If All Aircraft Are Delivered, The Airline Will Acquire 60
Airbus And 50 Boeing Composite Airplanes
In what is being described as a major fleet renewal, Air
France-KLM announced Thursday that it has placed orders for as many
as 60 Airbus A350XWB airplanes, and 50 of Boeing's 787-9
Dreamliners.
Dreamliner File Photo
Boeing said Air France-KLM intends to purchase 25 Boeing 787-9
Dreamliners, with options for 25 more. “We’re proud to
be a major part of the fleet renewal plan being undertaken by Air
France-KLM,” said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing
Commercial Airplanes. “The 787 Dreamliner will bring
outstanding value to the two airlines and will be a great
complement to their large fleets of Boeing widebody airplanes.
We’re looking forward to finalizing our agreement.”
Boeing has orders for more than 800 Dreamliners from 56
customers around the world. The Air France-KLM announcement is not
included in this total.
Nine French companies partner with Boeing on the 787 Dreamliner.
They include Dassault Systèmes (software solutions), Labinal
(wiring), Latécoère (passenger doors),
Messier-Bugatti (electric brakes), Messier-Dowty (main and nose
landing gear), Michelin (aftermarket tyres), Radiall (connectors),
Thales (electric power conversion system, flight display, in-flight
entertainment system), and Zodiac (emergency slides, primary
electrical distribution and various equipments).
The Air France-KLM Group is a long-time and valued customer with
a large Boeing fleet of 188 airplanes in operation. Boeing says
details of the agreement will be finalized by the end of the
year.
The airline is also keeping business close to home, with the
announcement of an order for up to 60 A350 XWB aircraft, of which
25 A350-900 will be firmed up shortly. The aircraft will become an
essential pillar in the group’s long-haul fleet modernization
strategy.
Air France-KLM A350 XWB
"We are honored that our all new, ... A350 XWB will contribute
to Air France-KLM’s long-term success," said John Leahy,
Airbus Chief Operating Officer - Customers. "We take this decision
as a testimony of confidence in our brand and products." In total
the Air France-KLM Group currently operates a fleet of 191 Airbus
aircraft.
The A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) Family is an all-new long range
product line comprising three models capable of flying between 270
and 350 passengers in typical three-class layouts on flights of up
to 8,500 nautical miles. It is currently under development by
Airbus
By end of August, Airbus had recorded 567 A350 XWBs firm orders
from 35 customers.