1337Delta764 From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 5754 posts, RR: 2 Posted (7 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 2635 times:
Considering KLM plans to keep flying their MD-11 fleet well into the future, does anyone think it would be a good idea if some manufacturer such as Heath Tecna or C&D Zodiac were to develop an interior/overhead bin upgrade package for the MD-11? The MD-11 interior does tend to show its age, and its bins aren't quite as large as the Boeing Signature pivot bins. Perhaps one of these manufacturers can develop a cabin refresh package with pivot bins, or at least larger capacity shelf bins.
One could argue that the customer base is too small, however, consider the fact that Heath Tecna developed a bin extension package for the MD-90 specifically for DL. And no, this is not the same package as the MD-88 bin extensions despite their similar exterior appearance, since the factory MD-90 bins are structurally different from the factory MD-88 bins. If KLM were to request something similar for the MD-11 I wouldn't be surprised if some manufacturer were to do so.
The Pink Delta 767-400ER - The most beautiful aircraft in the sky
Birdwatching From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 3573 posts, RR: 52 Reply 1, posted (7 months 2 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 2604 times:
Only KLM operates the passenger MD11, and they are being phased out as we're speaking, with the first one already out of the fleet. What gives you any reason to say:
1337Delta764 From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 5754 posts, RR: 2 Reply 2, posted (7 months 2 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 2587 times:
Anyway, IMHO what you're suggesting makes no sense and it is not happening.
Soren
Well, that seems a little surprising, considering they had AVOD and the new WBC seats installed only a few years ago. Why install AVOD and updated WBC seats on an aircraft you don't plan on keeping?
The Pink Delta 767-400ER - The most beautiful aircraft in the sky
Polot From United States of America, joined Jul 2011, 1497 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (7 months 2 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 2566 times:
Quoting 1337Delta764 (Thread starter): Considering KLM plans to keep flying their MD-11 fleet well into the future, does anyone think it would be a good idea if some manufacturer such as Heath Tecna or C&D Zodiac were to develop an interior/overhead bin upgrade package for the MD-11?
What plans to keep flying them well into the future? KLM has already started to retire them this year.
Quoting 1337Delta764 (Thread starter): One could argue that the customer base is too small, however, consider the fact that Heath Tecna developed a bin extension package for the MD-90 specifically for DL. And no, this is not the same package as the MD-88 bin extensions despite their similar exterior appearance, since the factory MD-90 bins are structurally different from the factory MD-88 bins.
Delta has about 60 MD-90s, has no plans to get rid of them anytime soon, and there are other (admittedly small) operators that Heath Tecna could sell them too. KLM's 9 MD-11s are the only ones left in regular commercial passenger service (with World being the only other passenger MD-11 operator with a whopping 2 in use) and have already started to retire them. Heath Tecna are not going to waste their money.
Birdwatching From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 3573 posts, RR: 52 Reply 4, posted (7 months 2 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 2568 times:
Quoting 1337Delta764 (Reply 2): Well, that seems a little surprising, considering they had AVOD and the new WBC seats installed only a few years ago. Why install AVOD and updated WBC seats on an aircraft you don't plan on keeping?
AVOD and seats are part of the inflight product for the customer which needs to be consistent across the fleet, and you can probably even remove these things and install them on another aircraft later. You can't use overhead bins on another plane later. People make their decision about which airline to book depending on IFE and seats, particularly in the premium cabins, but not really on the overhead bins or lavatories. If you maintain an interior well (and KLM does this), you can keep it in good shape for ages.
Soren
All the things you probably hate about travelling are warm reminders that I'm home
Cargolex From United States of America, joined Apr 2010, 1156 posts, RR: 9 Reply 5, posted (7 months 2 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 2466 times:
Quoting 1337Delta764 (Thread starter): Considering KLM plans to keep flying their MD-11 fleet well into the future,
They've already begun retiring the type...
Quoting 1337Delta764 (Thread starter): Perhaps one of these manufacturers can develop a cabin refresh package with pivot bins, or at least larger capacity shelf bins.
...But even if they weren't retiring them within the next 18-30 months, it wouldn't make sense for anybody to invest in new hard pieces for the interior. KLM is really the only MD-11 pax operator left, and it would cost quite a bit to design and certify new equipment for just a handful of planes with no chance of ever selling any additional units.
The MD-90 is a different situation, because the number of units in service, while still low compared to say, the 737-800, is quite a bit higher than the MD-11, and the MD-90s are not headed for retirement.
Even if the planes weren't headed to retirement, the economies of scale just aren't there.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21465 posts, RR: 24 Reply 6, posted (7 months 2 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 2401 times:
Quoting 1337Delta764 (Reply 2): Well, that seems a little surprising, considering they had AVOD and the new WBC seats installed only a few years ago. Why install AVOD and updated WBC seats on an aircraft you don't plan on keeping?
That was 3 or 4 years ago, if not longer. That's plenty of time to amortize those costs, and fuel prices were lower then. A lot can change to affect fleet planning decisions in that period of time.
Even if they were planning to keep them for another 3 or 4 years, it would make no sense to invest that kind of money in designing new overhead bins for only 10 aircraft. I've flown KL MD-11s several times and the bins are big enough.
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 5754 posts, 
From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21465 posts, 
From Denmark, joined Aug 2004, 1682 posts, 
From Netherlands, joined Aug 2009, 1780 posts, 
Sponsor Message: 
Printer friendly format
