747-400 versus MD 11 versus A-340

RE: 747-400 versus MD 11 versus A-340

Well both are good planes. Í´ve flown both and depends on the number of seat set in economy. What I want for transatlantic flights is a four engines plane. So no way ETOPS and A330 or B777. If four engines are better than two, why should we use to two although it´s more economic?.

RE: 747-400 versus MD 11 versus A-340

I work for Finnair (the first airline in the world to buy the MD11) and for the airline a fine choice, they are magnificant aircraft to work with and to fly on. although we will have these aircraft for a few more years, I am sure our company is looking into long term economics and passenger appeal.

I am sure Finnair will be going a330 or a340 within the next few years…another great aircraft !

As for the B747 , the first “jumbo” still a pleasant aircraft to fly on, of course depending on the airline of course like it is with all different airlines.

All these a/c are great work horses, and I am sure the Finnair a/c will pass onto being freighters serving for many years to come.

Lufthansa are interested in extra md11’s !!!

RE: 747-400 versus MD 11 versus A-340

See, the MD-11 is one heck of a aircraft. Good looking, extremely comfortable, its sad that they are being fased out. I think the MD-11 was the best amongst the tri-engined jets. The reason of its not so good doing is that the marketing strategy by boeing for it was almost nil. I think they did not want the MD-11 to pick up, but i dont know why. I sat in a Swissair MD-11 and it was a wonderful flight, and a very succesful freighter. I think Lufthansa really likes the MD-11F.

RE: 747-400 versus MD 11 versus A-340

The KLM has got the MD-11 and the boeing 747 / 767 / 737 so I think in the near future the MD-11 has to go, perhapse the 777 is an option for them and also to replace the older 747-300 series.

JW

RE: 747-400 versus MD 11 versus A-340

The biggest turd in the water closet with regards to the MD-11, is the fact that Boeing have already axed it. The last production MD-11 was delivered to Lufthansa Cargo a few months ago.

I think the only McDonnell Douglas design still left in production is the Boeing 717, formerly known as the MD-95. These aircraft are starting to sell now, the USA’s AirTran being the largest customer of the type.

With regards to the KLM fleet, they rely mainly on the 747 fleet for incontinental routes. The MD-11 fleet is quite small in comparison to the Boeing fleet. They do fly the 767, but mainly on high density short routes, or thinner long haul routes. I think their MD-11 fleet replaced the old DC-10 fleet they once had.

The Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 seem to be the favourite aircraft for long haul routes at the moment. These two aircraft in particular have helped replace old 747/DC-10/L-1011 fleets that were once the flagships of an airlines fleet, they also have two engines, so they are cheaper to maintain.

RE: 747-400 versus MD 11 versus A-340

LAST EDITED ON 25-04-01 AT 08:25 PM (GMT)[p]Geforce,
Swissair won’t be relying on the MD-11 much longer. They already have a dozen or so A330-200’s, and are scheduled to be a launch customer for the A340-600 in due course. Once the 600’s are introduced, the MD-11’s are due to be replaced. I think the problem SR have with the MD-11 is more that the swiss press will not stop reminding people of SR111 every time there’s an inflight incident, and the trust of the swiss people is no longer with the MD-11.
Sabena are actually trying to get rid of their A340-300’s, so one can presumably read between the lines that the MD-11’s are more efficient than the 300’s.
Nonetheless, I don’t think you can realistically say that either is over reliant on the MD-11’s for their intercontinental fleets, if you discount KLM for also operating the 747 (I think they have the 767, too). After all, both SR and SN have A330’s, and SN (for the moment, anyway) have A340’s, too.

