An aircraft which is well adapted to the Air France strategy

With the A380, Air France has an aircraft which enables it to continue improving service offered to customers while being more economically efficient.

A superjumbo adapted to the powerful hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle

Two aircraft in one

In November 2009, Air France was the first European airline to start operating the A380. This aircraft, operated by Air France since November 2009, offers seat capacity equivalent to that of a Boeing 777-200ER and an Airbus A340 put together, but with 20% lower operating costs. The main deck of the aircraft represents the equivalent of a Boeing 777-200ER and the upper deck that of an Airbus A340-300. Air France, on its most popular routes, can therefore rationalize its frequencies, by replacing two flights leaving within a short time of each other by just one flight, while offering the same number of seats. For example, between Paris and New York, a flight by A380 leaving at 13:35 has replaced two flights operated by an A340 and a 777-200, leaving at 10:30 and 13:35.

An aircraft adapted to the Paris-CDG hub

The capacity of the A380 is perfectly suited to the powerful hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Europe’s most powerful hub with more than 25,000 connecting opportunities every week. The size and performance of the A380 are particularly well adapted to the Air France network and enable the airline to save between 12 and 15 million euros per aircraft per year.

A more environmentally friendly aircraft + noise reduction

Less gas emissions

With less than 75 grammes of CO2 produced per passenger per kilometre, the A380 is one of the most environmentally friendly aircraft in the world. By consuming less fuel, the A380 also emits less CO2 per passenger than any other aircraft. Moreover, thanks to its Engine Alliance GP 7200 new generation engines, the A380 meets all the latest international standards. Indeed, compared to the standards of the environment protection committee at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), this superjumbo has a margin of 40% for nitrogen oxide (NOx) and over 80% for hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO).  

The quietest aircraft in its category

The A380 incorporates the most advanced technologies in terms of noise reduction. Through its aerodynamic profile and thanks to the performance of its engines, the A380 emits half the noise of a Boeing 747-400 on takeoff. The A380 meets the most rigorous noise standards, with a cumulative noise margin of 17.5 Decibel relative to the limits of Chapter IV of the ICAO, the most demanding standard in terms of sound quality for new aircraft. This high margin enables the A380 to be in line with the noise reduction objectives required by the ICAO and the European Commission (ACARE project) by 2020.

A considerable reduction in operating costs

20% less fuel consumed than the A330

Thanks to significant technological innovations reducing its mass and improving its aerodynamic efficiency, the A380 consumes less than three litres per 100 km per passenger. This represents a 20% reduction in fuel consumption per passenger compared to the A330.

Reduced maintenance costs of 20 to 25%

Innovations in materials forming the fuselage of the aircraft also have the advantage of reducing by 20 to 25% the cost of maintenance and repairs, which together account for 15 to 20% of direct operating costs of the aircraft.