In September 2021, Air France received its first Airbus A220-300. The airline had ordered 60 of the type in December 2019 to replace its 'baby bus' fleet of A318s and A319s and some of its older A320s, to be delivered between 2021 and 2025.
The credentials of the aircraft are well documented. Like the other 30 customers worldwide that have ordered the type, the French flag carrier was attracted by its exceptional operational and maintenance costs, low fuel burn and outstanding environmental impact. Compared to the aircraft they are replacing, the A220 provides a cost reduction of up to 10% per seat. It also consumes 20% less fuel, reduces CO2 emissions by some 20% and has a noise footprint that is 34% lower. The arrival of the A220 is part of a broader decarbonisation strategy by Air France, which aims to reduce its CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre by 30% by 2030, excluding any offsetting measures.
