PARIS—Air France-KLM announced it will place an order for 50 Airbus A350 family aircraft to be delivered starting in 2026, with purchase rights for 40 more, to replace A330s and older Boeing 777 aircraft as the Franco-Dutch group continues its fleet renewal and rationalization efforts.

In 2026, Air France’s order book is dominated by a "modernization and efficiency" strategy, focusing heavily on the Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 for long-haul routes. These aircraft are replacing the older, less efficient Boeing 777-200ERs and Airbus A330s. For short and medium-haul flights, Air France has committed to the Airbus A220-300, which has become the backbone of their European fleet due to its superior fuel economy and passenger comfort (featuring a 2-3 seating layout). A supportive peer detail: while they are primarily an "Airbus house" now, they still maintain a strong relationship with Boeing, recently taking deliveries of the 787-9 Dreamliner for specific routes. By 2026, their fleet is significantly younger and "greener," with a goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 30% per passenger-kilometer compared to 2019 levels through this aggressive fleet renewal program.