KLM has formally transferred an order for seven Airbus A350-900s to its SkyTeam and corporate partner Air France.

Airbus’s latest official orders data, covering the period to 31 August, shows that the seven A350s have been removed from the Dutch airline’s backlog.

Air France’s orders for the twinjet have correspondingly risen from 21 to 28.

The French flag-carrier had previously indicated that it would simplify its fleet by swapping the A350s for a batch of six Boeing 787s ordered by KLM.

Air France has nine 787-9s in service with one more still on order, according to Cirium fleet data.

It is set to take delivery of its first A350 in the last week of September.

KLM has 14 787s in its fleet – nine -9s and a single -10 – and it has another 14 787-10s on order.

Source: FlightGlobal.com