Winter 2024-2025: Air France to serve nearly 170 destinations in 73 countries
After a summer marked by the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games – during which Air France was the leading carrier of accredited visitors – the airline is continuing to expand its global network. During the 2024-2025 winter season (running from November 2024 to March 2025), the airline will serve 169 destinations in 73 countries, including 85 long-haul and 84 short- and medium-haul destinations.
Long-haul: flights to 85 cities, including 4 new destinations
Over the winter, Air France will expand its long-haul network with service to 4 new destinations:
- Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), with three flights a week operated using Airbus A350-900 aircraft starting November 18, 2024, as an extension of Zanzibar. The introduction of Kilimanjaro marks Air France’s 26th destination in Africa this winter (excluding North Africa).
- Salvador de Bahia (Brazil), with three flights a week starting October 28, 2024, operated using Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Salvador de Bahia marks Air France’s 5th destination in Brazil, after Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Fortaleza and Belém (the latter served as an extension of Cayenne, French Guiana). Frequencies to Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza will be increased this winter, with up to 10 and 5 flights a week respectively. In total, Air France will offer up to 32 flights a week to and from Brazil, with connecting opportunities to 40 domestic destinations thanks to a commercial partnership with Brazilian carrier GOL.
- Manila (Philippines), with 3 flights a week starting December 7, 2024, operated using Airbus A350-900 aircraft. KLM also operates flights to Manila, with 4 flights a week from Amsterdam Schiphol using Boeing 787-9. The coordination of the two airlines’ flight schedules will allow the Air France-KLM Group to offer daily service to Manila. The introduction of Manila will also strengthen Air France’s Asian network, where the airline also operates flights to Tokyo Haneda (up to 15 flights a week), Osaka (up to 3 flights a week), Beijing (up to 7 flights a week), Shanghai (up to 7 flights a week), Hong Kong (up to 7 flights a week), Seoul (up to 7 flights a week), Bangkok (up to 14 flights a week, compared to 7 in winter 2023-2024), Singapore (up to 10 flights a week) and Ho Chi Minh City (3 flights a week).
- Malé (Maldives), with up to 2 flights a week during the holiday season, from December 20, 2024 to January 5, 2025. Flights will be operated by Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
In the Caribbean, Air France will strengthen its service to Saint-Martin. Starting December 20, 2024, 2 daily flights will be offered, using Airbus A330-200 aircraft.
Air France will also continue to reinforce its North American network. This winter, the airline will operate 235 flights a week to 23 destinations across the continent. In the U.S., the airline will extend its service to Denver (Colorado) and Phoenix (Arizona) into the winter season, with 3 flights a week to each city from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport. Until now, service to Denver has only been available in summer, and service to Phoenix, a new destination in summer 2024, was inaugurated on May 23.
Short- and medium-haul: more than 630 flights a day, and an enhanced service to Northern Europe
On medium-haul routes, the winter season will see a strengthening of service to Northern Europe. The opening of a new route to Kiruna (Sweden) marks Air France’s 5th destination in Lapland, in addition to Rovaniemi (Finland), Kittilä (Finland), Tromsø (Norway) and Narvik Lofoten (Norway, served only in summer). Air France will operate flights to Kiruna once a week between December 21, 2024 and March 8, 2025, using Airbus A319 aircraft.
As part of the commercial cooperation with SAS, which took effect on September 1, 2024, Air France customers now enjoy privileged access to 33 new destinations in Northern Europe including Kristiansund (Norway), Aarhus (Denmark), Turku (Finland), and Luleå (Sweden) via SAS hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm.
During the holiday season, Air France will offer flights to destinations that were previously served only in summer, including Tangiers (Morocco, with up to 3 flights a week from December 22, 2024 to January 3, 2025).
Continued deployment of new cabins, and the unveiling of a new La Première cabin at the end of the year
As part of its premiumization strategy, Air France is continuing to roll out its new travel cabins.
New long-haul cabins are offered on Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Available in Business, Premium and Economy, this product represents the airline’s new standard. On regional flights, the first Embraer 190 equipped with new travel cabins will take off this fall, featuring lighter, more comfortable and connected seats equipped with USB A and C ports for each passenger.
Since last July, customers travelling in the La Première cabin have been able to enjoy an exceptional new experience on the ground at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport. They can take advantage of a totally private and confidential journey – from arrival at the airport to boarding the aircraft – and can also reserve private suites adjoining the La Première lounge.
