Introduction to Air France’s Winter Expansion
Following a successful partnership as the Official Airline Partner of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Air France is gearing up for the 2024/2025 northern winter season with significant enhancements to its service offerings. The airline announced its comprehensive winter schedule on September 17, 2024, which includes the introduction of several new routes and destinations, enriching its global connectivity.
New Destinations and Routes
Starting November 18, 2024, Air France will launch flights to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, marking the airline’s 26th destination in Africa. This route, operated by the modern Airbus A350-900, will feature three weekly flights and will extend the airline’s current service to Zanzibar. Another highlight includes the introduction of services to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, starting October 28, 2024. This service will also feature three weekly flights operated by Airbus A350-900 aircraft, expanding Air France’s footprint in Brazil to five destinations. Additionally, Manila, Philippines will be reconnected with Paris starting December 7, 2024, with three weekly flights, reinstating a direct link that had been absent for two decades.
During the peak holiday season from December 20, 2024, to January 5, 2025, Air France will also commence up to two weekly flights to Malé, Maldives, utilizing Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. This route addition underscores the airline’s commitment to expanding its reach in high-demand luxury travel destinations during the peak travel season.
Increased Flight Frequencies and Seasonal Adjustments
In addition to new routes, Air France is boosting frequencies to several existing destinations. The airline plans to increase flights to Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza, with up to 10 and five weekly flights respectively. This adjustment is part of a broader strategy to enhance connectivity between France and Brazil, offering up to 32 flights per week overall to this key market. Notably, Air France’s partnership with Brazilian carrier GOL provides customers with seamless connections to 40 domestic destinations within Brazil.
Furthermore, the airline is enhancing service to Denver and Phoenix in the United States, and Saint-Martin in the Caribbean, by adding more frequent flights to meet the growing passenger demand in these regions.
Expansion in Short-Haul and Medium-Haul Networks
On the European front, Air France is set to increase its operational capacity significantly. The airline will introduce a new route to Kiruna, Sweden, which will operate once a week from December 21, 2024, to March 8, 2025, using Airbus A319 aircraft. This new route aims to cater to the growing interest in winter tourism in Scandinavia. Additionally, during the holiday season, the airline will reintroduce flights to Tangiers, Morocco, with up to three flights per week, catering to the seasonal travel surge.
Overall, Air France plans to operate over 630 flights daily across its short-haul network, showcasing a robust increase in service level across Northern Europe.
Role of Transavia France in the Winter Schedule
Complementing Air France’s winter schedule, Transavia France, the low-cost subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group, will play a pivotal role. Transavia France is set to operate flights to 102 destinations in 20 countries across 172 routes. This development positions Transavia France as the busiest low-cost carrier from Paris, surpassing its closest competitor, easyJet, especially as the latter restructures its Paris bases.