Air France-KLM Group has announced that they would receive their first new Airbus A220-300 aircraft in September 2021, with a total of 60 aircraft. The airline refers to this sequence of orders as “the rejuvenation of the short and medium-haul fleet.”
The airline said, “The rejuvenation of the short and medium-haul fleet will begin in September, with the delivery of the first of Air France’s 60 Airbus A220s,” in a press release announcing the delivery of the carrier’s 11th A350 aircraft (dubbed ‘Cannes’).
As the Cases of Covid decrease and have reached out at the minimalist point, People are now back to their old ways as before the Coronavirus. The airline seems confident that things will continue in its favor. The airline has mounted a large order with Canada Airbus for 60 A220-300s to replace its old planes of A318 and A319 aircraft, making the A220-300 the only sub-150-seat aircraft in the airline’s mainline fleet. According to Air France, the first six planes will arrive in September, with the remaining 60 jets arriving over the next five years.
The airline ordered its aircraft from Pratt & Whitney a long time ago before the Pandemic hit. In September, the first delivery will bring the French flag carrier’s order, which was first announced in July 2019, to a close after more than two years of waiting. In December of that year, it finalized the order.
Pratt & Whitney reported earlier this month that the Air France-KLM Group had placed an order for over 120 GTF engines to power a fleet of 60 Airbus A220-300 jets. This year, the first airliner is planned to arrive in September 2021.”
The A220-300 variant, which is currently the largest version available, will be used on all 60 aircraft delivered to Air France. Air France’s A220s have 149 seats in a 3-2 configuration and will include amenities such as in-flight WiFi, as well as larger overhead bins, windows, and aisles.
However, Air France is pursuing the A220 for its crucial benefits and meeting European legislators’ requirements. This includes environmental standards that must be completed as part of Air France’s €7 billion ($8.3 billion) bailout from the French government and EU approval.
As Air France aims to reach net-zero CO2 emissions in Europe by 2050, the A220’s initial focus will be on the continent. This means that the newcomer will take over practically all short-haul routes currently served by the A318 and A319. Flights to London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Rome, Milan, and dozens of more destinations would be included. The plane is also capable of flying to destinations in the Middle East and Africa.
According to reports, Air France’s board of directors approved two key strategic decisions on the evolution of the airline’s fleet on July 30. The board of directors then placed a formal order for 60 Airbus A220-300s, together with 30 buy options and 30 acquisition rights. Furthermore, by 2022, the ten A380s are expected to be retired from the long-haul fleet. With a catalog price of €91.5 million, the order should be worth more than €8.2 billion if it is fully finished.
Last year, the airline retired its A380 superjumbos and is gradually replacing them with A350-900s. The A380 uses 20 to 25% more fuel per seat than newer long-haul aircraft and generates more CO2.
In July 2019, Air France-KLM Group CEO Benjamin Smith said, “We are very pleased to cooperate with Airbus to add the A220-300 to our fleet, an aircraft that demonstrates optimum environmental, operational, and economic performance.” The Airbus A220-300 assists us in achieving our goal of a more sustainable operation by dramatically reducing CO2 and noise emissions.”
