Cargo Europe 2019 that the capacity lost from outgoing 747s would be fully compensated by expanding bellyhold capacity on the 777s, 787s and A350s operating among group carriers. Although it may be true that the cargo-friendly widebody passenger aircraft deliveries will continue to increase the group’s overall cargo capacity, certain routes that are currently operated by the 747 combi s are likely to suffer from a decline in available cargo capacity. KLM’s Amsterdam (AMS) – Hong Kong (HKG) flight, for example, which used to be operated daily with a 747-400M, now only sees the combi three times per week, with a 777-200ER filling in on the other four days. This represents a capacity drop of approximately 120-170 tonnes per week . Of course, it is also possible that the carrier wasn’t utilizing the full extent of the 747-400M ’s cargo capabilities anyway . In fact, th is route is scheduled to be operated by a 777-200ER on a daily basis starting in December 2019. Turning now to the group’s freighter fleet, Air France KLM Martinair Cargo confirmed to Cargo Facts that it would continue to operate its six-strong freighter fleet for “at least a few more years,” utilizing two Air France operated 777Fs and three 747-400ERFs and one 747-400BCF operated by Martinair. The renewal and or growth of the freighter fleet will depend “a lot” on the profitability of these aircraft, the carrier said, but that question won’t be on the table for the next few years. When the time comes to have that discussion at the group level, the cargo division will push to maintain a freighter fleet to serve specific markets. Correction: An earlier version of this post stated that Air France-KLM operates seven 747-400Ms and three 747-400s. KLM operates five 747-400Ms and five 747-400s.

Air France-KLM to retire 747 combis by 2021, freighters to remain

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Air France-KLM to retire 747 combis by 2021, freighters to remain

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