The birth certificate for Air France's new regional airline was published on Monday 28 January in the lounges of the Aviation Club de France: three letters, "Hop", will soon replace the three companies which have until now been responsible for regional services, namely Airlinair, Britair and Regional. The new carrier's visual identity is dominated by red, with the stated aim of "supplanting orange" in French airports, according to the CEO of the new company, Lionel Guérin, in reference to the colour of competitor easyJet. The lowest price, €55 including tax for a single ticket, is part of this drive to "put an end to the idea that regional flights are expensive", even though Air France's management refuses to use the term "low cost", preferring instead to use the term "value cost".
In concrete terms, "Hop! for Air France" will operate 530 daily flights to 136 destinations, using 98 aircraft. The fare range will comprise three sections, "MaxiFlex", "Basic Plus" and "Basic", the last of which is similar to the MiNi range launched by Air France at the beginning of January, with à la carte options such as checked baggage or the purchase of Miles. "HOP! aims to become the benchmark airline on inter-regional routes in France and Europe, with a competitive offer that can be rapidly adapted to changes in the market and the competition, for both business and leisure travel", says Air France, which intends to put an end to - or at least reduce - the losses incurred by the short and medium-haul network. The new airline is the successor to the Pôle Régional Français and is part of the Transform 2015 plan, supporting one of its fundamentals: restoring the airline's competitiveness. Faithful to the regional development mission assumed by the former national airline, "Hop! for Air France" will also contribute to regional coverage. Alexandre de Juniac was quick to appeal to regional leaders: "If public or semi-public investors want to take a stake in the capital, we are not opposed", said the CEO of the Air France group on Monday.
