“This sale is in line with the current slump within the global air cargo industry,†the carrier said. The sale of the freighters, which have yet to be delivered by Boeing, will not affect the cargo operations of the group, it said.
Air France Cargo currently operates five aircraft – two 777-200 extended range freighters and three 747-400 extended range freighters. It has leased two 747-400s to Russian carrier AirBridgeCargo and a third is due to be chartered out in March.
Air France-KLM owns Europe’s largest all-cargo fleet of 29 freighters but has moved to significantly reduce its exposure to the sector by transferring a number of freighters to its Amsterdam-based subsidiary Martinair.
The carrier group, which has grounded 11 freighters, wants to optimise the use of bellyhold capacity on its passenger aircraft and its combi aircraft.