An open letter to AF-KLM - please reconsider decision to ground 747 Combi

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• massimo roccasecca

  March 21, 2020 at 3:33 pm

  Not only i agree on the extremely accurate picture Stan Wraight has described, therefore personally convinced the decision in KLM was taken by people who has no knowledge of cargo dynamics whatsoever, but i would like to forward the following question:
  Covid 19 is heavily impacting the passenger traffic. And it might be become even heavier. Perhaps forcing airlines to reduce capacity in a drastic manner. Where is the sense in grounding the only real cargo aircraft when, due to this pandemic emergency, it will be needed the most?

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• Derek Hendricks

  March 21, 2020 at 5:19 pm

  To : Loadstar
  I am in strong agreement with Mr. Wraight . I believe that the B-747M aircraft represent both a unique capability , and opportunity , for airlines possessing them . Consider that the current slowdown in air-travel may be long-term , or even permanent . Cargo-transport will likely not be so affected , as the recent outbreaks all have required person-to-person contact . In addition to all extant jumbo-combis , I believe that the currently flying , dedicated passenger jumbo/super-jumbo jets should be converted to split-level combis , not for heavy-freight , but for luggage and possibly light-freight . Such planes would have passengers only on their top-deck , heavy-freight only in the cargo-holds , some pax main-deck forward, and luggage/possible low-density air-freight on main-deck rearward . This also gives the option of carrying the luggage from other aircraft , thus enabling them to carry a full belly-load of well-paying air-freight . This alternative layout would enable airlines to fly their largest planes consistently payload-full . They could also fly them to many point-to-point destinations , as their pax-loads would be modest .
  *As has always been the case in the transport industry , “Size equals efficiency” .
  D.H.

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