"Air France splits order between Airbus and Boeing
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July 7, 2011

Joint venture partner Air France-KLM will split an order for about 100 widebody planes between Airbus and the Boeing Co., the company said.

The decision was announced Wednesday by Chief Executive Officer Pierre Henri Gourgeon in a closed-door hearing at the French national assembly’s commission for sustainable development.

Air France had previously said the order would probably be split, however, more than 180 of 577 French deputies signed a petition pressing Air France to favor French manufacturer Airbus, according to Bloomberg.

Air France operates a fleet of A320s on routes within France and to some European countries, but relies heavily on the Boeing 777 on long-haul flights, the report said.

Airbus and Boeing are each in the process of manufacturing newer long-haul jumbo jets. Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner is scheduled to begin commercial flights soon, while Airbus’s A350 will begin service in 2013, the article said.

Air France is not the first airline to purchase both planes."



Somehow I see no prayer of us ordering a bunch of widebodies like this. Is AF doing something we are not, or are they just more in need of fleet renewal?