What if the A220 didn't just replace the A318/A319 at Air France?

Air France recently announced a major order for Airbus A220s to replace its A318 and A319s. This decision makes sense for both the airline, which will save on operating costs, and for passengers, who will gain in comfort.

What caught our attention was not so much the content of the order as its size! 60 aircrafts plus 30 options, isn’t that a bit much to replace 47 units?

Replacing the A318/A319: an equation that isn’t right

Either Air France has decided to increase its medium-haul network in proportions that make it highly unlikely, or the airline has decided to use A220s to replace A320s and even A321s.

When you look at the capacity of these different aircrafts, it raises questions.

The A318/A319 currently in operation have a capacity ranging from 131 to 143 seats.

The A220 has a capacity of 149 seats, which would be a positive choice with an increase in capacity on a like-for-like basis and a huge growth in supply if the 60 or 90 A220s were to replace only the “small” Airbus.

If we look at the A320s currently in operation, they have a capacity of up to 178 seats, 212 for the A321.

If, depending on the order, the excess 13 or even 47 A220s were to replace part of the 43 A320s or 20 A321s (you see how strangely the figures are “almost right”), this would mean a drastic downsizing of the medium-haul offer. This may be the only way to regain profitability given the airline’s cost structure, but it also entails a risk: that of not being able to bounce back after a policy of attrition and remaining a regional player at a time when everything suggests that the market will enter a phase of consolidation

Hope for a longer version of the A220

Airbus has announced for next year a version of the 220 with an increased maximum take-off weight that will allow a longer range but without an increase in capacity. Air France seems to be more interested in a longer, higher-capacity version of the aircraft, which the airline could direct some of its orders towards… if it ever sees the light of day.

Airbus prefers to “secure” the production of aircraft on order before embarking (if this should happen) on the design of a new version.

If the latter were to arrive within a reasonable timeframe, we can still believe that if the A220 replaces the A320, this would not be at the expense of capacity.

Otherwise, the airline’s medium-haul network will suffer from attrition.

Photo : Air France A318 By Natali Glado via Shutterstock