Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

Air France-KLM has placed a firm order for 60 Airbus A220 narrowbodies in a deal that consummates a memorandum of understanding signed in July, Airbus announced Wednesday. Plans call for the A220s to gradually replace Air France’s Airbus A318s and A319s, of which it now flies 18 and 33 units, respectively. Air France’s medium-haul fleet—excluding regional aircraft—consists of only Airbus aircraft; in addition to the A318 and A319s, it also flies 20 A321s and 43 A320s. In contrast, its Dutch sibling KLM and the group’s low-cost carrier, Transavia, both deploy a Boeing 737 fleet on their medium-haul services.

 


Schedules call for Air France to take delivery of its first A220 in September 2021.

 


“We are glad to see Air France is endorsing the A220 as a great step toward fleet optimization for large network carriers,” said Airbus chief commercial officer Christian Scherer. “The largest A220 order from a European carrier to date speaks volumes on Air France’s ambitious sustainability drive.”

 


The order comes amid a fleet transformation at Air France that will see the retirement of its 10 A380s by 2022. The airline last year approved the removal of three examples, but the Air France-KLM board in July decided to totally exit A380 operations because the competitive environment limits the markets in which the double-deck widebody can profitably operate. The A220 order and the decision to abandon the A380 support Air France-KLM Group's strategy centered on a recent order swap of A350s and Boeing 787s between Air France and KLM.

 


On December 11 Air France-KLM approved an order for 10 Airbus A350-900s as part of a long-haul fleet simplification strategy that will see it replace its A380s. Plans call for the Air France long-haul fleet to consist of 116 aircraft split among only four families: the Airbus A330 and A350 and Boeing 787 and 777. Those airplanes'&nbsp;arrival will also allow the company to accelerate the departure of its Airbus A340s during the first quarter of 2021.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Air France-KLM Converts MOU on 60 Airbus A220s

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News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

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Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

The two NATO allies will purchase seven of the tanker/transport aircraft

Spain and Poland Agree to Buy A330MRTT Tanker Transports

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

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