Air France-KLM splits widebody order

Air France-KLM announced (16-Sep-2011) plans to place a firm order for 25 A350 aircraft, with 35 options, to be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, and 25 B787-9s, with 25 options. Engine types for the B787s were not announced. The company said it will "shortly" firm up the orders, which is expected by year-end, the group said. The deal (firm order) is worth around USD12 billion at list prices (Reuters/Bloomberg, 19-Sep-2011), with the Airbus order worth USD6.7 billion and the Boeing order USD5.5 billion. "The acquisitions are scaled to a size that can be financed through cash flow generated from group operations," Air France-KLM said.

Delivery of the B787s will commence in 2016 and the delivery of the A350s will commence in 2018. Air France-KLM had 121 Airbus and 48 Boeing aircraft in its fleet as at 30-Jun-2011. The order is part of plans to streamline and modernise its fleet. The retirement of Air France's final 10 B747s and 10 KLM MD-11s has been pushed back to 2016 from 2012. [more - original PR - Air France-KLM] [more - original PR - Airbus] [more - original PR - Boeing]