Luxembourg, 24/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) is showing its support for the French aeronautics sector by backing capital projects mounted by Société Air France SA and the national public entity Aéroports de Paris (ADP).
The EIB has undertaken to support Air France's planned acquisition of 15 Airbus A-318 aircraft to the tune of EUR 100 million. The new aircraft will be used on the airline's French and European routes. They will enable Air France to guarantee optimal transport capacity to meet customer requirements and continue modernising and streamlining its medium-haul fleet organised around the A320 Airbus family (A-318, A-319, A-320 and A-321). With this operation, the EIB is reaffirming its backing for Air France's modernisation programme since it previously contributed towards financing the first phase of the company's medium-haul fleet renewal plan between 1999 and 2002.
The EIB has also advanced a loan of EUR 100 million for the construction and activation, by end-2007, of an Automated Passenger Transport System for internal service at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport. ADP's project comprises two separate electric, driverless light rail lines: one connecting CDG1 to CDG2 with 5 stations, and the other linking module E of Terminal 2 to future satellite S3 with 2 stations. The trains, composed of 2 tyred vehicles running automatically on a metal track, will operate 24 hours a day and will be free of charge for passengers. The Automated Passenger Transport System will replace the shuttle bus system offering substantial benefits to travellers and employees in terms of frequency of service, comfort, journey times and accessibility for persons with reduced mobility. It will also contribute to reducing polluting atmospheric emissions within the airport.