According to the carrier, the impact of the 鈥榣ost鈥� revenue from tourists who decide to stay away is forecast to be in the region of 鈧�180 million ($193 million).  

鈥淚nternational markets show a significant avoidance of Paris,鈥� the company said in a statement released on July 1, 2024. 鈥淭ravel between the city and other destinations is also below the usual June-August average as residents in France seem to be postponing their holidays until after the Olympic Games or considering alternative travel plans.鈥� 

Despite this downturn in traffic, the carrier has stated that it is not planning to scale back capacity during the June to August period on any routes and stated that it will provide further details when the airline presents its half-year results on July 25, 2024. 

“Travel to and from France is expected to normalize after the Olympic Games, with encouraging demand levels projected for the end of August and the month of September,” Air France精东影业 statement added.听听

The airline had been hoping for a boost to its brand image and bottom line from the Games. Indeed, as reported by 精东影业 in April 2024, the carrier launched a dedicated advertising campaign highlighting its status as an official partner of the 2024 Paris Olympics.听听

As recently as April 2024, Air France was publicly commenting on a positive trend in ticket sales for the 2024 summer period and said it intended to increase seat capacity by 5% over summer 2023.听听

Air France had planned to use the events to boost its brand and show off its services. It has hired hundreds of temporary staff to help ensure smooth travel for athletes and their equipment at airports. The airline expects to transport around a fifth of the Olympic athletes and just over a third of the Paralympic athletes, being held between August 28 and September 8, 2024, following the Olympics.  

However, as has been seen previously in other Olympic host cities while the Games are on, ambivalent tourists not interested in sports tend to avoid those cities to avoid crowds, congestion on public transport, and elevated accommodation costs.  

While the French aviation trade association Fnam said it couldn’t confirm tourists were avoiding Paris, Air France精东影业 statement corresponds with data released by the Paris tourism office. It recently forecasted a 14.8% drop in foreign arrivals in July 2024 compared to the same month in 2023 and a 16.4% drop from 2019. Additionally, hotel occupancy rates in the first ten days of July are on average 60% percent, a drop of around 10% percentage points from 2023.听听

Some 15 million visitors are predicted to attend the Games, including two million from abroad, according to the Centre for Law and Economy of Sport (CDES), which has been monitoring the Paris Games for the International Olympic Committee and the Paris 2024 organizers. 

Financial outlook  

The peak summer season is crucial for the finances of airlines based in the northern hemisphere as it helps generate the majority of annual revenues. This downturn will therefore come as an unwelcome distraction for an airline that was hoping to capitalize on the Games being hosted by its hometown.听听聽聽

In the previous financial year, the Airbus-KLM Group posted a net profit of 鈧�931 million ($996m) in the third quarter, nearly the exact amount of its record annual earnings. However, the warning over the summer 2024 period came as the group has struggled in 2024 so far, losing 鈧�522 million ($559m) in the first quarter on rising costs and geopolitical tensions despite a higher number of passengers and higher ticket prices.听听

To offset spiraling losses, the airline group has launched a cost-cutting strategy including a recruitment freeze for both administrative and non-operational staff.聽

Exploring the use of robotics and automation to enhance airport ground handling

• Aviation Technology and Innovation

byJean Carmela Lim

2024-07-06

The new lounge was officially opened on June 21, 2024, with Air France精东影业 La Premi猫re, Business and Flying Blue Elite Plus and KLM and SkyTeam partner airlines customers free to enjoy the swanky facilities. 

Spread over nearly 12,000 sq. feet, the lounge sits close to the boarding gates for Air France flights and can accommodate 172 passengers.聽

鈥淭he entire space is an invitation to discover the company’s universe, featuring its signature colors 鈥� shades of blue, luminous whites and touches of red 鈥� giving a sleek, chic design,鈥� Air France said in a statement.聽

Some of the furniture has been created by renowned French designers including the Ester chairs by Patrick Jouin, the Ribbon armchairs by Pierre Paulin, and the coffee table by Charlotte Perriand. 

