Air France is overhauling its fleet over the next several years. It has ordered 60 Airbus A220-300 aircraft for short- and medium-haul flights and is phasing out its 10 Airbus A380 aircraft by 2022.
The new fleet marks a "transition to cleaner aircraft in order to support a more environmentally responsible operation," according to Air France-KLM Group CEO Benjamin Smith. The A220-300 aircraft, which will begin delivery in September 2021, will replace Air France's A318 and A319 fleet. The new fleet's CO2 emissions will be 20 percent lower than comparable aircraft, according to Air France. The new aircraft also will offer "more space, larger baggage storage compartments in the cabins, wide aisles and Wi-Fi onboard," the carrier said.
The A380 aircraft in use now, meanwhile, consume 20 to 25 percent more fuel per seat than newer-generation long-haul aircraft and bring higher maintenance costs, and the group is determining what aircraft it will use to replace them. Airbus this year announced it is ceasing production of the aircraft type.
The airline group has prioritized cost cutting as of late. Lower costs during the second quarter helped boost its operating result year over year amid rising fuel costs and "a slight increase in passenger unit revenue," according to Smith.
Total revenue during the second quarter rose 5.6 percent year over year to 6.02 billion euros. Traffic jumped 5.7 percent as capacity increased 3.9 percent, and load factor rose 1.5 percentage points to 88.6 percent.
Air France-KLM's income climbed 54 million euros year over year to 400 million euros. Besides lower unit costs, the group also benefited from the comparison against the Air France strikes occurring last year.
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