Martinair, KLM’s cargo subsidiary, has grounded its Boeing 747-400F PH-MPS amid the high cost of operating at Amsterdam Schiphol. The freighter’s reported last flight was from Frankfurt to Amsterdam on 26 October. KLM linked the decision to Schiphol’s airport charges, which vary according to aircraft noise and time of day. Martinair continues to operate 747 freighters while awaiting its first Airbus A350F.
Flight-tracking data cited in the report appears to support the aircraft’s inactivity, but neither the duration of the grounding nor the charges involved was specified. The explanation was attributed to KLM; no direct comment from Martinair was reported.
KLM has also objected to contributing to the Schiphol Environment Fund, which aims to spend €10 million annually on measures benefiting residents near the airport. The group’s position is that the costs are being wrongly charged to airlines. The fund dispute is separate from the reported decision to keep PH-MPS on the ground.