Air France Takes Delivery of Its 60th Airbus A220
Air France has marked a key milestone in its fleet renewal program with the induction of its 60th Airbus A220, christened “Mimizan.” The delivery coincides with the fifth anniversary of commercial operations for the aircraft type with the carrier, solidifying its role as the backbone of its short- and medium-haul network.
Five Years of Operations and 60 Aircraft Integrated
On October 31, 2021, an Airbus A220 departed Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport bound for Berlin, marking the inaugural flight of the type for Air France. Five years after the delivery of the lead aircraft—registered as F-HZUA and named “Le Bourget”—the flag carrier took delivery of airframe number 60 this past Friday.
The aircraft, registered as F-HOZJ and bearing the name “Mimizan,” is scheduled to enter revenue service in the coming days. The fleet rollout has progressed at an unprecedented pace in the airline’s history, averaging between 12 and 15 deliveries annually, even during the Covid pandemic.
Operational Network and Inflight Experience: 50 Destinations and 24 Million Passengers
The Airbus A220 operates alongside or in rotation with the Airbus A320 family. Over the past five years, the fleet has posted the following operational milestones across the European and regional network:
- Connectivity: Serving 50 destinations on routes spanning from Nice to Istanbul, and Geneva to Brest.
- Passenger Traffic: Approximately 24 million passengers carried to date.
- Cabin Layout: Configured with 148 seats in a 2-3 five-abreast layout, ensuring that 80% of passengers have either a window or aisle seat.
Inflight Internet and Connectivity Rollout
Regarding connectivity, 85% of the A220 fleet currently in service is equipped with free high-speed Wi-Fi. The remaining airframes are slated for retrofitting by February 2027, while subsequent factory-fresh deliveries—starting from ship 61 onward—will be outfitted post-delivery, ahead of entering commercial service.
Workforce Training and Technical Readiness
The deployment of the A220 program has entailed comprehensive technical training across multiple operational divisions:
- 720 type-rated pilots.
- 1,800 trained cabin crew members.
- 300 licensed aircraft maintenance technicians.
- 460 ground handling personnel qualified for daily ramp and turn operations.
The “Mimizan” Livery and Aviation Heritage
Continuing the Air France tradition of naming aircraft after French towns and cities linked to aviation history or cultural heritage, airframe F-HOZJ carries the name Mimizan.
Located along the Côte d’Argent in the Landes region, this seaside town features an airfield renowned for general aviation and skydiving, home to a center that attracts sport parachutists internationally.
The group allocates approximately €2 billion annually toward fleet modernization. To date, next-generation aircraft account for 39% of the overall group fleet, with a target to increase that share to 80% by 2030.
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