Partners in a joint venture since 1 July 2016 and both members of the SkyTeam alliance, Air France and China Eastern Airlines have just strengthened their ties to encourage business travellers to China from France. Companies will now be able to take advantage of a joint contract, managed by a single Air France contact, on the France-Shanghai routes offered by Air France, China Eastern Airlines and KLM, i.e. 41 weekly flights from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol.
In detail, Air France offers 14 weekly services from Paris CDG and KLM 13 weekly flights from Amsterdam-Schiphol. For its part, the Chinese airline based in Shanghai offers 14 weekly flights from Paris CDG and 4 from Amsterdam-Schiphol. Through its hubs in Shanghai, Kunming, Xi'an and Beijing, China Eastern Airlines has a network that extends across South-West Asia and Oceania.
At the same time, China Eastern Airlines, which has just celebrated its 60th anniversary, is also joining the BlueBiz frequent flyer programme, dedicated to SMEs. Zoran Jelkic, CEO France of Air France-KLM, commented: "I am proud today to celebrate this new step in the strengthening of our commercial alliance with China Eastern Airlines, which will enable our joint corporate customers to benefit from an extended offer on the France-Shanghai routes". Sikai Zhang, Managing Director Europe of China Eastern Airlines, added: "Today, through this new commercial alliance with Air France-KLM, it is with a common goal that we move forward together for an even brighter future through our mutual commitments in corporate sales."
In terms of comfort for business travellers, while Air France has introduced its latest cabins on certain flights between Paris and China, China Eastern has introduced Boeing B777-300ERs on the Paris-Shanghai route. These aircraft feature a first class with a private cabin equipped with a double bed, a business class with 180° reclining seats and an economy class offering more space. The first A350-900s and fifteen B787-9s ordered by China Eastern will join the company's fleet in 2018.