French cuisine, as you might expect, is at the heart of the lounge with Monkfish Provencale, Beef Bourguignon and braised chicken among the culinary delights prepared by the in-house chef.聽

Dishes such as pan-fried prawns or cassoulet with duck confit can also be made on request in the open kitchen. 

There is also a wide selection of French wines and champagnes, spirits, and local beers, as well as cocktails and mocktails prepared by a bartender.

This new lounge features a spa treatment area by , which has been an Air France partner for nearly 20 years.聽 聽

Air France customers can find their Zen in two cozy cabins, offering a choice of three free facial treatments: 鈥榓nti jetlag鈥�, 鈥榠nstant detox鈥� and 鈥榠lluminating eye-care’.   

Passengers traveling in Air France精东影业 La Premi猫re cabin also have access to a private hideaway dedicated to just them.听听

Designed in a similar way to the La Premi猫re suites, the private area offers a 鈥渃omfortable, chic and made-to-measure layout鈥� for up to 12 guests with its own dining area.聽

Flying Blue Ultimate customers also have access to an area entirely reserved for them with large armchairs for extra comfort during their wait.  

In addition, there is another area dedicated to relaxation and rest for passengers particularly in need of switching off from the world and a closed-off cabin for making calls.聽

As standard for most contemporary lounges there is free Wi-Fi and numerous electric and USB sockets near the seats. 

And perhaps the most welcome luxury for some passengers are the showers which are available to use throughout the day.  

Over the summer, Air France will be operating 26 flights a week between Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and LAX including 21 operated with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft equipped with La Premi猫re suites.听听聽

Air France-KLM generates over $75B per year for French and Dutch economies聽

• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2024-06-20

In Air France-KLM’s 20 anniversary year the company felt it was a good time to 鈥渜uantify and analyze the socio-economic benefits generated by its activity in France and the Netherlands鈥� through an impact study.  

Carried out by Professor Herbert Cast茅ran from the Institut Mines T茅l茅com Business School, the study covers Air France-KLM’s three core businesses: passenger transport, cargo, and aircraft maintenance. 

According to the study, Air France-KLM generates 1.9% of French Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 2.3% of Dutch GDP, generating 鈧�70 billion ($75B) per year for the two economies combined.听听

20 years ago, the Group was founded. To our 76,000 employees around the world, happy anniversary !
Here精东影业 to two decades of joint work to be at the forefront of a more responsible European aviation, uniting people for the world of tomorrow.

— Air France-KLM Group (@AirFranceKLM)

And in addition, Air France-KLM supports an estimated 552,570 jobs in France and 267,996 jobs in the Netherlands either directly or indirectly. 

The study summarizes that for every euro invested, Air France-KLM generates 鈧�3.6 ($3.8) in the French economy, and 鈧�3.4 ($3.6) in the Dutch economy. 

Expanding on job creation, the study highlights that each direct job created by Air France-KLM generates 11 additional jobs in France and 9.2 additional jobs in the Netherlands. 

Interestingly the study also found that Air France-KLM’s activity benefits every single French region, without exception. 

From buying over 2.4 million bottles of wine in 2023 from the Bourgogne-Franche-Comt茅 and Grand Est region to placing an order for more than 230 aircraft from Airbus, Air France-KLM is a super-wealth creator.听听

Air France unveils new interiors for Embraer 190 fleet operated by HOP!聽聽

• Airlines

byLuke Peters

2024-05-28

As Air France launches its latest cadet pilot recruitment, the airline has stated that the campaign is open to candidates of all ages and levels of flying experience.聽

Those selected to form Air France精东影业 next generation of pilots benefit from a complete 24-month training course entirely supported by the carrier and provided by the company’s partner schools. 

After overcoming the rigorous selection process and two-year training cadets will qualify as Line Pilot Officers and fly Airbus A220 and A320 aircraft for Air France. 

