KLM’s air cargo arm currently operates four Boeing 747-400Fs, but that fleet configuration is likely to change soon. That’s what the company revealed during an investor meeting on May 24, Dutch website Scramble reported.
At the meeting, CEO Benjamin Smith said a decision would be made shortly and that the Airbus A350F, Boeing 777F and the newly launched Boeing 777-8F would be in contention.
In fact, the current fleet has been aging, with the three aircraft flying in KLM colors reaching an average age of 19 years, while the one flying Martinair Cargo colors is already 32 years old. Although the service life of an aircraft is determined by cycles and maintenance, older aircraft tend to require more repair time and be less efficient.
Although Boeing has more competitors in the race, Airbus could do better in a future order. At least, that’s what the moves of the group’s other companies indicate, where Air France and CMA CGM have recently placed orders for eight Airbus A350F aircraft for their next-generation freighters.
As reported by our partner site Aeroin, KLM’s decision will soon be known and the mystery over the Boeing 747-400F replacement will be over.
As for the 747-400 passenger aircraft, as we reported then, KLM said goodbye to its aircraft in 2020, when it made its last commercial flight with this model.
