Air France Bids Farewell to the A318 - Last Chance to Fly!

Okay, so Air France is retiring their Airbus A318s soon. I just read that they're the only airline still flying these little guys on regular passenger routes. It's kinda sad to see them go. I mean, the A318 is like the baby of the Airbus A320 family, right? They've got a final flight scheduled for early November, so if anyone's looking to get a flight in before these are gone, now's the time.

Honestly, I think it's pretty cool that Air France kept them going this long. Not a lot of airlines stuck with the A318s for passenger flights. I've heard they're not the most fuel-efficient planes, so maybe that's why. Still, it's always a bummer when a plane type disappears from the skies.

Anyone know what routes they're flying before they retire them? Are they doing anything special for the last flight? Also, what do you guys think will replace them? The A320s or something else? Would love to hear your thoughts!

I think they're mostly flying them on short hops around Europe, like Paris to Toulouse or Geneva. Not sure what's planned for the final flight, but these retirements often get a bit of fanfare. As for replacements, I'd bet on the A220s or more A320s. The A220s are pretty efficient and seem to be the go-to for airlines looking to replace older small aircraft. Anyone know if Air France will keep any for charters or are they all going?

I think the A318s were a cool part of the fleet, even if they weren't the most popular. Heard they were called the "baby bus" for a reason! I imagine the A320s will probably take over those routes. They seem to be the go-to workhorse for a lot of airlines. Anyone know if they're planning some special livery or event for the last flight? Would be awesome to see a little celebration for these underappreciated planes before they retire.