Air France-KLM continues to renew its fleet and places firm order for 4 Airbus A350F full freighter aircraft for Martinair (part of the KLM Group), and 3 A350-900 passenger aircraft for Air France
Air France-KLM’s fleet renewal continues in an ongoing effort to improve the Group’s economic and environmental performance.
In this context, the Group announced today that the Air France-KLM Board of Directors has approved:
- A firm order for 4 Airbus A350F full freighter aircraft, to be operated by Martinair on behalf of KLM Cargo.
These Airbus A350Fs will replace the fleet of 4 Boeing 747Fs currently operated by KLM Cargo and Martinair. They will be based at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
In December 2021, Air France-KLM had placed an order for 4 Airbus A350F full freighter aircraft for Air France.
Deliveries to Martinair and Air France are expected as of the second half of 2026, meaning both airlines will be among the launch operators of the A350F full freighter.
Benefiting from the latest technological innovations and powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, the Airbus A350F delivers significantly improved environmental performance with an over 40% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the Boeing 747F. Its noise footprint is also 50% lower.
- A firm order for 3 additional Airbus A350-900 passenger aircraft for Air France, bringing the total number of A350-900 expected by Air France to 41.
These Airbus A350s will replace previous-generation aircraft and be based at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.
They will feature a three-class configuration (Business, Premium Economy, Economy).
Deliveries are expected in 2024.
Fleet renewal is the key driver to cutting CO2 emissions, with immediate effect. Alongside the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and eco-piloting, it is one of the pillars of the Group’s decarbonization trajectory, which aims for a 30% reduction of CO2 emissions per passenger/km by 2030 compared to 2019. These targets have recently been approved by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
“Investing in the renewal of our fleet means investing in the future of our Group,” said Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM. “I am delighted to announce that KLM and Air France’s cargo divisions will soon operate the quietest and most advanced full freighter aircraft available on the market, the Airbus A350F. This investment is evidence of our confidence in the sustainable growth of the cargo market in the coming years, as well as our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint. I am also very happy to announce that Air France will continue to accelerate the renewal of its fleet with the addition of 3 A350 passenger aircraft. Since its entry into service at Air France, the A350-900 has proved to be a reliable and efficient aircraft, as well as a game changer in terms of reduction of CO2 and noise emissions. We will continue our efforts to renew our fleet as quickly as possible to provide our customers with the best customer experience possible and to meet our ambitious decarbonisation targets.”
The A350F is the freighter version of the A350. It is fitted with an extra-large cargo deck. Lighter materials have been used wherever possible to keep take-off weight to a minimum. In combination with the efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, this considerably improves performance in terms of CO2 emissions and noise pollution. This aircraft is suitable for carrying a range of cargo, including fresh produce, express shipments, pharmaceuticals, horses and oversized cargo. The maximum payload of the chosen configuration is 108 tonnes.
“Fleet renewal is an important part of KLM’s ambition to become more sustainable. In this, we take responsibility. We want to emit less CO2, because of the climate and reduce noise for local residents. The A350F reduces CO2 by over 40% and noise by 50% compared to their predecessors. That is why we decided to place this order earlier than originally planned. Instead of in 2027, we will replace the freighters from autumn 2026. We are accelerating KLM’s sustainability efforts with this,” said KLM CEO Marjan Rintel
“In choosing the A350F, we are taking an important step to cut CO2 emissions and noise pollution. I am very pleased with these new, technologically advanced aircraft joining the fleet, which fit well in the Air France-KLM-Martinair Cargo operation and our Engineering & Maintenance division. For our customers, the versatility of the A350F is good news for the future. The new aircraft are an important addition, supplementing the belly capacity of our extensive intercontinental passenger fleet,” said Adriaan den Heijer, executive vice president Air France-KLM Cargo en managing director Martinair
As of December 31, 2022, Air France-KLM operated a fleet of 506 aircraft, including 6 full freighters.
