French flag-carrier Air France has taken delivery of its 10th Airbus A350-900, named after a small French town famous for its tapestries and carpets.
The aircraft, registration F-HTYK, rolled off the Airbus assembly line in Toulouse and took off for Paris-Charles de Gaulle on Friday, where it will operate on the airline’s long-haul routes.
The front of the fuselage bears the name ‘Aubusson’, named after the town in the Creuse region of France, whose tapestries are famous throughout the world.
Since 2019 and the delivery of the first Airbus A350, Air France has resumed the tradition of naming its aircraft after French cities. Aubusson is the 46th city to be honoured in this way.
In a few days’ time, ‘Aubusson’ will be joined at Paris-Charles de Gaulle by ‘Cannes’, Air France’s 11th Airbus A350.
Thanks to the Airbus A350-900’s eco-friendly technology, Air France aims to reduce its carbon footprint in line with its HORIZON 2030 commitments.
The latest-generation A350 consumes 25 per cent less fuel than previous-generation aircraft thanks in particular to the use of 67 per cent lighter materials: 53 per cent composites and 14 per cent titanium. Its noise footprint is also reduced by 40 per cent.
Between now and 2025, Air France will take delivery of 38 Airbus A350s to modernize its long-haul fleet.
The renewal of the short and medium-haul fleet will begin in September, with the delivery of the first of the 60 Airbus A220s ordered by the French flag carrier.
The news comes as Air France begins the rollout of its trial for the IATA Travel Pass, a digital health information app, on flights from New York-JFK and Barcelona-BCN to Paris-Charles de Gaulle.
Through the trial period, the airline seeks to offer its passengers an improved customer experience by streamlining the verification of COVID-19 test results.
Article courtesy of Airlinerwatch.
