PARIS: Air France–KLM Group, a Franco-Dutch airline has announced to place an order for 50 long-range Airbus A350s aircraft to boost their flight operations, Western media reported on Monday.
The group said the passenger jets worth more than $16 billion (15.1 billion euros) will be delivered between 2026 and 2030 by Airbus, the world’s largest manufacturer of airliners.
According to a statement by Franco-Dutch group, the order would provide the group with the flexibility to allocate aircraft on different routes, according to market dynamics.
The #AirFranceKLM Group will place an order for 50 Airbus A350 family aircraft with purchase rights for 40 additional aircraft to accelerate the renewal of its long-haul fleet. https://t.co/c9lqPp7RFa pic.twitter.com/FtMCes5L2t
— Air France-KLM Group (@AirFranceKLM) September 25, 2023
Air France-KLM CEO Benjamin Smith in a statement said the order was a major step in the overhauling of the group’s fleet.
He said the Airbus 350 is more fuel-efficient, more cost-effective, and a quieter aircraft as compared to former generations. The Airbus 350 is one of the most fuel-efficient long-range jets, along with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Smith went on to say that the group had set a goal to lessen CO2 emissions per passenger by 30 percent by 2030 adding that the Airbus A350 consumes 25 percent less fuel than the previous generation of the aircraft.
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In July, Air France-KLM said it had doubled its profit in the second quarter of the year, benefiting from high demand for air travel despite inflation which has increased costs.
The group posted a net profit of 604 million euros ($662 million) between January and June with an increase in sales of 13.7 percent compared with the same period in 2022.
Keywords: Airbus, Boeing, Air France-KLM, Dutch, French
