China Eastern airline, partner of Air France on the France-China axis, is working to the opening of a Paris-Beijing route according to Heng Yu, Senior Marketing Manager Europe for the Paris-based company. " We are working very hard to obtain a new daily frequency between Paris and Beijing with the opening of the new airport for the Chinese capital. It is possible that we will be able to launch this line in 2019, although we are more optimistic that it will be inaugurated in 2020. "he explains. Until now, China Eastern has been present in Paris with two air routes, both operated in partnership with Air France: Shanghai on a twice-daily basis and Kunming, in Yunnan, with three flights a week.
On the Shanghai route, the company introduced its new aircraft last year Boeing 777-300offering a three-class configuration. " We offer this aircraft on our daily flights during the high season, then return to a daily flight with this aircraft in winter, the second flight then being operated with the Airbus A330. The difference lies in the cabin configuration, with the Airbus A330 offering a two-class product - business and economy - while the Boeing 777 incorporates a first-class cabin. "says Heng Yu, Senior Marketing Manager Europe at China Eastern. The Paris-Kunming flight is operated by Airbus A330.
While the Paris-Shanghai route remains the prestige route of the airline in France, the Paris-Kunming flight is proving more difficult to sell and should be the subject of a strategic redefinition. " We are positioning Kunming as a major hub for South-East Asia, with services to a dozen cities in the ASEAN region, many of them in the Greater Mekong Basin. We offer flights to Rangoon and Mandalay in Burma, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia, Vientiane and Luang Prabang in Laos and Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Phuket in Thailand, as well as to Vietnam, among other destinations. But we have a problem with the handling of transfer passengers, which means that we are finding it difficult to push connecting traffic to Yunnan. We need to find new solutions with the airport authorities and the customs and immigration services to make Kunming a more efficient hub. "says Heng Yu. As far as the French market is concerned, the only other recent development is the expansion of the code share with Air France. Since the end of April, Air France has also been using its code on routes from Wuhan - served by the airline with four frequencies a week - to Beijing, Chengdu, Ningbo and Wenzhou.
In the future, there is a possibility that China Eastern will introduce service to France. its new Airbus A350. The company has placed an order for 20 A350-900 aircraft. The first two aircraft will arrive in the fleet this year, followed by five more of the same model in 2019 and 2020. " The A350 will offer a revamped cabin product, notably with the launch of a Premium Economy class "says the Senior Marketing Manager. The aircraft will offer 288 seats with a configuration of 4 Suites in First Class, 36 seats in Business Class, 32 in Premium Economy and 216 in Classic Economy.
