Air France traditionally takes advantage of the IFTM Top Resa tourism trade show in Paris to highlight its recent performances, present its winter programme and product improvements.
Henri Hourcade, Vice-President France, Air France-KLMwas on the job, reporting that this summer the airline carried up to 140,000 passengers and an equivalent number of baggage items every day on 900 daily flights. " Air France-KLM is coming off a particularly dynamic summer, particularly in South America, Africa and Asia, which is on the rebound "he said.
The two summer intercontinental connections between Paris CDG and Orlando as well as Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) are extended this winter season. From 27 November, Air France to link Paris to Phuket (Thailand) three times a week. A seasonal service to Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) also kicks off on 13 January 2026. Again, three flights a week.
Exclusively for Voyages d'Affaires, Henri Hourcade gave an overview of what's new at Air France and how demand is evolving..
How will air traffic behave in the coming months in a more complex geopolitical context?
Henri Hourcade - We had very good business until August. We can see that the next few months will be a little quieter, but that's nothing to worry about.
Is there a "Trump impact" on traffic to the United States?
Henri Hourcade - Traffic from France to the United States performed rather well, even if the flow of connecting passengers to certain countries such as Germany and Scandinavia declined. The fall in the dollar and more attractive air fares have helped to offset this weakness. In fact, we are increasing supply to the United States by 2.5% this winter.
As for business travel, it is holding up well, and even increasing in some destinations that were more leisure-oriented. Orlando is a case in point. Relaunched in the spring, the flight used to be based on the appeal of Disneyworld. Today, it is benefiting from the dynamism of the space industry around Toulouse. It's a booming market that benefits from a more balanced business/leisure flow, which also improves profitability.
How are Asia and Africa performing?
Henri Hourcade - Japan stands out from the rest of Asia for its growth. The depreciation of the yen makes Japan a very attractive destination for French travellers, who are already aware of its cultural appeal. We have therefore strengthened our Tokyo-Haneda service with two daily flights. Haneda is now our main airport in Tokyo, following the discontinuation of flights to Narita. China, meanwhile, remains relatively stable. European airlines still face stiff competition there, but we are maintaining our positions.
As for the African market, it continues to do well, even if some routes have been suspended for geopolitical reasons, such as Bamako, Ouagadougou and Niamey. Apart from these exceptions, the continent remains very dynamic. South Africa is making good progress, and we have strengthened our presence on the Brazzaville-Kinshasa corridor with three additional frequencies this summer. Overall, we had an excellent summer season in Africa, a strategic market to which we remain very committed.
Which lines will be equipped with the new La Première suite?
Henri Hourcade - This year, we introduced our new La Première suites on flagship routes such as New York and Singapore. Los Angeles will be equipped this weekend, Miami by the end of the year and Tokyo in early 2026. As for business class, the seat is now equipped with an exclusive Sofitel MyBed mattress topper. Launched initially on flights to New York, it will be rolled out this autumn in Asia, with comfort worthy of a hotel.
What else is new in the cab?
Henri Hourcade - And there are plenty of them. Canal+ has just been added to in-flight entertainment. Our Wi-Fi, already very efficient, is now high-speed and free of charge. for Flying Blue members. It will enable live streaming of events, a first for a major European airline. We are aiming for 30 % of the fleet to be equipped with broadband by the end of the year, and the entire fleet by the end of 2026. We have also overhauled the gastronomy, particularly in Premium Economy, and we are preparing other improvements for Economy.
At the start of our interview we mentioned the complicated geopolitical situation in Europe, such as the drone overflights in Poland and Copenhagen. Do such events have an impact on demand?
Henri Hourcade - For the moment, we are not seeing any noticeable effect. Poland, for example, is even experiencing strong economic and tourist growth.
