Air France-KLM shifts most Airbus A350-1000 orders to smaller -900 variant

Currently, Air France operates a fleet of 39 A350-900s with an average age of just under three years. These aircraft are configured with a total of 324 seats: 34 in business class, 24 in premium economy, and 266 in economy class. KLM pilots are training on Air France’s A350s as part of preparations for KLM’s own introduction of the type planned for 2026–2027.

The new A350s are intended to replace older Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 aircraft at both Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Air France operates ten Airbus A330-200s averaging over two decades old and a fleet of Boeing 777s—43 -300ERs (average age nearly 17 years) and 19 -200ERs (average age almost 25 years). KLM’s long-haul fleet includes six older A330-200s (average age about twenty years), five slightly newer A330-300s, sixteen Boeing 777-300ERs (average age nearly twelve years), and fifteen -200ERs (average age over twenty years).

In announcing the original order, Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM Group, stated that the Airbus A350 "is the perfect fit for the network needs of the Group and boasts outstanding performances: it is a quieter, more fuel efficient and more cost-effective aircraft compared to previous generations."

Meanwhile, Airbus released its July delivery data showing it handed over a total of sixty-seven aircraft to forty-one customers during the month. Most deliveries were from its popular single-aisle models—the A320neo family—while four new A350-900s went to Iberia, Turkish Airlines, Air France, and Emirates; two new A350-1000s were delivered to Japan Airlines and Etihad Airways; other deliveries included widebodies like the A330neo and narrowbodies such as the A220 series.

New orders logged by Airbus in July totaled seven units: four A330neos from Condor Airlines and three undisclosed orders for the A321neo model. This represents a slowdown compared with June when Airbus recorded over two hundred gross orders.