https://simpleflying.com/air-france-a220-stretch/
Air France Would Be Interested In A Larger Airbus A220 Stretch
by
Chris Loh
August 6, 2019
We recently found out that the head of Air France-KLM, Ben Smith, would be
interested in a stretch version of the Airbus A220. The remarks were made
during a financial results briefing on July 31st where Smith said the recent
deal gives Air France some “flexibility”. These remarks relate specifically
to the A220’s role in re-invigorating French-based short- and medium-haul
travel.
“Making domestic France profitable is a huge effort, [but] is something that
we must address…But all these pieces are interlinked.” -Ben Smith, AF-KLM
CEO
According to FlightGlobal, Air France is in the middle of a “big study” to
overhaul the airline’s domestic operations. One of the outcomes of this
study, apparently, is that if Airbus develops a larger version of the A220,
then the airline would be interested in switching to this variant, so says
Smith.
The Airbus A220 is described by Smith as a “great tool” for restructuring
Air France’s short- and medium-haul operations – especially the domestic
network.
Featured Video:
Ben Smith is the CEO of the Air France-KLM Group and is a former executive at
Air Canada. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Restructuring regional and domestic operations
The FlightGlobal article also notes that Air France needs to restructure its
regional operation HOP!, and at the same time expand the network role of its
budget subsidiary Transavia. Furthermore, domestic shuttle flights from Paris
Orly need to be optimized. Smith notes that optimization and
operations-enhancement must happen at Orly because so few slots are available
there.
We wrote about HOP! retiring and phasing out its ATR aircraft earlier this
year. Maxime Patula, Air France Digital Communications and Press relations,
tells Simple Flying that all ATRs will be phased out by the end of 2020: “
This is part of the plan to rationalize the fleet,” he reports.
All HOP! ATRs will be phased out by the end of 2020, according to Air France.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The order
Announced at the end of last month, Air France has ordered up to 120
A220-300s. This comes in the form of 60 orders, as well as 30 options and 30
purchase rights. The A220, formerly the Bombardier CSeries, is available in
the smaller -100 version and the larger -300. These two variants can
accommodate as many as 135 and 160 passengers respectively.
In fact, before the program was acquired by Airbus, Bombardier had studied
potential larger versions of the narrowbody twinjet. The Canadian airframer’
s commercial aircraft president Fred Cromer had spoken to FlightGlobal three
years ago, saying the aircraft’s existing wing would indeed be capable of
supporting a larger derivative. Simple Flying has made some speculations on
this too.
In May, Airbus disclosed that the aircraft would have a maximum take-off
weight increase. This would be available as an option from 2020 to boost
range.
Conclusion
As we wrote in our speculation piece, Airbus has made it clear that they don’
t intend to build any new variants, and nothing would be announced in the
next 12-months (from July 2019). This is because they first need to ensure
that the production of the original 500 A220s goes as smoothly as possible.
“In the next 12 months, Airbus will not launch the A220-500. Before
embarking on expansion projects of the A220 family, Airbus must first solve
its productivity problems.” – 2019 Paris Air Show, Airbus Statement
So, then, do you think Airbus will be making an announcement next summer? At
the 2020 Farnborough Airshow perhaps? Let us know what you think by leaving a
comment!
剛下訂60+60 A220的法航CEO表示對加長版的A220非常有興趣
希望能夠有此一選項
根據之前龐巴迪對C系列的說法 的確還可以再加長
繼續魔改下去吧...