Air France-KLM is to order 50 Airbus A350 aircraft from European aircraft manufacturer Airbus. The first deliveries are scheduled for 2026 through 2030.

With the order, Air France-KLM aims to expand and renew its long-haul fleet. The airline had previously ordered 41 Airbus A350s. Of these, 22 have already been delivered. The order also includes purchase rights for 40 additional aircraft.

Less polluting

According to the press release, the Airbus A350 symbolizes transitioning to a more sustainable air transport industry. The aircraft consumes 25% less fuel than a previous-generation aircraft, thanks to lighter materials, such as 53% composites and 14% titanium. Thanks to the Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines, its noise footprint is reduced by 40%.

By 2028, the share of new-generation aircraft in the Air France-KLM fleet will reach 64%, compared to 5% in 2019. The group has also ordered eight Airbus A350 Full Freighter aircraft versions to renew and expand its cargo fleet.

220 aircraft on order

Air France-KLM now operates a fleet of 533 aircraft to over 300 destinations worldwide. The airline has over 220 aircraft on order, including 100 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, with first deliveries expected by the end of 2023.

With these combined orders, covering up to 99 aircraft, Air France-KLM would become the world’s largest A350 family aircraft operator.

Fleet renewal – Air France-KLM still has a lot of older Boeing’s 777-200 (33) and 777-300ER (59), and Airbus A330 – is the airline’s primary level to cut CO2 and noise emissions. Air France-KLM aims for -30 % CO2 emissions per passenger/km by 2030 compared to 2019.

Boeing is the loser

The order is also a solid blow to Airbus competitor Boeing. The American multinational fielded two aircraft in the competition: the 777-9 (400 seats in a three-class configuration) and the smaller 787-10.

The 777-9 was particularly handicapped by its development delays because it will not enter service before 2025. The 787 already had the advantage that Air France-KLM was flying with these aircraft, but the carrying capacities offered by the plane remained lower than those of the A350.