https://www.cargoforwarder.eu/2017/08/2 ... -the-past/
28. August 2017
Lessor Air Castle Leasing has sold a B747 freighter to Martinair.
It is the last Jumbo freighter that will continue flying in the traditional livery of the Dutch airline that had been integrated into 2008 into KLM.
The Jumbo freighter just came back from a major overhaul in China to its home base AMS,
returning in fresh original Martinair livery which
"will remain this way till the end of the aircraft's lifetime,"
assures AF-KL Cargo Press Officer Gerard Roelfzema.
He adds to this: "the PH-MPS will remain a full member of our freighter fleet."
However, as Gerard pointed out to CargoForwarder Global, it is Martinair, not KLM that buys the freighter.
Once proud carrier now sidelined
After Air France and KLM (in their wisdom) decided to join forces, there was no mention of Martinair Cargo.
However it seems the wise guys decided to incorporate the MP Cargo into the deficit AF-KL Cargo unit instead of leaving it as a money making cargo entity.
After KLM took 100 percent control of MP in 2009,
things were still running well.
It was in 2011 that the board members of both airlines agreed to commercially integrate MP Cargo into AF-KL Cargo.
A move which probably came at the wrong time
as AF-KL Cargo were losing money and customers.
Then came the decision to start phasing out the MP Cargo fleet.
Martinair staff were integrated" into the AF-KL commercial scene
and the MP pilots fought a losing battle to keep their conditions and jobs.
Last B747 in MP colors
Martinair’s last jumbo freighter,
a 27 year old converted BCF version which in its early days
flew as a passenger aircraft for Singapore Airlines and Air India
and which was on lease from Aircastle Leasing,
has now been sold to Martinair.
"It will keep the MP livery," assures Gerard.
MP’s other three B747Fs are stored in Teurel, Spain (two) and Kansas City (one) and will probably never fly commercially again.
Sad days for those old MP employees to see that only a single Jumbo freighter is left over as remnant of a once large fleet, displying the Martinair colors.
That’s progress, some might say - but considering the continued uphill battle AF-KL Cargo is fighting,
would it not have made more sense
to use the MP Cargo product differently and profitably?
We’ll never know!
https://www.cargoforwarder.eu/2017/08/2 ... -the-past/
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