Alternatively, they will command Boeing 737s and Airbus A320neos for Air France subsidiary, Transavia. 

鈥淏ecoming an Air France pilot means joining an airline with more than 90 years of history,鈥� Air France said in statement. 鈥淭he company’s pilots carry out their mission with the highest level of flight safety, technical expertise and eco-responsible piloting, with constant attention paid to customer satisfaction.鈥� 

The airline added that it is committed to 鈥渇ostering an environment of diversity, inclusion and gender equality鈥� and 鈥渁ctively encourages and supports women to move into technical professions鈥�. 

According to Air France, its previous cadet pilot recruitment was made up of 10% women compared to 9% of women pilots within the company. 

The recruitment campaign is open until July 15, 2024, and more information on the candidate selection process is available on the .聽A webinar to find out more has also been scheduled for June 6 and 13, 2024.听听

Air France unveils new interiors for Embraer 190 fleet operated by HOP!聽聽

• Airlines

byLuke Peters

2024-05-28

The refurbishment program forms just one part of a wider program to upmarket and standardize its product offering across its short and medium-haul route networks, according to the carrier. 

With redesigned cabin interiors, each of the 21 Embraer 190s will be equipped with 110 new seats arranged in a 2-2 configuration. Each seat will be upholstered in leather and feature ergonomic foam padding for 鈥渆nhanced comfort and sustainability鈥�, according to an Air France statement.听听

The seat, which can recline up to three inches, will have a wide 46 cm seat pan, a tray table, optimized storage space, comfortable removable armrests, and a coat hook. The seat headrest is height-adjustable with adjustable wings. 

Positioned at the customer精东影业 eye level, the seats also feature a retractable holder with a ribbed, non-slip surface to securely accommodate a smartphone or tablet integrated into the backrest of each seat. Each seat has USB A and C ports, allowing customers to recharge their personal devices, including laptops. There is also a double cup holder for added convenience.聽

Meanwhile, business class customers will be seated at the front of the aircraft with a new mobile curtain divider between that cabin and the rest of the plane while from January 2025, each business class passenger will have an empty seat next to them. 

Like the carrier精东影业 Airbus A220 fleet, the cabin of the Embraer 190 will feature Air France精东影业 signature colors of shades of blue, with 鈥渁 strong presence of white providing light and contrast, and touches of red, embodying the airline精东影业 excellence and know-how鈥�.  

Each seat will feature a symmetrical stitching pattern accentuated in the center with grey embroidery thread, creating an upholstered effect to maximize comfort. The headrest will also be embroidered with the company精东影业 trademark accent, which also adorns the rear cabin walls of the aircraft. The airline adds that 鈥淭he carpet revisits the traditional ornamental herringbone pattern, symbolizing the emblematic Haussmann-inspired world of Parisian apartments鈥�.聽

For the new seating designs, Air France teamed up with French manufacturer Expliseat, working in conjunction with Andrea Mocellin, a designer well-versed in the high-end travel market segment. Made of carbon fiber and titanium, the seat structure is described as 鈥渦ltra-light, sturdy, and incorporates recycled components and as little plastic as possible鈥�.聽

Air France advises that each new seat is 30% lighter than those currently in service which helps to reduce the overall weight of the aircraft to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Custom-designed in line with the company精东影业 specifications, the new seats are being manufactured in Angers, France. The refurbishment program for the Embraer 190s will then begin at the HOP! maintenance site in Clermont-Ferrand after the summer 2024 peak has passed.聽

Atlas Air Boeing 747 freighter wingtip clips hangar at Fort Lauderdale Airport聽

• Aircraft
• Aviation Safety

byLuke Peters

2024-05-27

The flight in question was Air France flight AF338 on May 7, 2024, operating from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in Washington State. The flight was being operated by one of the carrier精东影业 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners registered as F-HRBB and was carrying 262 passengers and crew at the time of the incident.

