As part of its decarbonization and move upmarket strategy, Air France has reached a new milestone in its ambitious fleet renewal program with the delivery of its 50th Airbus A220, named “Valbonne”, and its 40th Airbus A350, named “Noirmoutier-en-L’Île”.

Every year, Air France invests more than one billion euros in renewing its fleet and receives nearly two new aircraft per month – a pace unprecedented in the airline’s history.

A 50th Airbus A220 for Air France: “Valbonne” Joins the Fleet

Delivered on November 7, the Airbus A220 named “Valbonne” and registered F-HPNZ entered commercial service on November 17 with an inaugural flight to London Heathrow.

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The Airbus A220 is the cornerstone of Air France’s short- and medium-haul fleet renewal. This 50th aircraft is the 9th Airbus A220 delivered since the start of the year, and three additional aircraft are expected by the end of 2025.

The Airbus A220 stands out for its environmental performance: it emits 20% less CO₂ than previous-generation aircraft, and its noise footprint is also reduced by 34%. With its five-abreast cabin layout, 80% of customers enjoy either a window or an aisle seat – a feature that customers especially appreciate.

A 40th Airbus A350 for the Long-Haul Fleet: “Noirmoutier-en-L’Île”

The new Airbus A350, named “Noirmoutier-en-L’Île” and registered F-HUVT, was delivered on November 20. It will enter the airline’s long-haul operations in the coming days.

A total of 40 Airbus A350s are now in service, including 5 delivered since the beginning of the year. One additional delivery is planned by the end of 2025.

The Airbus A350 offers a 25% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared with previous-generation aircraft. In addition, its noise footprint is reduced by 40%.

Showcasing French Regions: A Reaffirmed Tradition

Proud to carry the colors of France around the world, Air France pays tribute to regions across mainland and overseas France by naming its aircraft after cities with a special connection to aviation or French cultural heritage.

This tradition—borrowed from the maritime world and established in the 1930s—has evolved over the decades. Provinces, adjectives, constellations, birds and castles have all inspired aircraft names up until the 1970s.

In 2019, Air France revived this practice, choosing exclusively city names to symbolize its commitment to connecting territories and promoting France worldwide. Today, 176 cities are represented across the Air France fleet, including recent additions such as “Nîmes” and “Colmar” on Airbus A350s, or “Mâcon” and “Thonon-les-Bains” on Airbus A220s.

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Fleet Renewal: A Key Lever for Decarbonization

Air France is fully committed to reducing its carbon footprint and is activating all available levers to decarbonize its operations.

At the heart of this strategy, fleet renewal is the primary driver of immediate reductions in both CO₂ emissions and noise. Air France invests over €1 billion each year in this transition – a significant and unprecedented effort in the airline’s history.

These major investments fully support the Air France-KLM Group’s ambition to have up to 80% next-generation aircraft by 2030. Today, the rate stands at 34%, illustrating the very rapid pace of the fleet renewal currently underway.

Source: Air France