Air France-KLM summer schedule 2010
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In the wake of 2009, an extremely difficult year for the world economy and air transport in particular, tentative signs of recovery – depending on the country – have been perceived.
Against this background, the Air France KLM Group’s schedule for summer 2010 remains practically unchanged (ASK down 0.3%) compared with 2009 showing slight growth for the long-haul network (up 0.8%) with a reduction for the medium haul network (down 4.0%).
New destinations will be enhancing the Group’s network: Denpasar (Bali) and once again Aruba for KLM, Abu Dhabi and Bata for Air France as well as Bari in code-share with Alitalia.
The Air France schedule
In terms of Available Seat Kilometres, the Air France service offer for the summer season 2010 will be slightly lower compared with summer 2009: down 0.9%.
At the end of the season, the whole of the long-haul fleet (with the exception of Boeing 777s operating on the Caribbean-Indian Ocean network and the A380s in service) will be fitted with the new Premium Voyageur cabin class. An intermediary cabin between economy and business, Premium Voyageur is intended for customers looking for more comfort at a more affordable fare than business. This cabin is fitted with new seats offering 40% additional space compared with the Voyageur cabin (economy).
On the long-haul network available capacity remains stable (up 0.1%). It is worth noting that without the introduction of Premium Voyageur, capacity would have increased by 3.2%.
Available capacity has been reduced by 3.7% on the medium-haul network. This sector’s results have been in constant decline for several years and have been made worse by the economic crisis. Air France’s economic model has had to evolve in order to meet customer expectations better while at the same time reducing unit costs. In this context the adjustment plan launched in winter 2009 has resulted in a better balance between the number of frequencies and the average size of aircraft.
Fleet
Since 2009, Air France is the sole European airline to operate the A380. Initially introduced on services to New York, then Johannesburg in February, four aircraft of this type will eventually operate on the Air France network between now and the close of the summer season. Tokyo will be the next destination to operate the A380 at the end of the summer.
On medium-haul, these adjustments to the schedule have resulted in 16 aircraft being retired from service in the fleet of Air France and its subsidiaries. At the same time, Air France is gradually introducing a brand new, lighter seat offering more legroom on its short-haul flights (A319, A320 and A321).
Long-haul network (up 0.1%)
North America, Air France is adding three additional frequencies to San Francisco during the summer peak period (22 June - 4 September), totalling ten flights a week.
Delta is suspending its third daily flight to Atlanta, our partner’s main hub, which now has three flights a day flying from Paris including one operated by Air France in B747-400.
In Latin America, Air France will introduce an additional frequency to Santiago starting in September, bringing the total number of flights to the Chilean capital to six flights a week.
In Brazil, there will be 12 flights a week to Sao Paulo by B777, a thirteenth flight is scheduled for September.
Due to the crisis that has hit Venezuela and the devaluation of the Bolivar, flights to Caracas will be operated in a smaller capacity aircraft (A330-200).
In Asia, Tokyo will be welcoming the A380 at the end of the season when there will be a twice weekly service (an A380 and a B777-300). Until then, Air France will still operate 27 flights a week including 7 operated by JAL under a code-share agreement.
In India, services to Bangalore fall from 7 to 6 frequencies a week.
In Africa, capacity has grown by 2.9% thanks to additional frequencies to several destinations, namely Bangui in the Central African Republic (2 flights a week), Lom
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