According to the Aviation Herald, flight AF338 was cruising over northern Canada at 39,000ft (11,887m) when the burning smell was first detected. Having donned their emergency oxygen masks, the flight crew requested an immediate diversion to Iqaluit, positioned around 772km (460 miles) to the left/south of the aircraft’s present position.

The flight initially descended to 36,000ft (10,973m) and proceeded towards Iqaluit Airport (YFB), where it carried out a successful emergency landing about an hour later on runway 34 at Iqaluit. Two airport fire trucks were standing by as well as one City of Iqaluit fire truck, two ambulances, and several vehicles from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canada Border Services Agency.

A conflict then appears to surround the events following the landing. While Air France reported that passengers disembarked the aircraft while ground crews were inspecting the aircraft, passengers took to social media to state that they were kept onboard the aircraft for three to four hours after landing before being allowed to disembark or to call family members who may have been worrying about them.

To recover the incident, the airline canceled its flight AF345 from Montreal to Paris on 7 May 2024, instead using the aircraft tasked with that flight to head to Iqaluit to pick up the stranded passengers. The aircraft used for the rescue mission was Boeing 777-300 registered as F-GSQT. According to Flightradar24, this aircraft flew the passengers from Iqaluit to New York-JFK Airport (JFK) where Air France was to arrange onward transportation to either Seattle or the passengers’ final destination.

Meanwhile, back at Iqaluit, the Boeing 787 appears to still be on the ground at the time of writing, possibly awaiting Air France engineers to arrive to inspect the aircraft before another crew arrives to fly the plane either onwards or to return it to Paris.

New Emirates A350 spotted for first time emblazoned with full fuselage colors

• Aircraft
• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2024-05-08

With exactly 100 days to go before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympics, and millions of tickets already sold for the 329 medal events across 32 sports, Air France is hoping that the new campaign will both highlight the Games themselves and promote the carrier精东影业 presence on the global stage.听听聽聽

The new campaign features a young woman wearing make-up in the colors of the French flag as its centerpiece, accompanied by a welcome message from the 39,000 Air France staff which reads, 鈥淧roud to welcome the world to France鈥�. 

The special make-up used to create the young woman精东影业 facial look was the handiwork of celebrated French make-up artist Carole Lasnier, who has worked with some of the biggest names in global fashion. According to a statement issued by the carrier, more than four hours of preparation were needed to realize the reimagined version of the French Tricolore upon the model精东影业 face. It has been designed to resemble the French national flag 鈥渂illowing in the wind.鈥澛犅�

The portrait of the model featured in the campaign was captured by well-known French photographer Olivier Rose, who has an international reputation for his attention to detail. 

According to the airline, 鈥淭his image of a woman精东影业 face is used by the company to symbolize France and Air France. In a nod to the allegories of Marianne and the French Republic, this young woman will welcome the world and visitors at every stage of their journey, with a message in French, English, as well as in their own language, with slogans translated into Chinese, Japanese, Brazilian, Spanish and Italian.鈥�  

The woman精东影业 image is intended as the first point of contact for visitors as soon as they arrive in the French capital. The campaign has been coordinated so that the image will accompany international visitors to Paris 2024 throughout the Olympic festivities. 

The promotional campaign will be visible from the moment visitors arrive at the airports in Paris, with giant displays in all passenger terminals at Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Paris-Orly (ORY). The images will be found in the airline精东影业 lounges across France, and on billboard posters near the competition venues in Paris.  

The visuals will also adorn the main fa莽ade of Air France精东影业 headquarters at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, with an advertising tarp covering more than 1,000 sq m that will be visible from roads in the vicinity of the airport, the CDG passenger terminals, and directly from taxiing aircraft on the ground at the airport. Elsewhere, in other French cities hosting sporting events including Marseille, Lyon, and Nantes, the campaign will also feature heavily.聽It will also be deployed within the company, for staff to see posted around the company精东影业 various sites.聽

In addition to physical promotion, the campaign will also be rolled out extensively in global print media and online. The media campaign will focus on titles dedicated to the highlights of the Olympic Games, and international publications aimed at visitors, such as the 鈥淪pecial Olympic Games.鈥� Short videos destined for social media will be created to enhance the campaign and to encourage its 鈥渧irality potential鈥�, according to the carrier.  

