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Airbus A318 continues limited UK service with Air France amid economic challenges

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Airbus A318 continues limited UK service with Air France amid economic challenges
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Airbus A318 | Official Website

The Airbus A318, known for its limited popularity due to economic inefficiencies compared to larger aircraft, will continue operations with Air France this summer. The French airline is the only major carrier still using the A318 for scheduled passenger flights after TAROM retired the model in November 2024.

In July and August, Air France plans to operate just two routes from the UK: Nice to London Heathrow and Paris CDG to Heathrow. According to Cirium Diio data, most of these services will be on the Nice-Heathrow route, which has been part of Air France's network since 2022. The A318 will make its return on July 14 after a brief hiatus since June 28.

On the Paris CDG-Heathrow route, only one out of 370 flights is scheduled with an A318. Most services on this route use the more modern A220-300 aircraft. Notably, flight AF1680 is set to arrive at Heathrow at 08:00 on Sunday, July 20.

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Air France currently operates six A318s, averaging nearly 19 years old. Despite being fully paid off as they are mostly owned by Air France, these aircraft face higher fuel consumption and maintenance costs compared to newer models like the Airbus A220-300. The latter offers a more competitive seat-mile cost due to its larger size and lower fuel consumption.

The Airbus A318's unpopularity stems from its high operating costs relative to capacity. Its maximum takeoff weight is similar to that of an Airbus A220-300 but offers fewer seats in Air France's configuration. This results in less attractive seat-mile costs compared to alternatives such as the Boeing 737 series or other Airbus models like the A319 and A320.

Despite these challenges, the A318 has found niche roles requiring short runway capabilities or steep approach certifications, such as operations at Rio de Janeiro’s Santos Dumont airport or London City Airport.

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