Cheers,
the Bhoy

RE: 747-400 versus MD 11 versus A-340

Yeah, but i think Boeing doesn’t want the MD-11 to sell good. They are anxious to stop the production-line now that they have MDD. It’s a pity because MDD made excellent aicrafts in the past, especially in the military branch. Despite the low sell-ratings of the MD-11, there are still a few airline-companies like Swissair and Sabena (smaller) and even KLM which operate those aircraft as their main intercontinental a/c (not klm as they have the jumbo). I hope we won’t see the MD-11 in the future to be converted as a tanker or cargo-transport as it is way too good. I think Boeing will lose MDD costumers who prefer the MD-11 above the 747-400 series, and they will most likely opt for the A-340, more than the 777 i think. I don’t see aircrafts becoming much bigger than the 747, so buying MD-11’s is not wast of money. I actually prefer it above the A-340 but the airbus is also ok.

Greetings
Geforce

RE: 747-400 versus MD 11 versus A-340

The biggest scandal in the past ten years is the MD-11. Why did this excellent aircraft sell so badly? The DC-10 was always a popular aircraft, so you’d think an updated model incorporating the lastest technology would be a seller.

It is even more tragic that MD-11 passenger models, most of which were built in the ninties, are being converted to freighter variants at an alarming rate!

What about Varig? They use an MD-11 for spares! An airliner that is only about a decade old being canabalised does not make sense to me. I could understand it if the aircraft was 25-30 years old. It just seems such a waste to scrap a young airliner like this.

As for the 747-400 and A340, well they are not selling as well as they should be either. Boeing is desperate for more 747 orders, and the A340 production line is hardly a bustling hive of activity. Boeing have their own 777 to thank for the denting of it’s 747 sales, whilst the A340 seems more tailored to routes with hot ‘n’ high conditions, so it has a kind of ‘niche’ market.

All are excellent aircraft in their own right though. They are the true ‘heavy jets’ of the world.

RE: 747-400 versus MD 11 versus A-340

That’s nice for 2 minutes but when lunch is served and the plane is still shacking you get tired if it 🙂

Maybe the 777 flies better than the 747

Greetings
Geforce

RE: 747-400 versus MD 11 versus A-340

UNFORTUNATELY I HAVEN’T FLOWN IN ANY OF THEM BEFORE BUT I THINK FROM A VIEWERS PERSPECTIVE THE 747 IS THE ONE THE MAKES THE GROUND SHAKE THE HARDEST!

RE: 747-400 versus MD 11 versus A-340

LAST EDITED ON 21-04-01 AT 09:38 AM (GMT)[p]LAST EDITED ON 21-04-01 AT 09:36 AM (GMT)

LAST EDITED ON 21-04-01 AT 09:33 AM (GMT)

Yes the A340 is a wonderfull plane. But i think the MD-11 doesn’t have the honour that it deserves. When i flew to South-Africa in it, i was frightened that i wouldn’t have enough space. Especially if you have to fly 12 hours it’s very important to have a good seat. Unfortunately, i don’t have the financial luck to fly first or business class, so the plebs-class (economy) is very important to me. That’s why the MD-11 breaks the records. The Jumbo probably was much bigger, but when you sit in the aircraft the Douglas has so much more. Maybe B.A. thinks economy class doesn’t have to be comfortable, because we don’t have another choise. But Swissair understood that a good service and enough space only has advantages. I hoop next time i can fly again with swissair or with the MD-11 because it beats every other big company (if it still exists ofcourse).

About the airlines i flew with: the best are

1. Qualiflyer group (Swissair sabena) (in MD11 and A-340) : good service and food
2. South African Airways (747) : also good food
3. Lufthansa (747)
4. BA (747)

Food and drinks are very important i think, as that’s the only thing you can do during long flights

Greetings

Geforce

RE: 747-400 versus MD 11 versus A-340

Interesting post, for me its the Airbus 340 all the way followed by the 747-400 and then the MD-11. A340 is a magnificent aircraft, comfortable in Economy and very much in business class.And about the 747-400, its a great aircraft only it depends what airline you flying with. Some airlines put the 747 to its full seating capacity like BA which make too crowded. The MD-11 ofcource is great and very comfy especially in economy class. I also travelled with Swissair on the MD-11, A340 of SIA and 747-400 of SIA, Cathay, United, BA etc. For me A340 all the way, wonderful plane.