Created by Air France精东影业 marketing agency, this new campaign is said to support the airline精东影业 current advertising slogan, 鈥淓legance is a journey. Air France鈥�. 鈥淲e are committed to embodying the French art of hospitality, underpinning Air France精东影业 raison d鈥櫭猼re and forming an integral part of its DNA鈥�, said Fabien Pelous, Air France精东影业 SVP of Customer Experience. 鈥淲ith this campaign, we are reaching out to the world, to uphold the tradition of hospitality that our staff perpetuates every day with an unwavering focus on elegance and attention to detail.鈥�  

鈥淭he values of openness, courage, and pride that are characteristic of the Olympic discipline provide a formidable creative playground and are perfectly in line with our brand territory. They will be the common thread running through all our communications around Air France精东影业 partnership with the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games鈥�, Pelous added.聽

Air France recruits triple Michelin-starred chefs, launches new inflight menu聽 聽

• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2024-04-03

Glenn Viel and Arnaud Lallement will be creating new dishes for passengers traveling in the La Premi猫re and Business cabins from April 2024, alongside renowned pastry chefs Philippe Rigollot and Nina M茅tayer. 

Viel is signing the entire menu in the La Premi猫re class, Air France精东影业 most exclusive travel cabin, while world pastry champion Rigollot will look after deserts.  

The 12 dishes La Premi猫re class passengers will enjoy over the coming month include mediterranean bread with preserved peppers and rosemary, cream cheese, rocket and pickled lemon, sea bream fillet, fondant potatoes, mussels and lemon sauce, and guinea fowl topped with a crunchy zucchini mosaic, and caramelized onion compote.聽

鈥淚 am proud to be working with Air France, which has established itself as the flagship of French aviation and highlights our country and French gastronomy throughout the world. For the company精东影业 La Premi猫re customers, I wanted to highlight the French art de vivre, high standards, elegance and refinement,鈥� Viel said.聽

Strawberry gateau, Black Forest gateau, and an apricot tartlet and rosemary whipped cream are among the six desserts to gradually appear on the menu by Rigollo. 

In the long-haul Business cabin, Arnaud Lallement鈥� dishes will include polenta on stir-fried vegetables, creamy eggplant and red pepper coulis, crab and shrimp ravioli, Brittany curry sauce, and stir-fried spinach will delight passengers.聽

鈥淔or Air France, I wanted to remember the seasons, to let my unconscious speak, as if in hypnosis. Sharing with travelers a gourmet pleasure marked by emotion and indulgence,鈥� Lallement explained.  

Nina M茅tayer, who has been curating the Business cabin deserts since 2023, has created three new sweet treats which include the chef精东影业 caramel, hazelnut and velvety dark chocolate slice, coconut lime mango slice, and the 鈥淚ndividuel鈥� gourmet chocolate delight. 

Following a partnership established with Air France in November 2023, one-starred chef Fr茅d茅ric Simonin has created a new series of dishes for the Premium Economy cabin.聽

The new menu, which is already available onboard flights departing from Paris, includes mini scallops, citrus sauce with tapioca pearls and asparagus pasta, or peas with savory, spinach and glazed pearl onions. 

