Fleet renewal is the most effective tool airlines have for limiting noise and emissions.  Air transport has already achieved major progress in this area in the past.

It is true that engine manufacturers have also made significant progress in this field.

Energy and therefore environmental performances compared to  aircraft that are hardly any older are vastly improved.

On the strength of its healthy financial situation, Air France has continuously invested in new aircraft.  In 2007 alone, 14 new aircraft joined the fleet with 12 older versions withdrawn from service. Today the average age of the Air France long-haul fleet is 7 years, which is significantly younger than the world average of 11.4 years (source : IATA 2005).

During the past five years, 85 new aircraft joined the Air France fleet and 76 were withdrawn, representing an investment of 4 billion dollars.