Air France-KLM Orders A350-900 Airbus Planes for their Fleet

Air France-KLM has placed a firm order for ten additional widebody A350-900s with Airbus. The move will take its total order for the aircraft type to 38 planes. The A350s are intended to be operated by Air France.

The news broke as Airbus announced the acquisition of industrial automation company MTM Robotics for an undisclosed sum. The move deepens Airbus’ commitment to expanding advanced robotics capabilities within its manufacturing processes.

The MTM business will retain its current leadership and 40-person staff, as well as its facility in Mukilteo, Washington, near Seattle.

The acquisition is the latest chapter in a trusted, ten-year-plus relationship between the companies, with multiple MTM light automated robotics systems currently in use at Airbus manufacturing facilities.

While MTM will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Airbus Americas, headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, it will continue to serve other customers in the aerospace industry.

Since 2003, MTM has deployed more than 40 aerospace manufacturing systems comprised of machines, tools, machine software, enterprise software and support throughout the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.