Once the largest airline of the whole world, now a flag carrier with financial problems. 
Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, the successor of the mighty Aeroflot - Soviet Airlines, has built up a fleet of western aircraft to compete with other flag carriers of the western world. One of these aircraft is a single ex Biman DC-10, leased from MDFC, which was converted to a freighter aircraft and introduced on the route between Moscow and HongKong in October of 1995. Soon the aircraft was a familiar sight on other routes where the operation of IL-76 was considered uneconomically. Although it was first considered to introduce three more aircraft leased from Boeing (ex-JMC and BA), Aeroflot switched to the DC-10-40F and returned the series 30 aircraft to Boeing. One of these aircraft is already in service, two more ex-JAL DC-10-40 will join the fleet in this year.The DC-10 is actually the only Mc Donnell - Douglas aircraft in the fleet and operated together with a fleet of TU-134, TU-154, 737-400, TU-204, A310, 767-300ER, 777-200ER, IL-62, IL-76 and Antonow An-124. A320s and further 767-300ERs are going to replace the other members of the western passenger fleet soon.
Photos:
Right: Aeroflot DC-10 (N524MD) in Luxemburg on August 24th 1998 - BY OLAFUR SIGURDSSON
