Airbus is on a winning streak as it secures over a hundred aircraft orders from the Air France – KLM Group, its third major order this week.
This is certainly a victorious way to cap off the week (and year) after Australian flag carrier Qantas selected Airbus to renew its domestic fleet, and Singapore Airlines (SIA1) (SINGY) signed up for the Airbus A350F freighter to replace Boeing 747F fleet.
On December 16, 2021, the Air France-KLM Group announced that it placed an order for 100 Airbus A320neo family aircraft – with purchase rights for an additional 60 aircraft – for KLM and Transavia, and that the it had signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the purchase of 4 Airbus A350F Full Freighter aircraft for Air France.
Image from Air France-KLM Group
The first deliveries of the aircraft orders are expected in the second half of 2023.
Compared to previous generation aircraft, the A320neo family aircraft offer a unit cost reduction of more than 10%, as well as a 15% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Their noise footprint is also 50% lower. This is in line with Air France-KLM’s goal to improve its economic and environmental performance through the introduction of next generation aircraft.
The A320neo aircraft will operate medium-haul routes in Europe, notably from Amsterdam-Schiphol – KLM’s global hub and Transavia Netherlands’ main base, and from Paris-Orly, Transavia France’s main base.
“These evolutionary orders will position our Group airlines on the path to improved performance while accelerating our decarbonization trajectory. This is a major step forward for KLM, Transavia and Air France, which will operate the best aircraft available for their network needs,” Benjamin Smith, CEO of the Air France-KLM Group said in a press statement.
“The outstanding performances of the A320neo family and of the A350F Full-Freighter, which are quieter, more fuel-efficient and more cost-effective aircraft, make them the best choices for the long-term growth of our fleet. They will be instrumental in reaching our ambitious targets, including zero net CO2 emissions by 2050.”
The group’s Letter of Intent (LOI) for the purchase of 4 Airbus A350F Full Freighter aircraft also included purchase rights for 4 additional aircraft in order to increase cargo capacity at Air France.
Image from Air France -KLM Group