Quantcast

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

American Testing Tech to Help Passengers Make Connecting Flights
Why fuel price crash won’t make flying cheaper
Kristi Noem says travelers without Real ID will still be able to fly after deadline
Frontier Airlines Announces New Routes Launching This Summer, Connecting Baltimore With Chicago O’Hare and Trenton, N.J. With Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Airlines in North America prioritize investments in cyber, AI
Global Airlines & HiFly Operate 1st Passenger Airbus A380 Flight Between Barcelona And Berlin
American Airlines unveils ritzy new plane suites launching this summer
Airline Stocks To Keep An Eye On - April 28th
50 New Routes Starting In May 2025
Report: JetBlue, United Mulling Partnership
New First-Class Suites, Futuristic Aircraft and the Top Air Travel News From April 2025
Southwest Airlines Announces Reimagined Fare Products, New Benefits for Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers and Tier Member Customers
New Alaska Airlines trading cards take flight this World Pilots’ Day - Alaska Airlines News
United CEO calls Trump's tariffs a 'chess game'
Virtual Training Becomes a Reality
Korean Air Restarts Longest 747 Passenger Flight in the World
Flight tickets from Srinagar remain exorbitantly high despite aviation ministry request
RTX Q1 Earnings & Sales Beat Estimates, Increase Year Over Year
Delta faces federal investigation as it scraps hundreds of flights for fifth straight day
Coalition pledges to remove EV tax break two days after Dutton ruled out scrapping it – as it happened
Adani’s airport unit seeks $750 million loan from global banks
GE Aerospace affirms outlook; CEO met with Trump to discuss tariffs
Flight made emergency landing in Denver after reported animal strike and engine fire
General Dynamics says G800 jet receives FAA, EASA certifications
Archer unveils plans for NYC air-taxi network in partnership with United Airlines
United Airlines doubles down on Chicago roots with new O'Hare billboards
ICAO Proposes ‘Journey Pass’ Biometric ID Boarding
Gatwick airport strikes, Easter 2025: will my flight be cancelled?
Boarding passes and check-in could be scrapped in air travel shake-up
The most in Mexico: American Airlines adds 30th destination as part of a record-breaking schedule
Airbus A318 continues limited UK service with Air France amid economic challenges
Policy
Webp airbusa318
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.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

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.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

The Emirates Group recently held an exhibition titled "Tomorrow Takes Flight," showcasing its sustainability initiatives in aviation.

Jul 4, 2025

Air France-KLM has announced plans to take control of SAS Scandinavian Airlines by increasing its ownership stake to 60.5% by the end of 2026.

Jul 4, 2025

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has expressed concerns over the Global Solidarity Levy Task Force's (GSLTF) proposal to impose a premium flyer levy, citing potential negative impacts on the airline industry and broader economic...

Jul 4, 2025

American Airlines, known for its extensive network of hub airports, once operated a significant hub at St. Louis Lambert Airport (STL) in Missouri.

Jul 4, 2025

Qantas Airways has reported a cyber attack targeting one of its contact centers, leading to a potential data breach affecting up to six million customers.

Jul 4, 2025

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is experiencing a significant increase in airline travel.

Jul 4, 2025