Air France this morning took delivery of its first Airbus A380, the first European carrier to receive the type.

The aircraft has the highest-density seating arrangement so far selected with 538 seats in three classes.

Registered F-HPJA, the aircraft will make the short delivery flight to Air France’s base at Paris Charles de Gaulle today before entering commercial service, on the route to New York JFK, on 23 November.

The famous French “barcode” era is coming to a close after 33 years in service on the tails of the Air France fleet. Aerocontact.com, a French aviation website, reports that the Paris-based airline will unveil a new livery for its aircraft (French) in the next few days. The redesign coincides with the airline’s 75th anniversary this year and there’s speculation that the first A380 (seen here) will be among the first to carry the new look. The last time Air France changed its livery, it was introducing the Concorde.

Air France A380 Livery

Air France-KLM will wholly-own Dutch carrier Martinair by the end of this year after securing long-awaited clearance for the takeover from the European Commission.

KLM has held a 50% share of Martinair for several years but attempts to acquire the outstanding balance have failed to receive regulatory approval.

But the European Commission, which opened an inquiry into the renewed takeover bid in September, has finally permitted KLM to complete the acquisition.

KLM is acquiring the Martinair shareholding from AP Moller-Maersk Group. The transaction will be effective from 31 December.

“With the European Commission approval, economies of scale and synergies become available,” says KLM chief Peter Hartman. “Plans for the future of Martinair within the group will be developed in the coming period.”