Since 1934, KLM is the only airline in the world to have operated every series-built aircraft type manufactured by Douglas, from DC2 to DC10. It all began in 1934 with KLM’s first DC-2, which remained in service until 1946. The legendary PH-AJU “Uiver” (Stork), which won the handicap section of the London to Melbourne race in 1934, was a DC-2. The DC-3 Dakota will be on show on the apron during the farewell event at Schiphol. KLM is the only airline to have operated the DC-5, because it was the only airline that did not cancel its order for this aircraft during the Second World War.

Today, KLM bids a fond farewell to this legendary aircraft and has the honour, as a loyal customer, of marking the end of the Douglas era. Over the last few years, KLM has invested in a modern, fuel-efficient and sustainable fleet, for which the MD-11 is no longer suited. The MD-11 will be succeeded by the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in 2015. The Boeing Dreamliner can carry 294 passengers, generates fuel savings of around 30%, and produces less noise and CO2 emissions. This is how KLM is contributing to a more sustainable airline industry. The Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 will deployed instead of the MD-11 until the new aircraft are delivered.

Worthy farewell
With a welcoming shower, KLM gave a worthy farewell to this aircraft, which had been in service for 21 years. KLM has in recent years invested in a modern, economical and sustainable fleet, in which there was no room for the MD-11. The aircraft, with its characteristic third engine in the tail, had become expensive to maintain and has relatively high fuel consumption. Spare parts are hard to come by and it is no longer feasible to maintain stocks.

Sustainable fleet
From October 2015, KLM will begin welcoming the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to its fleet. AIR FRANCE KLM has ordered 25 of these aircraft, the first of which is scheduled for delivery in October 2015. The Boeing Dreamliner can carry 276 passengers, burns 15% less fuel than its predecessor, and has lower noise impact and CO2 emissions. This coincides with KLM’s pledge to contribute to a more sustainable air transport industry. Until the new aircraft arrive, KLM will deploy its Airbus A330s and Boeing 777s to replace the MD-11.

Farewell Flights on 11 November
A series of MD-11 Farwell Flights will be operated on 11 November 2014. KLM has organised three special roundtrips over the Netherlands, giving fans a last chance to enjoy their favourite jetliner. Unfortunately, the tickets for these flights are sold out, but MD-11 aficionados do stand a chance of winning two last tickets in the social media campaign Bye-Bye MD-11, which will be on until Thursday, 30 October.

You can read more about the MD-11 and KLM’s partnership with (McDonnell) Douglas on the KLM blog. There is also a special MD-11 book (in Dutch) available via http://www.md-11.nl/.

About the quiz
The campaign consists of two parts: a quiz with 11 questions and a timeline. The timeline gives an overview of MD-11 milestones and memories in photos, videos and words.

Anyone with a Facebook or Twitter account can take part in the quiz and stands to win various unique daily prizes, including an MD flight simulator session. If you don’t know an answer, the timeline will help you find it. Readers will discover how many tonnes of kerosene a KLM MD-11 can carry, which famous ladies KLM’s MD-11s are named after, and how many passenger seats there are aboard a KLM MD-11. Get all 11 questions right and you stand a chance to win the main prize.

The site will remain online for the rest of the year.

Peoples’ experiences with the MD-11 have been documented in Dutch in the unique publication “Farewell MD-11”, which can be ordered at http://www.md-11.nl/