Air France-KLM Group has announced plans to order 50 Airbus A350 Family aircraft, as well as options for 40 more, as the Group accelerates their long-haul fleet renewal.
On Monday (September 25, 2023), the Air France-KLM Group announced plans to order 50 Airbus A350 Family aircraft, as well as to acquire acquisition rights for up to 40 more. The substantial order will help the Group accelerate their long-haul fleet renewal, with deliveries expected between 2026 and 2030. The new aircraft will replace previous generation Airbus A330s and Boeing 777s which will gradually be withdrawn from service. The incremental order is in addition to the Group’s existing order for 41 Airbus A350-900s for Air France, of which 22 have already been delivered. Additionally, Air France-KLM will be the launch customer for the Airbus A350 Freighter, having previously ordered eight of the type. With all orders combined, Air-France KLM will become the world’s largest A350 Family operator.
In Monday’s order announcement, Air France-KLM Group’s CEO, Benjamin Smith, said,
“This new order will be a major step in the renewal of the Group’s fleet. The Airbus A350 is a state-of-the-art aircraft with an excellent track record at Air France, where it has rapidly become a favorite among passengers and crew since its entry into service in 2019. It is the perfect fit for the network needs of the Group and boasts outstanding performances: it is a quieter, more fuel efficient and more cost-effective aircraft compared to previous generations. It will be instrumental in helping the Group reach our ambitious sustainability targets, including -30% CO2 emissions per passenger kilometer by 2030.”
Also commenting on the order, KLM’s CEO, Marjan Rintel, added,
“Today marks a very special day for KLM. We have taken a big step towards our future with the proposed decision of purchasing new aircraft. We can make our fleet significantly cleaner, quieter and more fuel-efficient with the A350s. This is important, because we are all faced with the major task of becoming more sustainable. Furthermore, we can offer our passengers much more service and comfort on intercontinental destinations.”
Compared to previous generation widebody aircraft, the Airbus A350 Family offers a 25 percent reduction in fuel burn, lower CO2 emissions and a 40 percent smaller noise footprint. By 2028, new generation aircraft will make up 64 percent of the Air France-KLM fleet, up from only 5.0 percent in 2019. At September 25, 2023, Air France-KLM operated a fleet of 533 aircraft, serving over 300 destinations worldwide. With the new A350 order, the Group’s total orderbook currently stands at over 220 aircraft, including 100 Airbus A320neo Family, of which the first deliveries are expected by the end of 2023.
Source(s): Air France-KLM Group, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines