Operators
In July 2011, 181 MD-11 aircraft (all variants) were in commercial service, with FedEx Express (63), UPS Airlines (38), Lufthansa Cargo (18), World Airways (16), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (10), EVA Air (8), and other operators with fewer aircraft of the type.
Most of the airlines who ordered the MD-11 for their long-haul passenger flights had replaced it with Airbus A330, A340 and Boeing 777 aircraft by the end of 2004. Some carriers converted their MD-11s to freighters such as China Eastern Airlines and Korean Air. Korean Air announced as early as December 1994 its intention to convert its five passenger MD-11s to freighters for medium-range cargo routes. In 1995 American Airlines agreed to sell its 19 aircraft to FedEx, with the first MD-11 being transferred in 1996. Japan Airlines (JAL) announced the replacement of its 10 MD-11s in 2000; these aircraft were being converted into freighters and sold to UPS.
In February 2007 TAM Linhas Aéreas began operating the first of three leased MD-11s in intercontinental service following a 2006 order for four 777-300ERs to be delivered in 2008. In May 2007, Finnair announced the sale of their last two MD-11s to Aeroflot-Cargo to become part of the Russian airline cargo fleet in 2008 and 2009. Varig retired the MD-11 from its fleet in June 2007 after sixteen years of services.
Two MD-11s were also operated in a VIP configuration, one by Saudia Royal Flight for members of the Royal family, and one by Mid East Jet for ASACO Aviation, both are now stored.
Read more about this topic: McDonnell Douglas MD-11