Air France-KLM orders four Airbus planes

Reuters- Air France-KLM has placed a firm order with Airbus for four freighter and three passenger aircraft, the Franco-Dutch airline said on Friday.

The four Airbus A 350 F full freighter aircraft, which are expected to be delivered in the second half of 2026, will be operated by Martinair on behalf of KLM Cargo and will be based at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam.

The A 350 Fs will replace four Boeing 747 Fs currently in use, the airline said, adding that the order will be added to a previous deal for four planes of the same type placed in December 2021. They have a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to Boeing's planes and are less noisy, according to the airline.

The cargo divisions of KLM and Air France will soon operate the quietest and most advanced full freighter aircraft available on the market, the group's CEO Benjamin Smith said in a statement.

Three additional A 350 900 passenger aircraft for Air France, to be based at Paris' main Charles de Gaulle airport, will replace previous generation models. The deliveries are expected to be completed in 2024.

Smith said the A 350-900 has proved to be a reliable and efficient aircraft, as well as a game changer in terms of CO 2 and noise emissions since its entry into service at Air France.

Air France-KLM aims to reduce CO 2 emissions per passenger kilometer by 30% compared to 2019 levels.