Si not all observers have been convinced by the concept of ecology “progress” detailed Monday September 25 by President Macron, there is one who understood the message, it is Ben Smith, the boss of Air France-KLM. Buy more to pollute less, this is the paradoxical argument used by the group to announce, on the same day, a record order for Airbus A350, the wide-body aircraft from the Toulouse firm. The airline will purchase 50 aircraft which will be delivered between 2026 and 2030. The price could be around 10 billion euros, according to the estimate of Echoes. An option for forty additional devices was also taken.
The environmental and financial argument lies in consumption reduced by 20 to 25%. Its autonomy, greater than that of its Boeing competitors for a greater number of passengers, also played a role. As Ben Smith recalls, the ban on flying over Russian airspace has seriously lengthened routes to Asia. Hence the need for an aircraft capable of traveling up to 16,000 kilometers in one go with 400 passengers on board.
Finally, Airbus conveniently concluded an agreement at the beginning of September with the company to create a joint company dedicated to the maintenance of A350 equipment. For the manufacturer, it is therefore a great victory which will further enrich its busy order book. Historically, Air France and KLM mainly used Boeings for their long-haul flights, 747s, then 777s and 787s. This shift in favor of the European manufacturer should be marked with a milestone. It recognizes the success of the A350, redesigned several times to better compete with the 777. Of course, Ben Smith was quick to point out that he was counting on Boeing to bid for the replacement of its very large fleet of B777s.
Money change
Not putting all your eggs in one basket and not insulting the future seems to be the Air France boss’s approach. He also plans to use this investment as a bargaining chip in a possible consolidation. The press release also specifies that the allocation of these aircraft between its subsidiaries will depend “economic dynamics of the market and the local regulatory framework”. Governments that decide to disadvantage air transport have been warned. Fortunately, this is obviously not the idea of Emmanuel Macron, who was careful on Monday to mention this sensitive sector.
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