Air France and Qantas have just renewed an agreement code sharing which in fact enables Air France to assert its position in the market Asia-Pacificone of the fastest-growing markets in the world. " Thanks to this agreement, the Air France-KLM group is able to offer its customers one of the best travel solutions from Europe to Australia. This new cooperation confirms our group's commitment to growth in the Asia-Pacific region. "said Patrick Alexandre, Executive Vice President Sales and Alliances at Air France-KLM.
The agreement enhances flight opportunities between the two countries, with more than 200 flights a week via Hong Kong and Singapore. From 5 JuneCode share flights can now be booked on the Air France website, although the new flight opportunities will only be available from 20 July. Air France will add its flight number on routes from Hong Kong to SydneyIn addition, Air France has introduced code-share flights from Singapore to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Another new feature for Air France passengers is the possibility of taking domestic code-share flights from Sydney to Adelaide (South Australia), Cairns (Queensland), Canberra, Darwin (Northern Territory) and Hobart (Tasmania).
Qantas passengers will be able to use Air France flights between Singapore, Hong Kong and Paris CDG thanks to this codeshare agreement.
In practical terms, this agreement means that passengers can check in their baggage from start to finish and benefit from a single ticket. Air France and Qantas business passengers as well as members of Air France's Platinum and Gold frequent flyer programmes and Club 2000 will also have access to Qantas lounges in Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia and Air France lounges in Paris, Hong Kong and Singapore.
A few months ago, Qantas indicated its interest in a possible return to Paris. Twenty years ago, the airline was offering three frequencies a week from Paris to Singapore with on-board transfers to Qantas flights to Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane. Last March, Australian newspapers quoted Alan Joycethe CEO of Qantas, who mentioned the possibility of the Australian airline operating a non-stop Boeing 787 flight to Perth, but not before. 2020. " We now have traffic rights for a daily flightwhich has never happened before. More frequencies will make the flight more attractive to high-spending passengers "he told the Australian media.
The return of Qantas to Paris will largely depend on the success of the new non-stop service between London and Perth, operated since March in 17 hours 15 minutes by a Boeing 787. " We have to prove that this London-Perth line will be economically viable. "he added. For the time being, the new flight seems to have found its audience, particularly in the high-contribution classes. For its part, Air France has not indicated that it intends to return to Australia under its own flag. The airline took over the Paris-Sydney flight operated by the now-defunct UTA in the early 1990s.
