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Airbus secures order for 10 A350’s from Air France–KLM
The Air France–KLM Group has placed a firm order with Airbus for 10 additional widebody A350-900s. The new deal will take the airline carrier’s total order for A350-900 aircraft to 38.
The A350s are intended to be operated by Air France. By acquiring the industry’s most efficient and technologically advanced widebody aircraft, the airline will benefit from a significant reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions.
The majority of the wings on Airbus commercial aircraft are designed and manufactured in the UK.
The Air France–KLM Group has placed a firm order for 10 additional widebody A350-900 aircraft / Picture: Airbus
Benjamin Smith, chief executive of Air France–KLM Group, said: “Rationalizing and modernizing the fleet is central to our effort to regain our leading position in Europe. It will strengthen our performance from both an economic and operational standpoint and will help us deliver on our ambitious sustainability agenda. Offering a 25% reduction in fuel consumption compared to previous generation aircraft, the Airbus A350-900 is a jewel of European expertise and a passenger favourite. We are excited to see it become a core asset of the Air France fleet.”
Guillaume Faury, Airbus chief executive officer, added: “Ben is leading an impressive transformation at Air France-KLM and we feel honoured that our A350 aircraft have been selected as part of this endeavour. We sincerely thank Air France–KLM for the confidence placed in us.”
Air France–KLM currently operates a fleet of 159 Airbus aircraft.
The A350-900 is the cornerstone member of Airbus’ all-new A350 XWB family. As with all A350 XWB models, its fuselage is built with carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) – which supports lower fuel burn, easier maintenance and increased resistance to corrosion. The A350 XWB also features the latest aerodynamic design, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines. By the end of November, the A350 XWB family had received 959 firm orders from 51 customers worldwide, making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever.