With capacity currently representing less than 5% of its usual operations, the airline is maintaining a minimum flight schedule justified by the latest customer repatriations and the need to maintain links with the French Overseas Departments and Territories.

Among the destinations served are 3 in mainland France (Toulouse, Marseille and Nice), some fifteen European cities and some twenty countries around the world. To date, more than 270,000 people, including 155,000 French nationals, have been repatriated.

These services make essential journeys possible, whether for medical or family reasons. They also allow the transport of cargo, such as medical equipment or food. Air France’s Cargo activity is playing an essential part in the airlift between France and China, in particular by operating B777 aircraft usually reserved for passenger transport. Thanks to these cabin conversions, the airline has increased its cargo capacity by 50%, enabling millions of masks, medical equipment and other goods to be flown to France.

Amel Hammouda, EVP Transformation & Network, said “We are continuing to adapt our network in real time to comply with international authorisations, but our role has always been and remains today more than ever the link between nations and people. We strive on a daily basis to make essential travel possible, while of course respecting our flight safety requirements and environmental responsibility”.

Pending the precise terms of the relaxed lockdown measures by the French government, Air France is preparing to resume its operations, starting with an increase in capacity on domestic flights. The flight schedule will then be gradually enhanced for the 2020 summer season. However, business will remain highly dependent on the opening of borders and customer bookings.

In this context, Air France teams remain mobilized to welcome all customers on board its aircraft as soon as possible and in complete safety.

These flights, which will be operated by Air France and Transavia as from April 2020, will create even stronger ties between France and Algeria.

Air France – up to 31 new weekly flights to Algeria 

Air France will launch 5 new routes to Algiers and Oran –

–           Paris Orly-Algiers: up to 14 weekly flights all year-round as from 4 April 2020
–           Marseille-Algiers: up to 7 weekly flights all year-round as from 4 April 2020
–           Toulouse-Algiers: up to 4 weekly flights all year-round as from 4 April 2020
–           Toulouse-Oran: up to 4 weekly flights all year-round as from 4 April 2020
–           Nice-Algiers: up to 2 weekly flights from 14 July to 27 August 2020

Moreover, the seat capacity between Paris and Algiers will be doubled with a total of 49 weekly flights departing from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly, opening up access to Air France’s vast medium and long-haul network.

The flights will be operated by Airbus A318 and A320 equipped with 131 and 178 seats respectively. These flights can be booked as from 24 February 2020 at airfrance.com, by calling 3654 and with travel agents. 

Transavia – 445,000 seats between France and Algeria in summer 2020

For the 2020 summer season, Transvia will also launch 12 routes to 6 destinations –

–           Paris Orly-Algiers: 14 weekly flights as from 4 April 2020
–           Paris Orly-Bejaia: 3 weekly flights (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) as from 4 April 2020
–           Paris Orly-Constantine: 3 weekly flights (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday) as from 4 April 2020
–           Paris Orly-Oran: 6 weekly flights (Monday to Saturday) as from 4 April 2020
–           Paris Orly-Setif: 2 weekly flights (Tuesday, Friday) as from 4 April 2020
–           Paris Orly-Tlemcen: 2 weekly flights (Wednesday, Saturday) as from 11 April 2020
–           Lyon-Bejaia: 1 weekly flight (Wednesday) as from 22 April 2020
–           Lyon-Constantine: 1 weekly flight (Sunday) as from 26 April 2020
–           Lyon-Oran: 2 weekly flights (Tuesday, Saturday) as from 21 April 2020
–           Montpellier-Algiers: 2 weekly flights (Wednesday, Saturday) as from 8 July 2020
–           Montpellier-Constantine: 2 weekly flights (Tuesday, Saturday) as from 11 July 2020
–           Montpellier-Oran: 2 weekly flights (Monday, Friday) as from 6 July 2020

Transavia will also triple its frequencies between Lyon and Algiers, with 6 weekly flights.

This offer is in addition to the flights operated since 2019 on departure from Nantes to Algiers and Oran. In total, Transavia will offer 445,000 seats between France and Algeria in summer 2020.

Flights will be operated by Boeing 737-800 equipped with 189 seats and tickets will go on sale on 19 February 2020 on transavia.com.

This flight schedule and associated rights are subject to approval by the Algerian civil aviation authority.

With this move upmarket, Business class customers with a connection on a long, medium or short-haul flight to or from the French regions will now enjoy seamless Business class service at no extra cost throughout their trip. 

This new service can be booked at airfrance.com or on the Air France App and is valid for travel as from 4 February 2020.

Air France is the only airline to offer a Business class service in France.

A tailor-made Business cabin

For travel within France, there is three types of fare:

• Business Leisure: non-refundable ticket, modifiable for a fee of €70;
• Business Flex: refundable ticket, modifiable at no extra cost;
• Business Abonné: refundable ticket, modifiable at no extra cost, including an option to take an earlier or later flight.

Each booking class has just one fare and the same conditions. Also, the purchase of an upgrade from the Economy cabin to the Business cabin will be available at the opening of flight check-in, 30 hours before departure.

Attentive service before the flight

Air France Business customers will benefit from special services such as SkyPriority channels at the airports which offer this service:

• Dedicated check-in and baggage drop-off
• Priority lines at security checkpoint and passport control
• Priority boarding
• Priority at transfer desks during connections
• Priority baggage delivery

Away from the hustle and bustle of the airport, customers also benefit from access to the Air France lounges where they can enjoy something to eat, work, rest or ask for information. The lounges for short-haul flights are available at Paris-Charles de Gaulle (terminals F and G), Paris-Orly 1, Bordeaux and Lyon airports. The airline’s partner lounges are available at Paris-Orly (terminal 1A), Marseille, Nice, Toulouse, Montpellier and Mulhouse airports.

A more generous baggage allowance is exclusively dedicated to them. Business customers can take two pieces of baggage weighing 32kg each in the hold, as well as two carry-on bags and a cabin accessory for a total of 18kg.

In addition, they can choose their seat when they book their flight.

On short-haul flights, Air France offers its Business customers a dedicated catering service including:

• A savoury snack
• A sweet snack
• A selection of beverages such as wines and champagnes from the Air France Business class wine cellar chosen by Paolo Basso, soft drinks and much more.
• An oshibori to freshen up.

Entertainment as a bonus

On the Air France Play App, Air France’s digital entertainment offer, customers can download unlimited newspapers and magazines on their tablet and smartphone free of charge from 30 hours before departure, to enjoy before, during or after their trip.

They also benefit from Wi-Fi access with Air France Connect. By the end of the year, the entire Air France fleet, including its short-haul aircraft, will be equipped.

With Air France Connect⁽²⁾, customers can access one of the three passes on offer: 

• A free “Message” pass for all, to send and receive messages during the entire flight;
• A “Surf” pass, costing €3 on domestic flights, €5 on flights lasting less than 2 hours and €10 on flights lasting more than 2 hours, to surf the internet, consult and send emails;
• A “Stream” pass, costing €10 on domestic flights, €15 on flights lasting less than 2 hours and €20 on flights lasting more than 2 hours, to enjoy high-speed internet access, streaming and downloading, including the “Message” and “Surf” passes.

Customers on board Air France short-haul flights benefit from a varied entertainment offer adapted to the flight time via Air France Connect, with movies, short films, TV series, live TV, music, press, games, audio books, TED Talks, documentaries, etc.

Air France Connect will be available on the entire Air France fleet by the end of 2020.

In the last couple of years since Air Seychelles discontinued its own service to Paris, the route had been left to JOON, the low-cost carrier of Air France. But the recent announcements about the future of JOON have prompted Air France to re-look at Seychelles once again.

The relaunch of Air France flights is a real benefit for the mid-ocean islands that are so dependent on tourism for their economy. France remains the main tourism source market for Seychelles. The private sector trade of the islands have invested millions over the years in that source market that knew Seychelles and that saw the tropical year-round destination as an ideal holiday spot.

The arrival of Air France is seen as a benefit for the Seychelles tourism industry. This news could not have come at a better time for Seychelles as it prepares for its annual participation at TOP RESA, the Paris Tourism Trade Fair in the coming weeks.

In 2009, Air France signed a first code-sharing agreement with the Seychelles national airline, which was relaunched in August 2015.

“I want to know if my flight AF1234 is delayed”, “I want to know about the services on board flight AF1234”, “I want to know the departure terminal of flight AF1234” are some of the questions customers can ask using the Google Assistant. Similarly, Air France already offers these services with Alexa, Amazon’s virtual voice assistant.

Louis, the Air France chatbot offers customers assistance and support throughout the summer

Louis, the Air France chatbot, informs the company’s customers throughout their trip, in real-time, 24/7, on the Facebook instant messenger app.

Air France has 10 million fans and followers on social networks. The company is able to respond to up to 10,000 messages per day, in 9 languages, thanks to the combined expertise of its service agents and chatbots.

What’s more, on Messenger, customers now have access to a new payment system allowing them to book their tickets without leaving the app.

The Air France app, our customers’ travel companion

With 7 million downloads, the Air France app is evolving constantly and offers new features to assist customers during their trip, including –

• Real-time airport access indications with geo-localization – irrespective of the customer’s location, they can plan their commute time to the airport thanks to a multi-transport itinerary (car, public transport, etc.).
• A guided airport tour through to the boarding gate – a map is automatically offered to the customer indicating how to get to their boarding gate, making it easier for them to find their way around the airport.
• Real-time baggage tracking – each customer receives a notification informing them of the whereabouts of their baggage throughout the trip and the number of the carousel where they can collect their baggage on arrival.

Air France is one of the very first airlines in the world to have decided, in collaboration with Paris Aéroport, to implement the use of RFID technology. For Air France in 2020, this represents about 8 million pieces of baggage per year which will be tagged in this way.

This technology will gradually be deployed at Air France’s other airports, as well as at all Paris-Charles de Gaulle terminals, particularly Terminal 1.

For Air France and Paris Aéroport, the challenges are twofold:
– Respond to customers’ need for information about their baggage;
– Improve baggage identification and tracking (with gains in operational performance) and reduce associated operating costs.

Over the next few years, the estimated growth in air traffic should lead to a doubling of the number of bags transported annually, which currently stands at 4.6 billion1.
Within the framework of its resolution 753, IATA (International Air Transport Association) stipulates in particular that baggage must be traced throughout its journey (at check-in, boarding, transfer and arrival). It also recommends the global deployment of baggage tracking using radio frequency identification (RFID) chips.
Airlines have therefore committed to changing their baggage tags to RFID tags over the next few years.

Alain-Hervé Bernard, Chief Operating Officer at Air France, said: “Air France and Paris Aéroport have a common challenge in terms of customer satisfaction and the smooth running of our operations. With more than 50 million customers carried on board our flights each year, RFID technology provides us with an innovative solution to improve the tracking and identification of baggage, guarantee its transit under optimal safety and security conditions, reduce our costs and improve our operational performance by reducing the time it takes to find missing items.”

Marc Houalla, Managing Director of Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, commented: “The use of RFID technology improves the processing of checked baggage by reducing handling and transfer times, optimizing capacity and significantly facilitating baggage tracking. This technology is a must in our aim to be one of the best airports in the world for baggage handling.”

The new lounge welcomes Air France La Première and Business customers and Flying Blue Elite Plus members in a completely revamped, more elegant and modern setting. Spanning a total surface area of 615 sq. m, on two levels, the lounge can accommodate up to 155 customers. 

Subtly combining comfort, creativity and French-style elegance, this lounge reflects the Air France brand identity. Through its choice of materials, furnishings and range of bright colours, the Air France lounge has a sleek, elegant feel. 

 

The new Night Service – dine in the lounge and sleep on board

At the heart of the lounge, a new dining area has been offering Business customers on the daily 21:10 AF027 flight from Washington to Paris-Charles de Gaulle the Night Service.

The Night Service anticipates customers’ need to enjoy a good night’s sleep on night flights. They can enjoy the same gourmet French meal in the airport lounge as the one served on board. A full meal comprising a starter, hot dish, cheese, dessert and a wines and Champagnes list is served at their table.

During the flight, customers can enjoy a good night’s sleep in the comfort of the Business class cabin. A quiet, private cabin, with the guarantee of a peaceful night’s sleep in a seat that transforms into a lie-flat bed. When they awake, when the French coast looms on the horizon, breakfast is served before landing at Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

The iconic Bar area in the lounge

Dressed in a lacquered metal structure and completely open to the lounge, the bar offers a selection of wines, Champagnes and spirits, served by a bartender. For the first time in an Air France lounge, customers can also enjoy cold draught beers.

A new dining experience

As part of its ongoing effort to offer its customers the best possible service, the company has also revamped its dining area to highlight French gourmet cuisine.

Designed in the spirit of a Parisian brasserie, new furnishings and circular benches have been custom-designed to provide conviviality and comfort. Customers can enjoy a self-service buffet with a cold, sweet and savoury selection.

A cosy environment

The second level offers customers a genuinely cosy environment. In a relaxing light-filled atmosphere, where light screens perfectly mimic sunlight and the colour of the sky, customers can relax comfortably in chaises longues or other seating of their choice. A snacking area completes this moment of well-being.

A custom-designed experience

The new Air France lounge also includes dedicated areas for a tailor-made experience –

• A VIP area with a cosy and private atmosphere, dedicated to customers travelling in the La Première cabin;
• An area reserved for Ultimate customers.

Not forgetting the essentials –

• A lobby equipped with new eligibility kiosks, for smoother access;
• A co-working space;
• Free Wi-Fi access and electrical/USB outlets close to each seat;
• A lounge area reflecting the architectural design of the latest Air France lounges – wide bench seating, brightly-coloured individual seats that give the lounge its own distinctive identity; 
• A press kiosk offering French and international newspapers and magazines, in addition to the digital offer available on the “Air France Play” app;
• Freshen up and relax thanks to an invigorating shower.

Flight schedule

From Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Air France operates 2 daily flights to Washington by Airbus A380 and Boeing 777-200.

Flight times operated (in local time) –

AF054: leaves Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 13:15, arrives in Washington at 15:40;
AF055: leaves Washington at 18:05, arrives at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 7:35 the next day.
Daily flight on departure from Paris by Airbus A380.

AF026: leaves Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 16:30, arrives in Washington à 19:05;
AF027: leaves Washington at 21:10, arrives at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 10:45 the next day.
Daily flight on departure from Paris by Boeing 777-200. 

From Amsterdam-Schiphol, KLM operates a daily flight to Washington.

Flight times operated (in local time) –

KL651: leaves Amsterdam-Schiphol at 13:20, arrives in Washington at 15:40;
KL652: leaves Washington at 17:45, arrives at Amsterdam-Schiphol at 7:20 the next day.
Daily flight on departure from Amsterdam.

Flight schedules (in local time) from May 23 to October 26, 2019 –

AF646: leaves Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 13:10, arrives in Quito at 18:10
AF641  leaves Quito at 20:10, arrives at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 14:20 the following day.
Flights operated on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays by Airbus A340*.  

