Summary
In the early 1990s, American Airlines introduced the McDonnell Douglas MD-11, hoping it would be a worthy successor to its aging fleet of DC-10s. The MD-11, with its promised range, efficiency, and modernized features, seemed like the ideal upgrade to strengthen American’s long-haul fleet.
But the MD-11 only lasted ten years with American Airlines and was ultimately seen as a disappointment. But what happened to this fleet?
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 at American Airlines
JetPix (GFDL 1.2 <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html> or GFDL 1.2 <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html>), via Wikimedia Commons
Unlike the DC-10, the MD-11 offered extended range capabilities and more advanced avionics, aimed at providing greater fuel efficiency and a more comfortable passenger experience. With three engines and advanced flight systems, the MD-11 was intended to bridge the gap between smaller, twin-engine aircraft and the larger Boeing 747.
American Airlines acquired a total of 19 MD-11s, taking delivery of the first in 1991. The airline deployed these aircraft on transcontinental and international routes, including popular destinations across Europe and Asia. The MD-11 initially provided American with flexibility on routes that required the extra range, including flights to Tokyo and London, while also offering a better in-flight experience with updated cabin amenities.
However, the MD-11 quickly developed a reputation for falling short of its operational promises. Although it featured many technological improvements, it struggled with fuel efficiency and range compared to projections. A major issue was its inability to meet long-haul range expectations with a full passenger load, which affected route planning and operating costs. These challenges were not unique to American; airlines worldwide were finding that the MD-11 didn’t live up to the performance standards set by the original specifications.
Retirement of the MD-11 at American Airlines
After less than a decade in American’s fleet, the MD-11s were proving inefficient and costly, especially as Boeing introduced the new 777, which featured two engines, greater range, and fuel efficiency. In 1998, American began phasing out its MD-11s in favour of the 777, which better suited the airline’s needs for transcontinental and transoceanic routes.
By 2001, American Airlines had fully retired its MD-11 fleet, with many of the aircraft finding new life with cargo operators like FedEx. The MD-11’s short tenure with American was reflective of a broader industry trend, as airlines moved away from three-engine designs toward more efficient, long-range twinjets.
The final American Airlines MD-11 flight operated on 13 October 2001 from Santiago de Chile to Dallas Ft Worth.
American Airlines’ MD-11 Fleet and Survivors
N1757A became N590FE with FedEx. Photo (c) Eric Salard
N1754, 1992-1996 – became N587FE with FedEx; WFU Victorville 2023
N1755, 1992-2000 – became N588FE with FedEx; WFU Victorville 2024
N1756, 1992-2001 – became N589FE with FedEx; active
N1757A, 1995-1998 – ecame N590FE with FedEx; active
N1759, 1992-1998 – became N585FE with FedEx; WFU Victorville 2024
N1750B, 1991-1997 – became N581FE with FedEx; crashed 1999
N1751A, 1991-1996 – became N582FE with FedEx; WFU Victorville 2024
N1752K, 1991-1997 – became N583FE with FedEx; active
N1753, 1991-1996 – became N586FE with FedEx; WFU Victorville 2023
N1758B, 1995-2000 – became N591FE with FedEx; active
N1768D, 1992-1997 – became N584FE with FedEx; WFU Victorville 2023
N1760A, 1993-2000 – became N592FE with FedEx; active
N1761R, 1993-2001 – became N593FE with FedEx; WFU Victorville 2023
N1762B, 1993-2001 – became N594FE with FedEx; WFU Victorville 2024
N1763, 1993-2001 – became N595FE with FedEx; WFU Victorville 2024
N1764B, 1993-2000 – became N596FE with FedEx; active
N1765B, 1993-2001 – became N597FE with FedEx; active
N1766A, 1993-2001 – became N598FE with FedEx; WFU Victorville 2023
N1767A, 1993-2001 – became N599FE with FedEx; active
What are your memories of the MD-11 at American Airlines? Did you fly on one? Leave a comment below.
Title image (c) Dean Morley
3 comments
Flew from JFK to ORD in August of 1992 with my younger brother and grandparents on the AA MD-11. It was my first trip to Europe. It seemed like an enormous airplane when I was 14 years old. We boarded via steps rather than the jet bridge on the return flight and I was amazed by the engines, size etc. from that vantage point. Great memory.
My very first transatlantic flight was on a AA MD-11, Oct 3rd, 1998, from ORD to LHR. Sitting in the rear, middle the sound of those GEs while rotating out of ORD was memorable.
My dream was to fly on an American Airlines MD11,i living back and forth between Miami and São Paulo, ,Brazil , i finally made it with Varig and later Swissair,from Buenos Aires to São Paulo ,in a flight that would go Rio and Zurich, an Amazing plane , very spacious,i miss this plane