Lufthansa Cargo has ordered a fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-11F long-range trijet freighters in a deal potentially worth $1.3 billion, it was announced at the show yesterday.
The deal covers five firm MD-11 freighters, worth $550 million, and options for seven more. It represents a breakthrough for McDonnell Douglas - Lufthansa is a major Airbus Industrie customer.
"This is a huge win for McDonnell Douglas," says Michael Sears, Douglas Aircraft president. "Lufthansa's decision to introduce an entirely new aircraft type - the MD-11F - into their fleet confirms the MD-11F is the freighter of choice in the world today.
"There are few key airlines in the world whose decisions all others pay attention to; Lufthansa is one."
Delivery of the first MD-11F to Lufthansa Cargo is scheduled for mid-June 1998, with four more by the end of the year. Option aircraft would be delivered in 2000 and 2001.
Wilhelm Althen, chairman of the board of Lufthansa Cargo, says at the show: "In the MD-11F, we will take delivery of an aircraft that represents a logical supplement to our Boeing 747-200F long-range fleet."
Boeing is going ahead with its long-awaited 757-300 stretch variant after negotiating a proposal for up to 24 aircraft with the German airline Condor Flugdienst.
The deal - worth $875 million - will include an order for Rolls-Royce engines. Until now Condor has been a Pratt & Whitney customer.
Meanwhile Airbus Industrie reports that 15 airlines participated in a focus group at Farnborough yesterday to finalise the design, performance and layout of the Airbus A340-600 and A340-500.
Source: Flight Daily News
