Air France 2008 Annual Report Download - page 24

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24
Strategy
A modern, rationalized fleet
combining comfort
and energy efficiency
At March 31, 2008, the Air France-KLM Group fleet
comprised 622 aircraft, of which 607 were operational
(591 and 569 at March 31, 2007). The main fleet
consisted of 408 aircraft, of which 159 long-haul, 16
cargo and 233 medium-haul aircraft including 33 aircraft
in the transavia.com fleet. The regional fleet comprised
214 aircraft.
A pro-active fleet policy
The Air France-KLM Group seeks to meet the needs of its
markets while respecting technological consistency and
reducing its impact on the environment. Its fleet plan aims
to met the requirement for fleet renewal and expansion while
remaining compatible with the Group’s financial capacity.
The fleet plan must also preserve the asset value of the
fleet over the medium and long term and while retaining
an adequate level of flexibility.
The analysis of requirements, whether in terms of renewal
or expansion, is based on the age curve of the aircraft, the
availability of replacement aircraft and the outlook in each
market. This pro-active management of the fleet with,
particularly, a common approach to suppliers and a
transfer of aircraft between Group subsidiaries, generated
synergies of around 2 million during the financial year,
bringing the total since the merger of the two companies
to nearly 10 million.
Flexibility as an optimization tool
In a sector which is subject to considerable and rapid
change, flexibility enables capacity to be fine-tuned to
demand. Hence a third of the fleet is under operating
lease, enabling the restitution or prolonged operation of an
aircraft depending on requirements. The Group also
includes clauses in its contracts enabling the adjustment
of delivery schedules and possible changes in model
within a family of aircraft.
New more efficient aircraft with enhanced
environmental performance
Air France and KLM continue to invest in their fleets. In
May 2007, Air France decided to renew its Boeing B747-
400s and another section of the medium-haul fleet.
Eighteen Boeing B747-400s, of which thirteen passenger
and five cargo aircraft, will be replaced by eighteen B777s
between 2007 and 2013. This investment will increase the
fuel efficiency of the long-haul fleet whose consumption
per passenger over 100 kilometers will be reduced from
3.88 currently to 3.44 liters in 2012. The replacement of
the B747-400s will reduce the CO2emissions of this sub-
fleet by between 23% and 28% on 2006 levels by 2012.
In the medium-haul fleet, the 30 longest-serving Airbus
A320s will be replaced by 30 A320 and A321 new-
generation aircraft, reducing fuel consumption and carbon