After a good summer season, particularly in terms of passenger numbers on long-haul routes, Air France continues to reopen and expand its global network.
During the 2023-2024 winter season, the airline will serve 167 destinations, including 84 long-haul destinations and 83 short- and medium-haul destinations. The national carrier will thus return to a level of activity close to that of winter 2019. i.e. 98% in long-haul seat-kilometre capacity compared with the same period in 2019.
Strong presence in North America
The winter of 2023-2024 will be characterised by 20% increase in capacity in North America compared with 2019. The airline is continuing its offensive on theNorth Atlanticthe most dynamic long-haul segment.
Air France for the period up to 212 flights a week to 20 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. From 30 October 2023, Air France will inaugurate a link between Raleigh and Durham (North Carolina) with 3 flights a week operated by Boeing 787-9. Raleigh Durham will be the 14th destination forAir France in the United States this winter.
At the same time, the company will be extending its winter service toOttawa (Canada), inaugurated last June. Services to Dallas, Vancouver, Boston and Montreal will be strengthenedwith additional frequencies or the use of higher-capacity equipment.
Finally, a nod to 90 years ofAir FranceFrom 29 October 2023, the airline will renumber its flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and New York JFK. Flights AF015 and AF022 will become AF001 and AF002, legendary flight numbers reserved for Concorde until 2003.
On theLatin America, Air France will strengthen its offer. Flights by Airbus A350-900 between CDG and San Jose at Costa Rica will become daily. Service to Bogota (Colombia) will also be operated by Airbus A350-900, increasing capacity on this route. On the Caribbean, Air France will inaugurate on 1 December 2023 a new link between Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) and Saint-MartinThe new route will be operated once a week by Airbus A320. This new route will bring to 7 the number of destinations served by the Caribbean Regional Network.
The return of Asia
Air France will significantly increase its seat capacity on theAsiaa rise stimulated by the return of demand to the market. China and the Japan. The company will therefore be offering 60% more seats compared with winter 2022-2023. The airline will maintain its three daily flights between CDG on the one hand, and Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong on the other..
In Japan, Air France to offer a second daily flight to Tokyo HanedaIn addition to its flights on Narita. A total of 16 flights a week to the two airports in the Japanese capital. Last but not least, the carrier is back to daily service to BangkokIn 2024, the number of flights will be increased to 10 per week at peak times in January and February. Capacity to Asia will, however, remain lower than in 2019.
Note that in the Gulf, Air France launches its new route to Abu Dhabi on 29 October 2023, served daily by Airbus A350-900 in cooperation with Etihad Airways. On DubaiThe airline also offers 2 daily flights. Services to Tel Aviv remains for the moment suspendedAt least until 31 October.
Africa in flux
In Africa, services to Nairobi is now operated daily. While the flight to Dar Es Salam (Tanzania) via Zanzibarinaugurated in June 2023, has been extended to the winter season.
Because of the security situation, flights to/from Niamey (Niger), Bamako (Mali) and Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) are still suspended until further notice.
On long-haul routes, Air France continues to roll out new cabins on Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A350-900. The new standard cabins are available on certain flights to New York JFK and Newark, BostonRio de Janeiro, Bangkok, Dakar, Tokyo Haneda and Hong Kong, Seoul Incheon, Shanghai and Johannesburg.
Seasonal routes on short and medium-haul routes
On short and medium-haul routes, the new features still concern leisure routes, served only during the winter season. Air France is nevertheless offering more 660 flights a day.
The winter season includes renewal of seasonal services between Paris-CDG and Tromsø (Norway, 2 flights a week from 28 October 2023). In Finland, Rovaniemi 3 flights a week (7 flights during the Christmas holidays) and Kittila (1 flight a week). Finally, Air France will be offering one flight a week on Innsbruck in Austria.
Service to Krakow to be extended into winter seasonwith 3 flights a week operated by Embraer 190.
