The delivery of the first six Airbus A350-900 by the end of the year and in 2020 will revolutionise passenger comfort and deliver significant cost savings, particularly in terms of fuel consumption, explained Benjamin Smith and Anne Rigailrespectively CEO of Air France KLM and CEO of Air France, on the Air France website.Airbus à Toulouse.
" Renewing our fleet with the Airbus A350-900 and the Airbus A220 is also the first step in reducing our CO2 footprint, describes Anne Rigail. Reducing this footprint is at the heart of our strategy ".
The Airbus A350-900 will bring a number of benefits to the Group in this area, including paraffin consumption reduced by 25% 2.5 litres/100 km, compared with an average of 3.3 litres for the fleet as a whole. " Our Premium Economy seats are also lighter, to reduce the weight of the aircraft, while thenoise impact is reduced by 40% compared to similar sized devices "says Anne Rigail.
Air France's CEO is now keen to develop the use of biofuel, hoping that it can be produced in France. " We are working to use it more, but its very high cost - two to three times more expensive than paraffin - would jeopardise our business model. We hope that the government will find a solution" she says.
For passengers, it will be cabin comfort that will make all the difference. The Airbus A350-900 will be equipped with three classes with 34 seats in business class and one row configured as 1-2-1, 24 seats in Premium Economy with a 2-4-2 configuration and 266 seats in economy class in a 3-3-3 configuration. The new Premium Economy seats are designed by Recaro and will offer improved inclination, a priority request from passengers. Other highlights include wider 30% windows, the wifi in all classrooms including a free messaging service, high-definition video screens and cabin air renewal every two to three minutes. " The excellence of the Air France product is essential because of the high level of competition that existsBenjamin Smith insists.
On which routes will Air France put the Airbus A350 into service? " All our long-haul routes will eventually be served. Rather than opening new routes, we are thinking more in terms of increase our frequencies. We already serve 90% high-traffic routes around the world. We still need Sydney but we do not envisage it being served in the short term "says the CEO of Air France-KLM.
The Airbus A350 will therefore enter service on Abidjan and Bamako followed by Toronto, Cairo and Seoul with the delivery of the third aircraft. According to Benjamin Smith, Bangkok is likely to be the next destination in early 2020.
I don't see the advantage for the group of integrating a long-haul low-cost model.
L'fleet standardisation with Airbus is a major advantage for Air France if it is to survive in a European market that Benjamin Smith describes as difficult. " Competition is strong and Air France remains vulnerable due to the high wage costs and fares charged by Paris airports. In addition, on domestic routes, we have to face up to both low-cost competition and the TGV "says Benjamin Smith. This also explains the Group's cautious approach to the acquisition ofAigle Azur or XL Airways... The social environment and the integration of staff from the two companies could jeopardise the current social peace. " Soothing our social relations has been and remains our top priority "says Benjamin Smith, who hastens to point out that the company has no plans for the future. no intention of taking over XL Airways. " We already have a leisure product with high-density configured aircraft in the French overseas departments. I don't see the advantage for the Group of integrating a long-haul low-cost model. "he adds.
Against this backdrop, the two CEOs unveiled the network guidelines for 2020. " We still have strong demand in North America, in partnership with Delta in our joint venture. We will also strengthen services to Brazil which seems to be emerging from the crisis. On the other hand, the China is becoming a difficult market due to competition and a negative impact with Hong Kong "revealed Benjamin Smith.
