Air France unveils new Airbus A380

Air France’s first Airbus A380 has just been painted with the airline’s new livery in Hamburg. This aircraft will start operating a daily Paris Charles de Gaulle to New York JFK route in November 2009.

Air France is the first European airline to offer its customers the comfort of the Airbus A380, and the first airline to offer transatlantic flights between Europe and America on this new very wide-bodied aircraft.

On board the A380, there will be three cabin classes and a total of 538 passengers:
80 seats in the Affaires cabin and 106 in Voyageur (economy) on the upper deck, 9 in the Première cabin and 343 in Voyageur on the main deck.

Equipped with four GP7200 engines specially designed by Engine Alliance, the Air France A380 will carry 538 passengers over a maximum distance of 13,000 kms. Among the new-generation aircraft, the A380 has one of the lowest fuel consumption rates per passenger.

“The A380, particularly well-suited to the current economic context, will enable Air France to offer its customers an even better quality of service whilst at the same time limiting costs. This aircraft is also in line with Air France’s aim to reduce its carbon emissions. We are looking forward to welcoming the A380 into our fleet”, stated Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, CEO of Air France.

Air France has 12 Airbus A380s on order, four of which will start operating in winter 2009 and spring 2010.