Following months of speculation about the replacement of its short- and medium-haul fleet, and in line with expectations that it would remain loyal to Airbus as medium-haul aircraft provider, Air France has signed a memorandum of understanding covering a firm order 60 Airbus A220-300s, options on 30 and purchase rights on another 30, the airline announced Tuesday. The A220s will gradually replace the French carrier’s Airbus A318s and A319s, of which it now has 18 and 33 units, respectively. Air France’s medium-haul fleet—excluding regional aircraft—consists of only Airbus aircraft; in addition to the A318 and A319s, it also flies 20 A321s and 43 A320s. In contrast, its Dutch sibling KLM and the group’s low-cost carrier, Transavia, both deploy a Boeing 737 fleet on their medium-haul services, though no Maxes.

Air France-KLM Group CEO Ben Smith said the Pratt & Whitney PW1500G geared-turbofan-powered twinjet “demonstrates optimum operational and economic efficiency” and supports the operator’s goal of a more environmentally sustainable operation. “This aircraft will also provide our customers with additional comfort on the short- and medium-haul network and will provide our pilots with a connected cockpit with access to the latest navigation technology,” he noted. “This is a very important next step in Air France's transformation, and this evolution in Air France's fleet underlines the group's determination to attain European airline leadership.” France’s flag carrier faces intense competition on its European and domestic network from low-cost airlines and the state-owned high-speed train.

Schedules call for Air France to take delivery of its first Wi-Fi-enabled A220 in September 2021.

Air France’s fleet transformation will also see the retirement of its 10 A380s by 2022. The airline last year approved the removal of three examples, but the Air France-KLM board today decided to totally exit A380 operations because the current competitive environment limits the markets in which the double-deck widebody can profitably operate. “With four engines, the A380 consumes 20- to 25-percent more fuel per seat than new generation long-haul aircraft, and therefore emits more CO₂,” it said. “Increasing aircraft maintenance costs, as well as necessary cabin refurbishments to meet customer expectations, reduce the economic attractiveness of Air France's A380s even further. Keeping this aircraft in the fleet would involve significant costs, while the aircraft program was suspended by Airbus earlier in 2019,” The group leases two of the seven A380s and owns the balance.

Air France-KLM said it would study the replacement of the A380s by new-generation long-haul aircraft.

The A220 order and the decision to abandon the A380 support Air France-KLM Group's fleet competitiveness strategy and follow on the recent order swap of A350s and Boeing 787s between Air France and KLM, emphasized Smith, who since accepting his appointment at the helm of the group in September last year has focused on simplifying the company’s structure and operations.