Wedoany.com Report on Feb 25th, The Air France-KLM Group is seeking replacement aircraft for its fleet of 59 Boeing 777-300ER wide-body jets, in response to tight production schedules at Airbus and Boeing. Group CEO Ben Smith stated: "In addition to the Boeing 777-9, we are also evaluating the Airbus flagship A350-1000." This decision aims to plan fleet renewal in advance to ensure operational efficiency on future intercontinental routes.
In the Air France-KLM Group's intercontinental fleet, the Boeing 777-300ER plays a key role, with Air France operating 43 and KLM operating 16. The aircraft ages range from 5 to 22 years, with average ages of 17.5 years and 12.1 years respectively. Although some aircraft still have a long service life ahead, Smith emphasized that replacement work should be done "sooner rather than later" to address delivery challenges posed by manufacturer order backlogs.
Smith pointed out that while the group is not in a rush to act immediately, the difficulty for Airbus and Boeing to provide large-volume and rapid deliveries of wide-body aircraft before 2030 compels the Air France-KLM Group to begin evaluating replacements for the 777-300ER now. Currently, the group is adjusting its intercontinental fleet, planning to replace some A330-200 and 777-200 aircraft with A350-900s starting in 2026. To this end, in 2024, it placed an order with Airbus for up to 90 A350s, including 40 options.
In the selection of a replacement for the Boeing 777-300ER, the Airbus A350-1000 has re-entered the candidate list. The initial order included 39 A350-900s and 11 A350-1000s, but the group converted 8 A350-1000s to A350-900s in 2025. Smith stated that the Air France-KLM Group will continue to evaluate both the A350-1000 and the Boeing 777-9 to determine the best replacement solution.
The Air France-KLM Group expects to complete the majority stake acquisition of SAS Scandinavian Airlines in 2026. This Scandinavian carrier is also seeking suitable intercontinental aircraft for future growth. This strategic move will further influence the group's final decision on the 777-300ER replacement.
