Air France receives its first A350 XWB
Air France has taken delivery of its first A350-900 out of a total order of 28, which was handed over to Anne Rigail, Air France Chief Executive Officer and Benjamin Smith, Air France-KLM Group Chief Executive Officer, by Airbus Chief Commercial Officer Christian Scherer during a ceremony held in Toulouse, France.
Above:
Dominic Horwood, Chief Commercial Officer, Rolls Royce; Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer, Airbus; Benjamin Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Air France-KLM Group; Anne Marie Couderc, Board chairwoman Air France-KLM Group; Jean Luc Moudenc, Maire de Toulouse; Anne Rigail, Chief Executive Officer, Air France.
Air France will deploy the A350-900 fleet on its transatlantic and Asia routes. The Xtra WideBody aircraft features a comfortable three class layout with 324 seats including 34 full-flat business, 24 premium economy and 266 economy class seats. Fully in line with Air France’s commitment to the environment, the all-new A350-900 will provide a 25% reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions. Additionally, the aircraft’s delivery flight from Toulouse to Paris will be powered with a blend of conventional and synthetic biofuel.
Air France operates an Airbus fleet of 143 aircraft. It includes 114 single-aisle and 29 wide-body planes. The airline recently opted to purchase Airbus’ newest aircraft family member, the A220, which will join the fleet over the next years.
Above: Dominic Horwood, Chief Commercial Officer, Rolls Royce; Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer, Airbus; Benjamin Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Air France-KLM Group; Anne Marie Couderc, Board chairwoman Air France-KLM Group; Jean Luc Moudenc, Maire de Toulouse; Anne Rigail, Chief Executive Officer, Air France.
The A350 XWB features the latest aerodynamic design, a carbon fibre fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Trent XWB Rolls-Royce engines, delivering significantt reductions in fuel burn and CO2 emissions.