Air France retires A340s, defers A350s, studies A380s

Air France (AF, Paris CDG) has retired its two remaining A340-300s and is "studying" the future of its six A380-800s, the Chief Executive of parent holding Air France-KLM said during a quarterly earnings call.

"We have decided on the early phase-out of the Boeing B747-400s at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL, Amsterdam Schiphol) and Airbus A340s at Air France and the retirement of the remaining Airbus A380s at Air France is also under study... The [A340s and B747s] are all lined up to retire with major engine and airframe overhaul events, which are very expensive in terms of capital expenditure. So we've pushed these airplanes pretty much to their limit. Of course, they can fly longer, but the ability to do so will require a significant increase in CapEx," Ben Smith said.

Air France's last two A340-300s have been stored at Paris CDG since March 18 and 22, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows. The aircraft, previously operated by the short-lived low-cost brand Joon, are 21.5 and 22.5 years old and have accumulated 90,639 flight hours/11,814 flight cycles and 95,408 hours/13,000 cycles, respectively, through the end of January 2020, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows. Both aircraft are owned by Air France.

Due to increased cargo demand, KLM continues to operate three B747-400(M) combis. However, it has no plans at present to convert them into dedicated freighters given the high level of technological complexity needed to do so, Smith added.

Air France has also deferred the delivery of three A350-900s from 2020 to 2021 as a part of its cost-cutting measures implemented in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The Group has revised its capital expenditure plan 2020 by EUR1.2 billion euros (USD1.3 billion) to EUR2.4 billion (USD2.6 billion) compared to EUR3.6 billion (USD3.9 billion) in the previous guidance, of which EUR0.9 billion (USD1 billion) was already engaged. This includes the deferral of three Airbus A350s to 2021 and the remaining fleet deliveries in 2020 are expected to be primarily engaged under financing arrangements," the holding said in its quarterly report.

According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, Air France already operates four A350-900s and has a further 34 on firm order. Following the group's wide-body fleet realignment, KLM is no longer planning to take any A350s.

Smith suggested that the fleet adjustments announced so far would not be the end of cuts.

"We will reassess new fleet orders in view of the new market reality as well as the group's future investment capacity. This will all be integrated into our restructuring plan," he underlined.

In 2021, the airline plans to operate 20% of capacity less than in 2019 with "further flexibility".

The group's confirmed order backlog includes two B777-300(ER)s for KLM, sixty A220-300s, and thirty-four A350-900s for Air France, and one B787-9 and nine B787-10s assigned to the parent holding but due to join KLM's fleet. KLM cityhopper (WA, Amsterdam Schiphol) is also due to take twenty-one E195-E2s from lessors.

ch aviation