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.

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.airbus.com