At the end of the year, Air France will unveil a completely redesigned La Première cabin. Featuring five windows, it is intended to be the longest on the market, and will be rolled out on a larger number of aircraft than at present. During the winter 2024-2025 season, La Première suites will be available on a selection of Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with service to Abidjan, Dubaï, Los Angeles, Miami, New York-JFK, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Tokyo-Haneda and Washington.
Also, Transavia France, the Air France-KLM Group’s low-cost subsidiary, will offer flights to 102 destinations in 20 countries via 172 routes this winter. Once again, it will be the leading low-cost airline to and from Paris.
“Premium Economy” renamed “Premium” to underline Air France’s move upmarket in this travel cabin
Launched by Air France in 2009, “Premium Economy” now goes by the name of “Premium”, further emphasizing the unique travel experience associated with this spacious and comfortable cabin offering a greater sense of privacy. Designed so that customers can fully enjoy its superior standards of comfort, Premium is available throughout the Air France fleet and long-haul network.
In the Premium cabin, the latest recliner seat is available on selected Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 aircraft. The seat back generously reclines up to 124 degrees* and has been widened for extra comfort. There’s also 94 to 97 cm* of legroom and an adjustable footrest. The seat foam cushions have also been redesigned and the herringbone pattern fabric adds extra softness.
Thanks to the gradual renewal of its travel cabins, almost 80% of the Air France fleet will be equipped with recliner seats by the end of 2025.
During the flight, customers benefit from a comfort kit designed exclusively for this cabin, a noise-reducing audio headset, a blanket and a pillow for guaranteed relaxation and enjoyment.
Each seat is equipped with a wide 13.3-inch 4K-quality Ultra HD anti-glare touchscreen with Bluetooth connection, allowing customers to enjoy over 1,500 hours of on-demand entertainment, with a particular focus on French productions. Customers can also connect their personal device directly to the screen and use it as a remote control or browse the in-flight entertainment catalogue*. The seat features USB ports and a Wi-Fi connection is also available.
For heightened elegance, the cabin has been redecorated, with new shades of navy blue, Air France’s signature colour, and sky blue, a shade specific to this travel cabin. The company’s trademark red accent adorns the seat headrests, cushions, blankets, comfort kits and meal trays.
Once comfortably seated, our crews offer each customer a glass of champagne to welcome them on board**.
Each customer receives a full “French-style” meal service, comprising snacks, a starter, a choice of two hot dishes, cheese and dessert, served in eco-designed tableware with stainless steel cutlery.
The Premium menus are now designed by a leading French Michelin-starred chef. Since November 2023, Frédéric Simonin, holder of one Michelin star and Meilleur Ouvrier de France, has been creating two hot dishes that are regularly renewed, including a vegetarian option. Customers can choose between a delicious chicken, prune sauce, peas, red onion compote and asparagus tips, or Trofie pasta bake with porcini mushrooms and asparagus, available on departure from Paris, Pointe à Pitre, Fort de France, Cayenne and Réunion.
To prepare these menus, Frédéric Simonin worked together with Servair, the world leader in in-flight catering, choosing fresh, local and seasonal produce, as well as 100% French meat, poultry, milk products and eggs, and fish from sustainable fisheries, in line with the company’s standards.
Air France aims to continue improving its catering offer to further entice its Premium customers. The dessert offer featuring crunchy vanilla puffs, Paris-Brest and chocolate fondant has recently been renewed to appeal to even the most demanding palates. And now, on flights of over 9 hours, a new ice cream offer is available between the meals served during the flight. Available in two flavours – vanilla or milk chocolate with caramelized almonds, these ice cream bars are traditionally made in Provence in the south of France.
A large selection of hot and cold beverages, with or without alcohol, is also available during the flight. A new selection of wines and French beers is exclusively available in this cabin, in addition to champagne. Xavier Thuizat, Air France’s new head sommelier, will unveil a completely revamped French wine, champagne and spirits list for customers in spring 2025.
Customers travelling in the Premium cabin benefit from SkyPriority, a range of streamlined and priority services at the airport. With SkyPriority, customers can check in and drop off their baggage at dedicated counters, and benefit from faster, privileged access through security checkpoints and passport control, as well as dedicated sales and transfers desks. They also enjoy priority at boarding or the option of boarding at their convenience and priority baggage delivery.
* depending on aircraft type.
**depending on the flight schedule.
The article Winter 2024-2025: Air France to serve nearly 170 destinations in 73 countries first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.