A380 OUT, A220 IN AT AIR FRANCE

AIR FRANCE ANNOUNCED THAT it will retire its ten A380s by 2022, earlier than previously expected. It said that refurbishing and maintaining each aircraft would prove too costly, and that it “consumes 20-25 per cent more fuel per seat than new generation long-haul aircraft”. Airbus will cease manufacturing the superjumbo in 2021. The French flag carrier also placed an order for at least 60 Airbus A220s (formerly Bombardier’s C Series), which will replace its A318s and A319s on short- and medium-haul routes.