Air France favours long-haul services for the 2025 summer timetable

Air France is increasing its long-haul capacity this summer by 4%. This is double what the carrier will be offering on its short- and medium-haul network. The carrier has also confirmed the destinations welcoming the new La Première.
By Luc Citrinot -
Air France summer 2025
The largest number of new additions to Air France's 2025 summer schedule concern long-haul flights (Photo: Luc Citrinot)

Air France has just revealed the details of its 2025 summer programmewhich will be placed under a stronger increase in capacity for Air France's long-haul network. Overall, capacity will be 4% higher than in summer 2024.

This long-haul programme includes two new destinations : Paris-CDG - Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)The Airbus A350-900 will operate up to 5 flights a week from 19 May 2025. Two days later, the airline will launch 4 weekly flights to Orlando by Airbus A350-900.

The Americas

Air France will also strengthen its capacity in North Americanotwithstanding the fact that demand trends are more unpredictable in a context of strained trade relations between Europe and the United States.

Nevertheless, Air France is planning a seventh daily flight between CDG and New York JFK. 5 of these 7 flights will be operated by Boeing 777-300ERs equipped with the La Première cabin. The brand new La Première suite, unveiled 15 days ago, will be offered on selected flights. Paris CDG - Phoenix (Arizona)inaugurated in 2024, will have 5 flights a week operated by Airbus A350-900. Finally, the CDG - Papeete via Los Angeles will become daily.

South America and the Caribbean, Paris CDG - Salvador de BahiaThe Boeing 777-200ER service, inaugurated in winter 2024, continues in summer, with 3 flights a week by Boeing 777-200ER. The airline is also offering additional flights to Lima, Santiago de Chile and Rio de Janeiro. Finally, Air France offers up to 8 weekly flights between CDG and Saint Martin in the West Indies. The flight will be operated by Airbus A330-200.

Africa

To the African continentThis summer, Air France is continuing the service it launched in winter on CDG - Zanzibar - Kilimanjaro. The airline will operate up to 3 flights a week. With the addition of 3 direct weekly flights in both directions from 16 June 2025, the route Paris - Brazzaville to 10 flights a week. Finally, Air France is increasing its capacity to Nairobi by replacing the Boeing 787-9 on this route with an Airbus A350-900.

Asia

No real news for Asia other than confirmation that the Paris-CDG - Manila is continuing, with three flights a week by Airbus A350-900.

New La Première and new Business mattress toppers

What's more, Air France has confirmed the first destinations that will welcome all of the new suites La Première for the summer season. Passengers to New York-JFK, Los Angeles, Singapore and Tokyo-Haneda will be able to enjoy the refined luxury of this brand new product. New York will inaugurate La Première Suites this spring. The product will be available on all La Première destinations by 2026. Air France also plans to include more destinations.

Note that long-haul business class is not forgotten. The company is offering a new mattress topper for the sleeper seatin partnership with the Sofitel hotel chain. It will start to be fitted in cabins in July. This mattress topper promises a very cocooning comfort.

Short and medium-haul

The carrier offers a modest increase in capacity on European routes, to +2%. The carrier will offer up to 670 flights to 96 destinations in Europe, including France.

Capacity will be in up 8% to Italy and 3% to Spain. In particular, Air France will provide 29 seasonal routes in France and EuropeThese include flights to Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza (Balearic Islands, Spain), Rhodes and Heraklion (Greece) and Dubrovnik (Croatia). In addition, Transavia, the group's low-cost subsidiary, is increasing the number of flights and adding several new destinations.

Air France-KLM fleet renewal: better than others!

As part of its fleet renewal strategy, the Air France-KLM Group continues to receive new aircraft. 41 aircraft will join the fleet in 2024, offsetting the withdrawal of 18 aircraft - including two Airbus A380s and 3 Airbus A330s.

The delivery of new-generation aircraft offering greater comfort and better environmental performance was as follows:
■ 8 Airbus A350which consumes 25 % less fuel per passenger-kilometre and is 40 % quieter than the previous-generation aircraft.
■ 19 Airbus A320neo and A321neowhich consumes 15 % less fuel per passenger-kilometre and is 50 % quieter than the previous generation.
■ 9 Airbus A220which consumes 20 % less fuel per passenger-kilometre and is 34 % quieter than the previous-generation aircraft;
■ 4 Embraer 195-E2 which consumes 31 % less fuel per passenger-kilometre and is 63 % quieter than the E-190 it replaces;

By the end of 2024, the Group had 27 % of its fleet with new-generation aircraft. This year, the target is a share of 37% new aircraft for the entire fleet. Eventually, 80% of new-generation aircraft by 2030.

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