Flight schedules (in local time) from October 27, 2019 to March 28, 2020 –

AF646: leaves Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 13:10, arrives in Quito at 19:20.
AF641: leaves Quito at 21:20, arrives at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 14:20 the following day.
Flights operated on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays by Boeing 787.

This new destination is in addition to KLM’s daily flight between Amsterdam-Schiphol and Quito, operated by Boeing 777, for the 2019 summer season.

Quito, jewel of the Andes

Located more than 2,850 m above sea level, and built on the ruins of an Inca city, Ecuador’s capital is home to many treasures. Its historic centre, the best preserved in Latin America, is the first to be included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. From Independence Square to San Francisco Square, nothing beats getting lost in the narrow and colourful streets to discover Old Quito. Want a great view? The Panecillo peak, which stands in the middle of the city, offers a breathtaking view.

* Initially operated by Joon, Air France is resuming services to this destination as from June 26, 2019.

• Special fares

To celebrate the occasion, from May 23 to 27, Air France will be offering customers travelling in the Economy cabin special fares from Paris to Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Accra (Ghana), Conakry (Guinea), Cotonou (Benin), Douala (Cameroon), Niamey (Niger), Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) and Yaoundé (Cameroon) for different travel periods*.

• Special events on the ground and on board

At the boarding of flights from Paris to Cotonou, Johannesburg (South Africa), Libreville (Gabon) and Nairobi (Kenya), passengers will receive gifts such as bracelets, postcards and bookmarks.

There will also be special events organized on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle with:

• on May 23, Congolese music and dancing (for flights to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Pointe-Noire in Congo);
• on May 24, Mandinka music and dancing (for flights to Accra and Libreville);
• on May 25, African fashion show (for flights to Abidjan and Ouagadougou).

On board flights AF702 and AF926 on May 25, 2019, from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Abidjan and Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Libreville respectively, World Africa Day will be celebrated with gifts and special events, as well as a questionnaire and lottery on the Abidjan flight.

All Air France ticket offices in Paris and the French regions, as well as at terminals E and K at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, will display the colours of World Africa Day as well as the frontline staff.

Today, the Air France-KLM group connects nearly 50 African cities to the rest of the world via Paris and Amsterdam and offers multiple travel opportunities on the continent through partnerships with African regional airlines Kenya Airways, Air Côte d’Ivoire and Kulula.com.

Air France currently offers the highest standards of comfort and service with:

• The latest generation aircraft (Airbus A330 and Boeing 787);
• The progressive renewal of all cabins;
• Specific attention such as African catering, press, films and music;
• As well as staff who ensure customer satisfaction on a daily basis.

*Travel period: from 02/09 to 20/10/2019 – last return on 27/10/2019; from 04/11 to 08/12/2019 – last return on 15/12/2019; from 13/01 to 22/03/2020 – last return on 29/03/2020

• a postcard to colour in;
• a ruler;
• an activity booklet;
• a key ring;
• 5 coloured pencils;
• a “kumihimo”, a circular braiding kit ideal for performing magic tricks.

This practical kit can also be transformed into a small cushion once inflated to accompany children all summer long!

Keep kids busy before going on holiday with Questions in the Sky

Children are particularly curious when they travel. To answer their many questions, Air France has created a mini website called questionsinthesky.com. Available at all times, it provides the answers to close to 100 questions that any curious young traveller may have. Engineers, ramp agents, the Chairman, cabin crew, pilots, etc., Air France staff have taken up the challenge and are revealing the secrets of their profession to our young globetrotters.

Travelling is child’s play

Dedicated to the well-being of families travelling on its flights, Air France has always been committed to providing a fun experience for children. To make this experience unique, the company ensures that the 1,400,000 young passengers it carries every year and their parents receive special attention, from the time they book their flight to the time they return home.

A “Kids” offer dedicated to younger travellers includes children’s games kits on board, specific entertainment programmes and gourmet menus on long-haul flights. For children travelling alone, the “Kids Solo” offer is also there to accompany children and their parents.