Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have made a $2.7bn order for 16 Boeing aircraft, marking their first aeroplane acquisition as a group.
The Paris and Amsterdam-based group ordered nine 777-300ERs and seven Next Generation 737-700 from Boeing at list price.
KLM will acquire more Boeing Next Generation aircraft to replace its Boeing 737 Classics and to expand its European short-haul operations. It also has the option for another seven 737-700s.
‘KLM is enhancing its competitive position in Europe by making the Boeing 737 Next Generation the backbone of our short-haul fleet,’ said Peter Harman, president and CEO of KLM.
The acquisition of 777-300ERs will join Air France’s existing fleet of 46 777s, and Air France also has an option for another seven 777-300ERs.
The Air France-KLM group claim that the new aircraft order will help it be more eco-friendly. The Next Generation 737 aircraft will be equipped with blended winglets, which KLM says will reduce CO2 emissions by reducing fuel burn by three per cent, and the 777-300ER is said to reduce fuel consumption by more than 20 per cent per seat.
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