鈥淔or Air France customers, I have carefully chosen each product from our French regions that I can transform with delicacy and precision, for a special culinary experience,鈥� Simonin said.聽

Air France transatlantic jet carries lifesaving donor heart on pioneering flight

• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2024-03-27

Using XVIVO精东影业 Heart Assist Transport, the heart of a deceased 48-year-old-man in French West Indies was safely flown to Paris in the cabin of an Air France commercial aircraft, despite facing severe turbulence on the flight.听听

According to , a successful transplantation was carried out on a 70-year-old patient in terminal condition at Piti茅-Salp锚tri猫re Hospital, Sorbonne University in Paris in January 2024.听听

XVIVO精东影业 patented heart technology, a perfusion device with a proprietary solution, allowed the donated heart to be pumped with oxygenated fluid during transport for more than 12 hours outside a human body.  

Between the French West Indies and France, the donor heart traveled 3,659 nautical miles, but due to XVIVO精东影业 incredible technology the organ immediately regained normal function after transplantation.聽

[Special transport] For the first time, a heart which had been transported in the cabin of an flight was successfully transplanted after 12 hours of preservation. This marks a substantial advancement in organ transplantation.

— Air France Newsroom (@AFnewsroom)

It is not unusual for donor hearts to be transported in private jets, but with the evolution of technology it will now be possible to use less costly commercial flights, making organ transplants more easily accessible. 

According to XVIVO, at present patients in the French West Indies with terminal heart disease would need to travel to Paris for a transplant procedure. 

The transplantation is the first within the investigator-Initiated Study 鈥楶EGASE鈥�, conducted by the Piti茅-Salp锚tri猫re Hospital. 

The trial aims to investigate the feasibility and safety of donor heart preservation during extended transport times using hypothermic, oxygenated perfusion (HOPE).听听聽

“Monumental breakthrough in heart transplantation”

Professor Guillaume Lebreton, Principal investigator of the PEGASE trial and transplant surgeon at H么spital Piti茅-Salp锚tri猫re, said: 鈥淭his transplant may be a monumental breakthrough in heart transplantation allowing for increased access to unused donor hearts, that now can be utilized and safely transported across vast distances. Additionally, it suggests a reorganization of transplant procedures, allowing for better scheduling and expert-led surgeries. These changes might improve overall outcomes and redefine the approach to cardiac transplant care.鈥� 

Lebreton added: 鈥淚t is striking that the donor heart, after more than 12 hours outside of the body, was still soft and viable. This in contrast to donor hearts transported on ice that already after a couple of hours may be stiff, slow to start and require mechanical circulatory support after the transplant.鈥� 

When the achievement was first reported in February 2024, XVIVO confirmed that the 70-year-old patient had recovered well and was now back at home. 

鈥淭he success achieved in this instance, where distance and transport time are no longer limiting factors, demonstrates that this technology has the potential to change the paradigm of heart preservation. XVIVO has now taken another significant step toward realizing our vision that 鈥榥obody should die waiting for a new organ鈥�,鈥� Christoffer Rosenblad, CEO of XVIVO, said. 

Air France to revamp Embraer 190 fleet operated by Hop! with new seats and cabin聽

• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2024-03-21

Confirming the upgrades on March 21, 2024, the French flag carrier said it plans to install new passenger seats and alter the 鈥渆ntire harmony of the cabin鈥� with the Air France colors across everything from the aircraft partitions to the carpet. 

For the project Air France has teamed up with Paris-based firm Expliseat which specializes in designing and building carbon fiber and titanium seats.听听

After the seats are manufactured and assembled in Angers, the Embraer 190 upgrades will be completed at the HOP! maintenance site in Clermont-Ferrand. 

The first revamped aircraft are due to return to service in the autumn of 2024.   

鈥淭hese new generation seats will be a continuation of the high level of comfort offered on board the Airbus A220, flagship of the short and medium-haul fleet of Air France,鈥� the airline said. 

The new seats will be exclusively unveiled between May 28 and 30, 2024, at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany, which brings together aviation professionals from the aircraft cabin industry.  

According to , Hop! currently operates 21 Embraer 190 aircraft on its short and medium-haul network.听听

Transavia signs for two additional new Airbus A321neo aircraft with ALC聽

• Aircraft
• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2024-03-21